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What's in a name? A lot, or a little, according to a debate at Friday's state school board meeting.
Board members considered and ultimately postponed a vote to change the name of the Utah State Office of Education to the Office of the Utah Board of Education.
The switch, according to some board members, is necessary to clarify that the education office exists under the authority of the state school board and not as a separate government entity.
"It's not the staff of the state superintendent," said Jennifer Johnson, the board's second vice chairwoman. "I think it's really important to have that change made."
Other board members questioned the need for a costly rebranding campaign to change the perception of the school board and its office staff.
Board member Brittney Cummins said confusion about the relationship between the two entities could be addressed by tweaks to the board and office websites and by the board proactively exerting itself as the governing body for Utah's public education system.
"Most of this is practice," she said. "It's not the name that is the problem. It's what we're doing with the name."
Friday's conversation comes after lawmakers approved a bill in February that removed all references in state code to the State Office of Education, replacing them with references to the state school board.
The bill was seen as a way to clear up ambiguity and enshrine the constitutional role of the Utah Board of Education, as the state's education office was never formally created by state law.
And Nicole Call, an attorney representing the state school board, said that contracts naming the state office as a party could be challenged if the state school board is not also named.
"There is not statute that gives [the state office] authority to contract or sue or be sued," she said. "They could easily claim to dismiss a breach of contract based on lack of standing."
Scott Jones, deputy state superintendent, said office staff are currently in the process of evaluating how much it would cost to change the organization's name, but early estimates suggest the impact could be at least $30,000.
He said a new name would require updates to the office building and the office website, as well as new branding on school board materials like business cards, letterhead and memos.
Board member Linda Hansen suggested that money could be better used to further academic programs in the state .
"What I'm hearing from the board is a desire to elevate the status of the board," she said. "I'm not interested in that. I'm interested in doing what is best for kids."
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