That's the message public education advocates are sending lawmakers who this session approved a record $500 million in new spending for Utah schools.
The unprecedented funding boost is much appreciated, but money needs to keep rolling in if Utah wants to continue to improve its standing compared with other states, they say.
"In the years I've been up here, this is the best year we've had for public and higher education," said Rep. Kory Holdaway, R- Taylorsville, a special education teacher. "This is a great stride in helping what has been a struggling system, but it's not the final stride by any stretch." Urged on by public sentiment in favor of more education spending and the state's booming economy, "lawmakers really tried to help education in a really significant way," added Steve Peterson, a lobbyist for associations representing the state's school boards and superintendents. "We hope in the future they'll keep the momentum going so we can keep more competitive with surrounding states." Public educators cite Utah's new school voucher law as perhaps the session's greatest disappointment. The law creates the nation's most expansive school voucher program, making vouchers to pay part of private school tuition available to all Utahns who do not currently have children in private schools.
The voucher law "is an unfortunate legacy of this Legislature when they did some good things for education," Utah Education Association President Kim Campbell said.
She and other voucher opponents argued vouchers inappropriately funnel tax dollars to religious schools.
Education lobbyists worked throughout the Legislature's final day to win more funding for class size reduction, which they say received only a base-level increase this year.
"Overall, the increases are wonderful . . . The big gap is in class- size reduction," said Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, R-Holladay, a retired teacher.
Legislators debated that issue during the session but ultimately decided not to add funding until an audit of past spending for class- size reduction is completed. Several lawmakers lament that $500 million they've put toward the cause in the past several years hasn't eliminated crowded classrooms.
The State Board of Education also regrets lack of new funding for students learning English, which had been prioritized by both the state school board and the Legislature's Education Appropriations Committee , said Patti Harrington, state schools superintendent.
"We're sad to see no support for English language learners [because] those children really need help," Harrington said.
But she added the board was pleased overall with the Legislature's financial package, especially the boost to teacher compensation.
"We've taken a quantum leap forward this year and will probably need to take another, or two, to get to the Western state average." Campbell of the UEA. also lauded the teacher compensation provisions, which will award each teacher a $2,500 raise and a $1,000 bonus.
In addition, when education lobbyists noticed other school employees had been left out, the Legislature added $7 million to give them bonuses as well.
