That's what legislators are proposing to do today in a special session. If that weren't enough, they will also revisit Henry's Law, which would make animal cruelty a felony (a law we support); consider allowing new school districts to straddle county lines, and get into expanding the prison in Garfield County.

That's far too much to debate in one day, especially when the school construction equalization proposal would result in higher taxes for residents of all Salt Lake County school districts except Jordan. This is not small potatoes. Given its impact, the equalization issue begs thorough study and a thoughtful discussion that a special session simply can't accommodate. It should be taken up by the full Legislature in January.

The only reason - and it's a weak rationalization - for cobbling together an equalization law on the fly is to facilitate a public vote in November on dividing Granite and Jordan districts. But that vote also would be premature. It should be delayed until the equalization issue is reasonably resolved and other flaws in the district-division law are corrected.

That law allows any city or group of cities with at least 65,000 residents to form a new school district if, after a feasibility study, its residents vote to do so. Residents of the old district have no say; the effect on academics is ignored. Proposals to form two new east-side districts, one split from Jordan and the other from Granite, would leave residents of the burgeoning west side holding the bag to pay for new schools.

The Salt Lake County Council will determine whether the proposals go on the ballot, unless district-splitting proponents can circumvent the county vote. Leery of the potential hit to the west side, the County Council wants a resolution of the funding equalization issue.

That sets the stage for today's special-session vote, which amounts to a headlong rush to make a bad law so that another bad law with far-reaching implications can be implemented.

No wonder some Utahns are confused. But one thing is crystal clear: Education in Utah will be better served if legislators vote "no" today on school funding equalization.