Why should the PTA, local associations of parents working with local teachers to benefit local public schools, care so much about the State Board of Education and its election process? Certainly smaller class sizes, overall funding for public education and local control are important competing priorities for PTA.
Because of our concerns and because of circumstances this year, we encourage the nominating committee that selects state board candidates to weigh their decision carefully and forward the names of incumbents as well as a wide variety of other candidates to the governor for a final placement on the ballot in November.
If the committee only selects one type of candidate representing a unique special interest, it would be unfortunate.
The Utah State Board of Education is composed of 17 members who are elected by the public. They are charged to oversee the operations and policies of the Utah Office of Education, including neighborhood and charter school administrations, which impact every child in public schools in Utah.
According to state law enacted in 2003, the nominees for these positions are chosen by a state nominating committee of 12 members representing six areas of business interests and six areas of education, and the committee elects its own chair. The nominating committee members are chosen by the governor.
People interested in these positions file to run for office in geographical areas. The nominating committee is charged to determine the qualifications of the candidates in each area and choose at least three names to forward to the governor.
The law states that these candidates should be diverse and represent the population of Utah. The governor chooses two candidates from those submitted in each district to run on the November ballot. Thus, the choice of committee members and the final choice of candidates are made by the governor.
Four years ago the committee did not forward names of some individuals who had significant and meaningful participation in public schools. Some not chosen were incumbents on the state school board and candidates with superb and unique credentials, such as a past chair of the National Association of State Boards of Education.
Often we hear that individual citizens do not know the candidates for Utah school board positions, nor do they understand the role and responsibilities of school board members when they go to the polls and choose someone to represent them.
We respect the governor's genuine concern for and support of public education, which he has demonstrated on many occasions and with many issues. We would urge citizens to become informed and to look carefully at the process, the makeup of the committee, and the nominees as they are presented and become candidates.
We urge the governor to charge committee members to vote and act fairly. We believe this necessitates forwarding the names of all incumbent State Board of Education members and a diverse slate of nominees who represent their geographical areas.
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* MARILYN SIMISTER is president of the Utah PTA.
We encourage the nominating committee that selects state board candidates to weigh their decision carefully and forward the names of incumbents as well as a wide variety of other candidates to the governor for a final placement on the ballot in November.
