This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
This past Saturday I read with interest the announcement that the Canyons Board of Education had approved bonuses of $1,000 to all full-time Canyons employees.
While there are many dedicated teachers who pay for needed supplies out of their own pockets and justly deserve a bonus, this budget surplus has come at a terrible cost for special education services in Canyons district. Under the aegis of saving money, teaching positions, support staff and essential services have been cut to levels that make the classroom environment unsafe for students and teachers alike. The personal cost of the physical and mental stress to them has been incalculable.
If Canyons wishes to be known as a district of distinction, it should not be a distinction based on policies that negatively impact its most vulnerable students.
John Bennett
Sandy