The board voted Wednesday to adopt its usual stand against tax credits for parents who send their children to private schools, but not without dissent from three newly elected board members.

Supporting tax credits are Bill Colbert, of Draper, Thomas Gregory, of Provo, and Mark Cluff, of Alpine.

As in years past, tax credits are expected to be one of the most controversial proposals during the 2005 Legislature, which begins Monday.

The board typically takes positions on education legislation, and when veteran board member John Pingree suggested opposing tax credits, the three new board members spoke up.

"This bill would be good for Utah," Colbert said. "With the growth we're expecting over the next 10 years, we have to look at some serious alternatives to try to find ways of reducing that growth within our traditional schools."

Cluff favors the idea of encouraging competition between public and private schools. Competition inspires innovation, he said.

"I've seen what competition does to improve [business], so I'm all for that," he said. "We have a wonderful public school system . . . but I've heard enough from parents that they have concerns and would like some options."

Nine board members voted to oppose this year's tax-credit legislation, House Bill 39, and adopted a position statement that outlines their reasons.

The statement argues that credits divert public money from public education, that few students will be eligible to claim the credits and that it remains unclear whether credits will cost or save the public school system money overall.

"Our constitution's authors knew that all Utah children are entitled to an equal public schooling opportunity," the statement says. "Tuition tax credits are a form of public support for some students, not all students."

rlynn@sltrib.com