An Open Letter to the Wasatch School Board

(In case you missed it the Wasatch School Board will, in all likelihood, approve a bond election for $62 Million in new school buildings, here's a recent Email to the Board recommending an alternative, some editing done, links and highlighting done)

An Open Letter to the School Board

Dear School Board Members

I took the opportunity to listen to the School Board study session (July 7, 2015) on Year Round Education, the Provo principal, Rosemarie Smith gave a great presentation!!!  She pointed out the pros and cons and clearly stated the #1 reason for YRE was "enhanced learning."

++++(More in depth report here, (regrettably you need to scroll to July 9 to find it, amongst the other mainly pro building propaganda) from Melissa Campbell, WCSD Media Manager, with comments from others)+++   "Mrs. Smith recommended that at least one year before the switch (and preferably two) the district should:
1. create a committee of principals who would be involved in the switch to lay groundwork for the massive amount of planning
2. hold cottage meetings around the community to explain how the year round schedules would work and how it would affect families with students in the schools
3. meet with teachers
4. meet with district and then school based PTA groups
5. identify community members favorable to year round schools and help them be parent leaders in implementing
6. send out newsletters"   

The only previous Board discussion on this viable alternative was apparently about 5 minutes in a work minute, wherein a board member reportedly stated 'teachers and parents are not happy with year round education.'   (which effectively ended the discussion)

Professional Educator Smith, with her ten year YRE experience emphasized the need to “educate” the public on the value, and efficacy, of YRE. This has NOT been done in Wasatch County. Without that explanation, the lack of accurate information devolves into emotion and a reluctance to accept potentially advantageous, and positive, change.

She also went to great lengths discussing the scheduling flexibility and its acceptance by both parents and teachers. She further elaborated on the virtual elimination of time to get students “back on task” after the long summer vacation, which greatly enhance retention and learning. 

Within the last few years, WSD adopted education digitization with little public discussion, at an expense of millions of taxpayer dollars. That computerized system has the capability, and possible requirement, for a new evaluation of school structures, to allow even more student learning flexibility and learning possibilities. This may, in fact, reduce the need for brick and mortar as a few, or many, students may be able to use an alternative educational method through computers.

As the wasatch.edu website states you are only “contemplating a need for a bond?,” and you are now seeking “Citizen Input on Facilities Bond,” I would strongly encourage a deeper public discussion before attempting to pass a $62 million bond. YRE could greatly extend the time in which new buildings are truly “needed.” 

 

On a companion issue, I believe your survey results may be slightly awry. The survey report states "Results were weighted by age to align with population base" Checking the vote in those demographics suggest that would create a more favorable vote. 

But no weighting was done for 16% school employees (16%, what is the actual percentage of voters, maybe 5%), or geographic (unincorporated county accounts for 31 %, but the poll response appears nearer to 10%. The town of Daniel, where a new school is proposed, received half representation in the Survey. 

 

The choice is really quite simple:

• a new $62 million bond,
• with $850K in increased taxes for operations,
• Plus a large tax increase for debt payment and interest ($3-$4 million per year?),
  
• and the status quo, OR . . . . 
• "optimizing the use of existing buildings,"
• with a tax increase of 'only' $765K, and
• the “Enhanced Learning” reported by Rosemarie Smith,
• with vastly greater scheduling flexibility!!!

Yes, Wasatch County is growing, but remember the 2008 economic turn-down. A recurrence is not beyond a possibility.   More DEBT is NOT fiscal responsibility! 
A new mail-in off year election is not the time for experimentation with such an immense decision.