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By Chris Buttars
Utah State Senator, District 10

When we first started to consider the split, both sides, I believe, were in agreement. Especially considering the purpose of the District split was to improve the educational process for the kids. Because it was originally perceived as being “all about the kids”, almost everyone voted for the split.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t ended up that way. In fact, as it stands today, it’s not about the kids at all. It’s all about the money. As the proposal stands today, and as reported by the East side to the press, the amount of money the West side would owe the East side could very well reach $300 Million!

Yes, you heard it right. The West side could be obligated financially up to $300 Million, payable to the East side. And this, before we even consider our own bonding obligations of somewhere between $500-600 Million over the next six years.

Now ask yourself if you were in this situation with a proposal that you had not even been allowed to vote on, and the proposal as it currently stands could cost you, upfront, $300 Million (payable to the East side district) and in your discussions with the other side telling you “if you don’t like it, then let’s go to mediation”, how would you feel?

That’s where we are at. Is it any surprise that the West side will not accept this proposal in any way, shape, or form? If the East side holds onto present demands, I believe there will be major legal action and an injunction that will prevent the implementation of the split until who-knows-when. That action would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Can anyone tell me how that action is “all about the kids”?

I believe that a simple, temporary fix would be for the Governor to call a special session to delay the implementation date of the split.

5 Comments:

 Anonymous said...

I'm sure Buttars has all sorts of credibility with the Governor.

Let the process play out. If people deal in good faith then things will work out. The east side latest offer is nowhere near 300 million but they do deserve some of the bond proceeds.

6/16/2008 10:43 PM  

 David N. Cox said...

I agree with anonymous, let the process go forward. It will work itself out fairly.

Here is a quote by Ezra T. Benson that may help us focus on what the real issues are:

"The best way to prevent a political faction or any small group of people from capturing control of the nation's educational system is to keep it decentralized into small local units, each with its own board of education and superintendent. This may not be as efficient as one giant super educational system (although bigness is not necessarily efficient, either) but it is far more safe. There are other factors, too, in favor of local and independent school systems. First, they are more responsive to the needs and wishes of the parents and the community. The door to the school superintendent's office is usually open to any parent who wishes to make his views known. But the average citizen would be hard pressed to obtain more than a form letter reply from the national Commissioner of Education in Washington, D.C."

The west side will be OK, in fact better off than Alpine for money. Don't let the district officials conjure up figures that distort reality and pit one side against another. This is too important for that.

6/17/2008 9:07 AM  

 Anonymous said...

"If the East side holds onto present demands, I believe there will be major legal action and an injunction that will prevent the implementation of the split until who-knows-when."

Is that a threat?

How about letting the transition teams do their jobs in trying to negotiate in good faith, or letting the process proceed as outlined by laws the Legislature passed over last three years? There's a process, let it work.

6/17/2008 10:38 AM  

 Anonymous said...

Again, Senator Buttars is not well informed or has not taken the time or made the effort to be a critical player in this whole "Split-Division" process. Where was he 9 months ago when he could have had a positive influence in keeping the split from even happening. He states that, "When we first started to consider the split, both sides, I believe, were in agreement". Never were both sides in agreement. His "belief" is evidence that he was not paying attention to what was really happening. Futher, it was never about "Kids". It was about power and influence, with promises that taxes would be reduced on the east side. His statement that "almost" everyone voted for the split, is also evidence of his lack of paying attention. The measure barely passed with a 53% in favor and 47% opposed. And yes, the west side wasn't allowed to vote. That issue alone is again evidence of "indifference" from "not all", but many of the west side legislative leaders. Again, where was the legislative support from the west side when these decisions were approved. What evidence or confidence is there in simply delaying. Allow the process to work out without the confusion of futher legislative
involvement. Competent people are hard at work.

6/19/2008 11:06 AM  

 Anonymous said...

Looking in from the outside, how is it more efficient or more cost effective to split one district into two? With two districts insead of one, now the people in the respective districts have to support two of all of the following rather than one of each: district office headquarters, superintendent, curriculum consultant, executive director of curriculum, ordinator of nutrition services, technical specialist for secondary accelerated programs, department coordinator of printing services, director of supplemental services, consultant of alternative languages, payroll director, director of human resource, coordinator of food services, director of nutrition services, director of communications, director of special education, director of student services, assistants to the human resources director, director of purchasing, director of program special guidance, area executive director, assistant to the program specialist of special education, assistnat to the coordinator of food services, director of main services, director of accounting and budgets, deputy superintendent of bus services, and 27 other services directors as listed in the Utah State Educational Directory which is published by the USOE. With the state and nation in a recession and budget cuts mandatory on all levels, I agree with the post that the governor should step in and put a halt to this split nonsense.

5/08/2009 2:10 PM  

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