State School Board Wrestles with Vouchers

None by KCPW

Board Chair Supports Referendum

(KCPW News) The Utah State Board of Education is in a tight spot. The board previously took an official position opposing school vouchers. Now it's responsible for implementing the program. To top it off, board chairman Kim Burningham is part of an effort to overturn the whole thing:

"I've been very clear I obviously oppose it and I've participated in this referendum process," says Burningham. "That's what happens to anyone in an elected office: They push one thing and they do another thing because the law requires me to do that."

The voucher system takes effect on May 15th, and the Utah State Office of Education needs to create new rules and policies before then. The State Board today decided to wait until its next meeting on April 5th before approving the new rules. By then, board members will know if voucher opponents have enough signatures to successfully take the issue to a referendum. Despite the board's opposition to vouchers, Burningham says they won't purposefully delay implementation:

"I want the public to say whether or not they want the law or not, but I don't think as an office we can sit here and do nothing," says Burningham. "We want to be ready to do whatever we need to do."

Burningham says state school board rules will largely mirror the voucher framework and eligibility criteria defined in bills passed by the legislature. At next month's meeting, Burningham hopes the board will take an official position in support of the referendum effort.

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