SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Senator Chris Buttars, a Republican from West Jordan, is tabling a bill that would give the control of public education to the legislature and governor by taking it out of the hands of the State Board of Education.
“This bill is all about establishing clear checks and balances on the Department of Education. There are no checks and balances, and no accountability or transparency in the system for 3.5 billion dollars,” says Buttars.
Buttars says the State Board works as a third wing of government. They are not required by law to account for how they spend tax payer money. He’d like to see the state constitution amended to include 3 words, according to statute, which would give lawmakers the right to follow the money. We caught up with the board’s chairperson, Debra Roberts, who thinks shifting control is a bad idea.
“We are upping the standards of what students have to accomplish. That’s taking leadership in governance.”
“They know what’s best for education. They work with teachers and set the standards. This is one of the worst things that could happen to our children,” says Lisa Talbot, a mother.
However, the senator is not backing down, “I’d like to know how the money is spent.”
He says his bill would strip power from the school board forcing them to answer for how they spend every dollar, as well as be accountable for what is taught in public schools.
