Salt Lake Tribune Op-ed: No More Lame Excuses for Not Funding Schools

One thing's for sure: a lone Utah Democratic Senator like Dabakis won't be able to pull this off by himself.

Via Utah State Senator Jim Dabakis:

Recently, an LDS Church leader told me that there was a significant difference between the performance levels of Utah missionaries in the Language Training Centers and that of missionaries from other places. He bluntly asked me what I was going to do about education in Utah. (I suggested a small comment at LDS Conference might be helpful.)

Jim Dabakis - Salt Lake Tribune
Op-ed: No more lame excuses for not funding schools
January 10, 2015

The funding numbers are grim. Of 50 states, Utah spends just $6,206 per child, dead last. The national average is $10,608 and our neighbor Wyoming is spending $15,897. Our classrooms are the most crowded in America. 28.7 children per classroom, with the rest of the country at 15.7. Can you imagine trying to teach geometry to a classroom with 38 or 40 students? Utah kindergartens average 28.3 children.
Our teachers are the poorest paid in America. They get $2,397 per student while the national average is $4,053.

Jim Dabakis - Salt Lake Tribune
Op-ed: No more lame excuses for not funding schools
January 10, 2015

"There are ways to fund this. Triple the severance tax on fossil fuels (we would still be below North Dakota and we would bring in billions). End the flat state income tax--a huge check from school kids to the Romneys and the Huntsmans. Billions more. Change back the Utah constitution to give all state income tax to K-12":

• Op-ed: No more lame excuses for not funding schools

Here's the political downside, people:

• Poll: Utahns Oppose Tax Hike to Pay for Schools

We'll be eagerly awaiting that "small comment at the next LDS Conference," which indeed "might be helpful."

One thing's for sure: a lone Utah Democratic Senator like Dabakis won't be able to pull this off by himself.