Utah educators are urging for increased funding to address stress and student needs as the state Legislature prepares to convene.
Salt Lake City: Renée Pinkney, the president of the Utah Education Association, recently spoke at a news conference about the pressing needs of teachers. With the state Legislature set to meet soon, a survey of over 1,400 teachers shows they want more funding to tackle stress and burnout.
Most teachers, about 93%, are against expanding private school voucher programs. They believe these programs take away vital resources from public schools. Pinkney pointed out that last year, the union even challenged the legality of these voucher programs, and they plan to keep fighting against them.
She emphasized that it’s misleading to think you can support both a voucher program and public education at the same time. Teachers are feeling the pressure as their students have more needs that aren’t being met.
This year, the Utah Legislature has set up a fund that gives eligible K-12 students up to $8,000 for various educational expenses. However, this program uses a hefty $82.5 million from taxpayers each year.
The UEA is pushing for at least a 3% increase in funding per student, which they estimate would cost the state around $135 million. They also want more paid hours for teachers and better access to free school meals for families.
Teachers are also concerned about the quality of education they can provide. With large class sizes and long hours, they’re juggling a lot of responsibilities, including helping students who need extra support.
Becky Bissegger, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary, mentioned that students are coming in with more significant needs, especially regarding their mental health. She believes classrooms should ideally have two adults to help manage behaviors and support learning.
Janet Sanders, a social studies teacher at Mountain Ridge High School, noted that classroom behaviors have become more serious, adding to the stress for teachers. She also feels pressure to remain neutral in her teaching due to recent laws affecting diversity and inclusion programs.
Sanders expressed that many teachers feel a sense of persecution and worry about the privatization of education, fearing it won’t serve students well.
As the Legislature gears up to discuss education bills, Pinkney is concerned about the potential for unnecessary legislation. She hopes lawmakers will focus on real solutions rather than quick fixes that may lead to more problems down the line.
