The district includes the southwest part of Salt Lake County and the northwest part of Utah County.
Donald G. ChristensenChristensen has served on the state board eight years and is an educator, currently the principal at West Kearns Elementary School. He attended Salt Lake County schools and the University of Utah. He is a doctoral candidate at Brigham Young University.
Do you support alternative certification of teachers? "Alternative certification should be handled on a case-by-case basis. Simple knowledge of subject matter does not mean a person knows how to teach. Currently, letters of authorization are available for special cases in which districts need teachers in specific subjects."
Do you favor equalization of capital outlay and debt service tax income across the state? "Yes. The finance study suggests equalization of these funds."
What is your position on school prayer? "Prayers, reverences, thoughts, moments of silence, are all equally inoffensive to most people. It seems sad that a few people on either side of the issue can spend so many tax dollars on frivolous matters that really have no consequence for education."
O. Ray Warner
An educational administrator for the past 31 years at local, state and federal levels, Warner believes he has experiences that would be valuable to the board. He has been involved in several federal educational programs through the U.S. Department of Education.
Do you support alternative certification of teachers? "There are many competent and well-educated people living in our communities who could become excellent teachers even though they are not certified. Appropriate selection procedures could be implemented."
Do you favor equalization of capital outlay and debt service tax income across the state? "I believe no child should be educationally deprived because of a disparity of revenues among the several school districts. The state should assure an adequate basic level of funding for each child. If some communities wish to enhance this basic level of expenditure, they should be permitted to do so."
What is your position on school prayers? "Religion should have a place in the public life of this nation. The use of prayers at graduation ceremonies is a way to honor the religious plurality of our country and the religious liberty it was founded to protect."