With six incumbents trying to retain their State School Board seats, the body could see minimal change this year, depending on the success of challengers.
Only District 10 is assured new representation. Current board member Donald Christensen chose not to seek re-election, and his seat is being sought by Stan Weed and Waynette Steel. The district covers primarily west-central Salt Lake County.One of the seven races involves southern and western Utah County, where Marilyn Shields, Stansbury Park, challenges incumbent Harold S. Jensen, Gunnison, in District 3.
The board, which has general oversight of education and directs expenditure of about half of the state's tax revenues, has 15 members selected from geographic areas.
The withdrawal of Clifford W. Higbee in the District 9 race assured election for the incumbent, Kay McDonough.
The Deseret News asked each state board candidate to respond to four questions. The questions included how anticipated increases in education revenues should be spent; whether the state is moving fast enough to incorporate technology in its schools; how to resolve inequities in the ability of local school districts to raise tax money; and what the candidate considers the most serious problems and strengths in Utah's education system. Following are the responses, always in the same order:
District 3
Southern Utah County, Tooele County, central Utah
- Marilyn Shields, Stansbury Park: Tooele District Board of Education; Utah School Boards Association - director of legislative, public relations, boardsmanship acad-e-my and delegate assembly committees; member Tooele County Centennial Committee, Fair Board, Council of Governments; firefighter and secretary, Stansbury Park Fire Department; administrator, Benson Grist Mill Historic Site; tour guide, Western Leisure Co. and involved in several historical projects; director, Stansbury Park Clubhouse; computer operator, Tooele Army Depot and Utah State University admissions and records office.
"Local school boards are in a better position to decide where any additional funds should be spent. I would hope that the Legislature and State Board would pass through a great part of any increased school revenues to the local boards, which face many unmet needs each year.
"The infusion of technology into schools should be at the top of our priority list as a state. I have been a member of the Governor's Electronic High School Committee and know that much more can and should be done to implement the use of technology in the schools. It would be a prime area of concern for me as a board member.
"I believe local tax issues should be studied to see if more equalization is possible. Property tax is an important revenue source, but it is viewed by the public with skepticism. Rural districts often are at a disadvantage because they don't have the commercial development of more urban districts.
"The greatest problem faced by our schools is the sheer number of students. Our student population continues to grow, and we must find new and innovative ways to deal with growth. The greatest strength is the dedication of the education family and citizens. I am amazed at the dedication of our teachers, classified workers and administrators as they deal with children."
- Harold S. Jensen, Gunnison, incumbent: Has lived most of his life in District 3. Graduate of University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Taught six years in elementary school then for another 13 years taught accounting in college. Certified public accountant in Gunnison and central Utah for 18 years. Member of the State Board of Education for the past four years. Seeks one more term on the board.
"Increased revenues should be used to reduce class sizes and to enhance vocational education. Utah makes the best use of its money of any state, which is apparent by outstanding student achieve-ment measures, despite the lowest funding in the nation. The state's applied technology education also is among the best in the nation and could be made better with more funding.
"The state board, in cooperation with the State Board of Regents, the Legislature and Gov. (Mike) Leavitt all support more funds for technology for Utah education.
"Since 1948, Utah has led the nation in school funding equalization. The state income tax is distributed so the funding for each student in every district is the same. The assessed valuation of properties in the local districts, however, is not the same. Some tax exemptions should be eliminated to help the poorer school districts, especially in the area of capital expenditures.
"The most serious problem for education in Utah is the attitude of parents toward education, along with lack of adequate funding. The greatest strength in Utah schools is the wonderful teachers who are more interested in seeing student achievement than they are in worrying about the poor pay they receive."
- Disrict 3 includes south Provo; all communities in southern Utah County, excluding Santaquin and Salem; Cedar Valley and other west Utah County areas; and all of Tooele, Juab, Sanpete and Emery counties. The district's north boundary in Provo is Center Street west of I-15, and generally 600 South east of 500 West.
Other races
- District 1 (southwestern, south-central Utah): 13-year incumbent Neola Brown, Beaver, a teacher and counselor by profession, faces Ruth J. Jackson, Richfield, a 12-year member of the Sevier School Board.
- District 5 (portion of Weber County): two-year incumbent Tom Davidson, Ogden, a retired Thiokol vice president, faces Neal J. Clinger, Ogden, a radiologist and board member of the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Northern Utah.
- District 7 (south and central Davis County): two-year incumbent Katharine B. Garff, Bountiful, faces William J. Bonn III, Farmington, an architect and member of the Davis School District transportation and special education advisory committees.
- District 9 (most of West Valley City, west Salt Lake City, Magna, west West Jordan and Copperton): Kay McDonough, incumbent, is unopposed.
- District 10 (Taylorsville-Bennion, southeast West Valley City and north West Jordan): Waynette Steel, West Jordan, and Stan E. Weed, Bennion, are the candidates.
- District 13 (Holladay, Cottonwood Heights, south Murray, Midvale, Union, northwest Sandy and Little Cottonwood Creek Valley): Incumbent Allen E. Litster, Midvale, faces Janet A. Cannon, Holladay.