Utah Teachers Seek More Funding Amid Stress and Student Behavior Issues
Utah educators are calling for increased funding to address stress and student needs as the state Legislature prepares for its session
Utah, Teachers, Funding, Student Behavior, Legislature
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 gearing up for its session, 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 emphasized that it’s misleading to think you can support both vouchers and public education at the same time.
The state has set up a fund that gives eligible K-12 students up to $8,000 for various educational expenses, which costs taxpayers around $82.5 million a year. This year, the UEA is pushing for at least a 3% increase in funding per student, which would require about $135 million from the state.
They also want more paid hours for teachers and better access to free school meals for families. Teachers are concerned about the quality of education they can provide, especially with larger class sizes and the increasing needs of their students.
Becky Bissegger, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary, pointed out that students are coming in with more significant challenges, 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, mentioned that classroom behavior issues 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.
With education being a top priority for Republican lawmakers this year, Pinkney is concerned about the potential for rushed legislation that may not address real issues. She hopes for fewer education bills that could complicate matters further.