25 April 2014<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DELIVERED VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
\n<\/span><\/b>Kristi Swett, President
\nSalt Lake City School District, Board
\n2256 South King Street
\nSalt Lake City, UT 84109<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Re<\/b>: School District Budget Priorities <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Dear President Swett,<\/span><\/p>\n

In this letter, I am requesting that the issue of class size reduction<\/b> and providing our employees with a 3% increase in salary<\/b>, be part of our budget discussion for the school board meeting of May 6, 2014.<\/p>\n

I recognize that in previous years, you and other members of the board, voted to balance the budget by reducing the teacher workforce, which in turn, increased the number of students per teacher. It is now becoming painfully clear to parents and educators alike, that we have reached the point in which we can no longer afford to balance the budget on the backs of our students. Research clearly demonstrates the unmistakable correlation between class size and student achievement. You will recall, at our April 1, 2013, school board meeting; our very own, Ms. Rebecca Pittam, principal of Washington Elementary, introduced the school board to the term, \u201cbuying down the class size\u201d.<\/i> Ms. Pittam went on to explain that the School Community Council made the decision to utilize Title I and other discretionary funding to hire additional teachers. Ms. Pittam made the point that the smaller class sizes were a significant factor in her school achieving the student outcomes that they now enjoy and the distinction of being a Title I school with a \u201cB\u201d letter grade.<\/p>\n

As to our employees, you will recall that in the June 4, 2013, school board meeting, I proposed an amendment to the budget, which would have given our employees a 3% increase in salary. Although, that motion failed, I nevertheless pointed out that I believed it was grossly unfair to offer our employees a 1% increase, while giving the superintendent a 3% annual bonus on top of his salary. I still maintain that if 3% annual bonus is good enough for the superintendent, then it is good enough for all of our district teachers and employees. Frankly, I am a bit dismayed that previous boards have perpetuated this type of salary inequity. I trust these are two issues the board is willing to deliberate.<\/p>\n

Shalom,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

J. Michael Cl\u00e1ra
\nBoard Member, District 2<\/b><\/p>\n