I’m starting a regular series of blog posts from now until the vote on Referendum 1 November 6th, and it is specifically designed to show you the lies that are being spread about Referendum 1 and Utah Vouchers.
Myth No. 1 For each child that uses a voucher, the state will lose $3k from it’s budget for public schools.
Fact: $3k is the MAXIMUM per child scholarship that can be used as a voucher. The entire per-student voucher spending is based on the income of the parent(s) and is compared against Federal Guidelines called Reduced Lunch Income Guidelines. In Utah that means if you make less than $43,290 per year, you qualify for a $3k per year voucher for your student. The more money you make, the less money you get for a voucher on down to $500 per year.
I don’t know many people making $43,290 a year who can pay $10k a year to send their kid to a private school. If you make more than $119,048 per year or more than you only qualify for $500 per year, but let’s be serious, which group do you think is really sending their kid to private school? $3k per student? I don’t think so. (Read Referendum 1)
Can anyone address whether this video is accurate or not?
Connor was first.
Sure, it’s more accurate than the original oreo ad. But this one (and most of them) leave out one crucial point: who does the money belong to?
The person in this video, and those who believe likewise, feel that the taxpayer’s money belongs to the school and district, to distribute as they see fit, and manage all the programs and classes that they provide for the other students.
The issue here is one of fiscal morality: who owns the money funding these programs? Should parents who wish to educate their children in a private school be required to fund the programs and administration for their neighbor’s children?
This ad does accurately reflect the monetary dissemination in public schools: $7,000 is not applied directly to each individual student. Instead, that money is divvied up among all those involved in the process.
But what of it?
Pro-voucher ads have it right when they state that competition should be introduced into schooling, allowing a person’s money to be spent according to whoever they feel can best provide the services they desire.
If money has to be taken from gym teachers, the library, and the computer lab, so what? Obviously, if a significant number of students leave the school, less resources will be required to administer to the leftover students, and thus programs can be downsized, teachers can be let go, and less classes offered. Basic supply and demand.
But unions like their job security. They don’t want anybody “let go” simply because the services they provide don’t meet up to the expectations of the customer (parents). And so, you see teachers vigorously opposing vouchers, simply because it would mean downsizing, restructuring, and fiscal hardship. They like being funded by every taxpayer in the city. Who wouldn’t?
The Utah Vouchers issue is bringing out the worst in people as they have started lying on camera in order to stop Referendum 1, a program that will increase the quality of public schools. I strongly encourage you to Vote for 1. If you believe that phony ad with the “teacher of the year” you are believing a lie. Even KSL pointed out how false and misleading these are.
5 - My position on vouchers - David Miller
“The virtual monopoly of our public schools in the arena of primary education is not beneficial to our society. ”
4 - Voucher Accountability: The Best Auditor (Referendum 1)
“… if the private school fails to satisfy the parents, what will happen? Tough accountability - the money and child shift to another school (public or private). The school will know they failed when they see the “pay cut” and poor performing private schools will, ultimately, go belly up.”
2 - The Moral Case for Vouchers
“Voucher opponents consist primarily of members of a major labor union (teachers) and a corps of professional school administrators, both with a vested interest in the outcome. They fear a loss of power.”
1 - Weighing in on the Utah Voucher Program
“Whatever the government funds, it regulates. There is no public money given without legislative oversight. By accepting voucher money, private schools will have to meet government requirements”
I wanted to offer my congrats to three Decade Media clients, which all made this year’s Utah 100 list.
SilverCreek Development - No. 52
Atlas Marketing Group - No. 24
Engenuity Salt Lake - No. 19
A big congrats to all the others on the list. I’d toss you some link love as well, but I’ll just stick to those that put out the press releases. MediConnect - No. 23 Aculis - No. 4 DirectPointe - No. 62
I couldn’t find the third listed company’s ranking in the press release. My guess is that was done intentionally because 62 doesn’t sound all that great, but Mike Proper is a champion, and DirectPointe is definitely a successful company.
Congratulations to the Omniture team on becoming the 10th fastest growing company in Utah! Decade Media’s PR team led by Russ Page would love to help you make it to No. 1 next year. Do we know what we’re doing? We’d like to think so since you found this site.
Give me 15 minutes, and I’ll show you a PR plan that guarantees media coverage, gets more customers and sells more product. I’ll also show you how our firm will do your PR work every month for free. Contact me below.
Congratulations to the ExpressTech Holdings team on becoming the eighth fastest growing company in Utah! Fifty Studio’s internet marketing team led by Russ Page would love to help you make it to No. 1 next year. Do we know what we’re doing? We’d like to think so since you found this site.
Give me 15 minutes, and I’ll show you a PR plan that guarantees media coverage, gets more customers and sells more product. I’ll also show you how our firm will do your PR work every month for free. Contact me below.
Congratulations to the OMNI Brokerage team on becoming the sixth fastest growing company in Utah! Fifty Studio’s internet marketing team would love to help you get to No. 1 next year. Do we know what we’re doing? We’d like to think so since you found this site.
Give me 15 minutes, and I’ll show you how to get more customers and sell more product. Contact me below.
I’m starting a regular series of blog posts from now until the vote on Referendum 1 November 6th, and it is specifically designed to show you the lies that are being spread about Referendum 1 and Utah Vouchers.
