utah capitol

Cuts to Utah School Security Funding Could Be Coming Due to Coronavirus Crisis

Lawmakers have not made any final decisions, but state education officials say that because funds have not been disbursed to schools yet, the safety funding could be axed.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • April 20, 2020

Lawmakers in Utah are already determining which budget cuts to implement in the wake of the coronavirus, and local news outlets are reporting one of the first will relate to school security funding.

During a meeting of charter school directors and state leaders last week, Angie Stallings, the Deputy Superintendent of Policy for the Utah State Board of Education, said that as much as $30 million in education dollars could be cut from the state’s budget, according to KUTV.

All of that $30 million comes from one-time funding set aside for school security improvements and has not been issued to schools yet, Utah Schools Superintendent Sydnee Disckson reportedly said during the meeting. This would make it easier to cut because it has only been allocated and was designated as a one-time payment rather than ongoing funding, she added.

The legislature is planning to hold a special session focused on issues directly affected by the coronavirus, including tax filing day and budget issues, state Rep. Mike Schultz told KUTV. Another special session will likely be called in May or June to address more significant moves like budget cuts, he said.

Schultz said that it’s too early to know how much money, if any, will be needed to cut from state budgets due to the coronavirus’ toll on the economy.

“One thing I want to stress is legislators are going to do whatever they can in regards to education, first off, to make sure we hold education as harmless as possible,” Schultz said of the choices facing legislators.

As KUTV reported, the state’s tax commission has yet to assess how much tax receipts will decrease due to the coronavirus and business closures across the state. No decisions will be made about budget cuts until the commission issues its report.

Schools in Utah will be physically closed through the end of the school year. Throughout the state, the last day of classes ranges from mid-May to June 5, according to KSL.com, and teachers will provide remote learning resources until then.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular