Board amends minutes to record Monica Wilbur spoke against 'science of reading'

The Utah State Board of Education voted unanimously to amend and then approve meeting minutes to note that public commenter Monica Wilbur spoke against the “science of reading.”

Member Klein moved to amend the minutes to state that Monica Wilbur had spoken against the science-of-reading approach; Member Booth seconded. After a voice vote, the board chair said the amendment passed unanimously and the minutes, as amended, were subsequently approved by a 13–0 vote.

“I would like that to be amended to say she spoke against science of reading. Okay. So this record is clear that that's what her her comment was,” Member Klein said during the meeting when moving the amendment.

Board members discussed the importance of accurately reflecting whether public comment was in favor of or against an issue rather than producing a one-sided record. The motion to amend the minutes was presented, seconded and carried without recorded opposition. The board later took a separate vote to approve the minutes as amended; the chair announced the approval was unanimous, 13–0.

The transcript does not record Monica Wilbur speaking during this meeting; it records only the board motion to change the prior meeting’s minutes to reflect her stance. No further action or follow-up on the underlying policy (science-of-reading) was recorded during the meeting.

The amendment corrects the official record of last month’s public comment and was approved by the full board.