Student leaders from Uinta High’s DECA chapter and representatives of other Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) urged the Uintah School District Board of Education on Oct. 8 to help block state funding cuts that would defund CTSOs statewide.

‘‘These clubs, these CTSO clubs are so crucial to these students that are in them. They teach us the skills and they give us the technical training that we need to be able to be successful in our futures,’’ Jay Brit, a DECA officer, told the board. The students said state leaders are considering removing funding for CTSOs and that earlier statewide cuts already removed millions of dollars. The presenters asked the board to email the state appropriations subcommittee on their behalf, to sign a prepared petition and to help drive community signatures ahead of an Oct. 14 subcommittee meeting.

What students are asking the board to do
Students said they have generated a QR-code petition that already had ‘a little over a 100’ in-person signatures and more than 100 online signatures gathered at school events. They asked board members to use a short suggested email template (subject line guidance included) and to contact local legislators, citing Representative Chu as a local point of contact referenced by students.

Why it matters
DECA and other CTSOs provide classroom-linked competitive and technical experiences that students and several board members said are important for workforce skills and higher-education readiness. Students said a loss of state funding would force districts or local boosters to absorb program costs or reduce CTSO offerings.

Board response and next steps
Board members encouraged the students’ advocacy and suggested personal contacts and short, focused messages to legislators would be effective. Board members and district staff agreed to help distribute the template email and network with local legislative contacts. Students were invited to meet legislators and to present the same information at the legislature if asked.

Ending
Students left the meeting with a pledge from board members to help with outreach and with a request to have signatures and emails ready before the subcommittee meets Oct. 14.