USDB committee opposes removing campus options, asks legislature to study funding changes

The Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind (USDB) standing committee on Nov. 25 agreed to send a revised response to the State Board addressing recent Public Education Appropriations (PEA) recommendations and related audits, saying the legislature should study funding changes before restricting current campus options.

Chair Leanne Wood opened the special meeting saying the committee had been asked to evaluate recommendations that came to the Executive Appropriations Committee and to prepare material the full board can use in legislative drafting. After public comment and staff briefings, the committee moved and approved a referral to the full board for discussion, review and approval, including technical edits and an accessible version for the public.

Why it matters: parents, advocates and some board members warned that language in the PEA memo that would “limit comprehensive services” risks restricting student access to campus programming and language-rich environments. Several parents said those services — campus programs, outreach, USIMAC-accessible materials, bilingual supports and related therapy — are essential for students who are deaf, blind or deaf-blind.

Parents and community speakers told the…