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House approves new governance structure for Utah Education Network
Summary
House members adopted amendments to first substitute HB53 to change the Utah Education Network's governance from a 29-member steering committee to an 11-member governing board composed of appointees from public education, higher education, UCAT, the state library and the governor’s office; the bill passed unanimously.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Jan. 30 passed first substitute House Bill 53 to restructure the Utah Education Network (UEN) board from 29 members to an 11-member governing board with appointment authority and oversight responsibilities.
Representative Menlove, sponsor of the measure, described UEN as a technology infrastructure connecting higher education and public education. The bill would create a smaller governing board with four public-education appointees, four higher-education appointees, a state library appointee, a governor’s office appointee and a UCAT appointee; UEN’s executive director would be an at-will employee.
Menlove said the new board would "hire and direct the work of the UEN executive director" and provide more accountability consistent with the entity's evolution over 10–15 years. The floor adopted amendment No. 2 to adjust nomination language so that the state board of education — with constitutional authority over public education — nominates public-education members rather than the state superintendent.
Supporters said the streamlined governance reflects UEN’s modern role and may serve as a model for other states. The House approved the amended bill 71–0 and sent it to the Senate.
The bill’s passage will prompt administrative changes at UEN and requires follow-up on appointments and board bylaws.
