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Regional education service agencies describe cooperative supports for rural districts

Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Utah Legislature · January 29, 2026

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Summary

RESA leaders and a rural superintendent told the committee RESAs provide economies of scale—IT, library circulation, behavioral specialists and professional development—arguing cuts would hinder rural district capacity.

Kiki Hudson presented the RESA line item and the four agencies that receive grants through USBE to serve rural and charter schools. Joby (Joe) Wright, executive director of the Southwest Education Development Center (SEDC), and Ben Dalton, a rural superintendent, outlined services: professional development, technology support and shared purchasing that drive cost savings and make specialized services (autism and behavioral specialists, cybersecurity, library circulation management) available to small districts.

RESA representatives said local contributions average about $1.24 for every $1 of state funding and asked the committee to avoid reductions that would erode service capacity. They noted that if cuts are unavoidable, the statutory labor-market increase may be the area to adjust rather than the core RESA allocation.