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Residents and teachers urge board to reverse decision to end 54-year community education program
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Summary
Multiple community members urged the Salt Lake City Board of Education to reconsider ending the district—ommunity education/adult classes after 54 years, citing student opportunities, volunteer instructors and modest district costs.
Board members heard more than a half‑dozen public comments on April 14 urging the district to reconsider a decision to discontinue its community education program, a 54‑year offering that provides low‑cost adult and evening classes across the city.
Speakers included Ted Condie, a longtime district instructor who said the program supports SkillsUSA competitors and K–12 students who rely on after‑school lab time. "Welding is a science... it's a craft," Condie said, arguing that reduced after‑school access curtailed students' ability to prepare for competitions and career pathways.
Kathleen Curry Griffin, who identified herself as a former community‑education supervisor with more than 30 years of experience in the district, told the board the program served more than 35,000 patrons between 2011 and 2023, generated about $2 million in revenue and offered 6,500 classes over recent years. "This is not a casual opinion. This is based on hands‑on experience," Griffin said, and she cautioned that the district ecision runs contrary to the legal expectation that schools act as civic centers for supervised community activities.
Other speakers, including Raj Gyandeep, Hank Perry and Todd Anderson, described the program's value for lifelong learning, affordability and social connection. Several commenters asked the board for clearer engagement with stakeholders and for exploring alternatives to an outright shutdown.
District leaders have said the program lies outside the district—ore K–12 mission and that contracts and benefits tied to community education cost roughly $175,000 annually; no formal vote on the program was taken during the meeting. Board members acknowledged the public feedback and pointed to potential community or philanthropic options to preserve services on a year‑to‑year basis.
The board did not take immediate action to restore the program; staff said they would follow up with stakeholders and consider options that would not violate federal funding rules for K–12 operations. The public comment period ended with the chair thanking speakers and moving to the reports agenda.
