Parent urges board to review USDB supervision under House Bill 448

Alisa Ensign told the Utah State Board of Education during public comment that House Bill 448 specifies the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) "should report directly to the state superintendent," but recent town-hall materials describe supervision by a deputy superintendent, creating a possible mismatch between code and practice.

Ensign said the bill "states, quote, the state superintendent of public instruction shall appoint and supervise the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind who report directly to the state superintendent," and asked the board to compare board practice with state code. She warned that if supervision were shifted to a deputy who also serves as state special education director, "there will be a conflict of interest" because that deputy could both oversee compliance and influence the leadership they might also need to investigate.

The comment asked the board to ensure parents retain a "neutral safe place to go to file a complaint and get the services" their child needs; Ensign said that role could be lost if the supervisory chain reduces independence.

Board members thanked Ensign for her comment and the meeting moved to the next agenda item; no formal action or rebuttal occurred during public comment. Later in the meeting a deputy superintendent announced the USDB superintendent position had been offered and accepted by USDB leadership, and staff described upcoming work to align assessments and reporting with recent legislation. The board did not record a formal review decision at this meeting.

The public comment request will be part of ongoing board oversight of USDB implementation of legislative changes; Ensign asked that the board compare current board practices to the intent of House Bill 448 and report back.