Questions for the candidates, especially Mike Morley

Here are the education questions I'd like to ask the 2010 candidates for state office:

• What do you think is working in Utah public schools? What isn't?
• Is it important to have highly trained and certified teachers in our schools? If so, what can you do to make that happen?
• What are some education thinkers, policymakers, or institutes that you particularly agree with or routinely use for information?
  
• Will you meet with major stakeholder groups in education such as the Utah Education Association and PTA?
• What is the role of the legislator in mediating problems between education stakeholders? (parents, students, teachers, community leaders, district leaders, etc)

Questions specifically for Mike Morley:

• Over the last three years have the charter schools in Nebo district, specifically American Leadership Academy, shown that parent choice creates a better school and a higher-quality education? For either yes or no, how so?
• Are you in favor of having Nebo District gradually assume the funding for the five charter schools within its boundaries? Why or why not? (Link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700015624/Districts-to-fund-charter-schools.html?pg=1;) ( http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700015789/Utah-Legislature-Charter-school-funding-provision-removed-from-education-budget.html?s_cid=rss-30) Do you think Nebo District can handle the cost? How?
  

2008 per-pupil expenditure for charter schools in Nebo district boundaries

• American Leadership Academy: 5,040
• CS Lewis Academy: 7,467
• Liberty Academy: 6,050
  
• Merit Prep: N/A
• Reagan Academy: 4,710

Nebo school district per pupil expenditure for 2008: 5,909

(financial data from USOE Financial Reports http://www.schools.utah.gov/finance/other/AnnualReport/ar2008.htm) And remember- the district is already scrambling to cover new growth beyond what's absorbed by charters.

Another very important question for Mike Morley:
If districts did take over more charter school funding, and the cost of building the charter schools is included in that funding, wouldn't that mean that property tax money would be directly channeled into your business as a major builder of Utah charter schools? What would you do about that conflict of interest?