faire_jour
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2008
- Messages
- 7,188
- Reaction score
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My letter to the news:
I am writing to you as a loyal viewer and the parent of a Deaf child. Her name is Katrina. She is five years old and scheduled to start attending kindergarten in the fall. Thanks to the Utah legislature, she has no place to go.
Utah School for the Deaf and Blind (USDB) was recently denied funding for a
permanent school building for the tenth year running. This leaves Katrina
and 410 other impaired children without a school. They cannot return to
their previous dilapidated building because it was condemned and is
scheduled for demolition. The new building that they were offered is riddled
with asbestos and literally millions of dollars from being up to code. The
lease for said building is three times the amount approved by the
legislature. The remaining balance, they said, could be taken directly from
the student's services.
The legislature has deliberately held the building negotiations in secret,
not inviting or informing USDB administration. When some of them discovered
this and tried to attend anyway, they were denied entrance.
I am asking for your help to spread the word to the general public. We are
holding a protest on July 8th from 8:30 to 10:30 am at the south steps of
the Capitol building. All are invited to attend. Please help us, we need as
much light on this issue as possible. I don't understand how we can take a
billion dollar surplus and not be able to fund a basic need for our Deaf and Blind children.
Hopefully we can get some attention and support. It was already on my favorite talk/news radio show in town. Cross your fingers for us!
I am writing to you as a loyal viewer and the parent of a Deaf child. Her name is Katrina. She is five years old and scheduled to start attending kindergarten in the fall. Thanks to the Utah legislature, she has no place to go.
Utah School for the Deaf and Blind (USDB) was recently denied funding for a
permanent school building for the tenth year running. This leaves Katrina
and 410 other impaired children without a school. They cannot return to
their previous dilapidated building because it was condemned and is
scheduled for demolition. The new building that they were offered is riddled
with asbestos and literally millions of dollars from being up to code. The
lease for said building is three times the amount approved by the
legislature. The remaining balance, they said, could be taken directly from
the student's services.
The legislature has deliberately held the building negotiations in secret,
not inviting or informing USDB administration. When some of them discovered
this and tried to attend anyway, they were denied entrance.
I am asking for your help to spread the word to the general public. We are
holding a protest on July 8th from 8:30 to 10:30 am at the south steps of
the Capitol building. All are invited to attend. Please help us, we need as
much light on this issue as possible. I don't understand how we can take a
billion dollar surplus and not be able to fund a basic need for our Deaf and Blind children.
Hopefully we can get some attention and support. It was already on my favorite talk/news radio show in town. Cross your fingers for us!
It doesn't really suprise me with Utah State Legilature denying funds for USDB. It is not only state that suffers this dilemma. Either way its way wrong. You could have distric attourney take matter to State Supreme court if legislature does not create appropriate funding or initiative.
