The clear winner in Round 1 is the Utah Constitution — and the people of Utah who many decades ago ratified the amendment that states there shall be no partisan or religious test for employment, admittance or attendance in Utah schools. It’s a common-sense constitutional requirement.
The ruling from the district court is a solid victory to stop the implementation of SB 78, which would have made elections for the state Board of Education partisan. If this law is implemented, we all know that the next target is partisan elections for local boards of education.
So the victory is sweet. Legislative leaders may demand an appeal to the Utah Supreme Court, but the district court opinion is solid. There should be no partisan tests in our schools. Let’s hope Round 2 will also affirm this important principle.
Sheryl Allen, North Salt Lake
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