From establishing student testing to assessing curriculum standards, decisions made by the Utah State School Board directly affect the state’s 643,000 public school students, their families, teachers and administrators.

Seven of eight school board positions up for election will involve a primary this year. As a result, the Utah Association of Public charter Schools, Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, Sutherland Institute and KSL/Deseret News have teamed up to host public forums with the candidates.

“State school board positions often get overlooked by higher-profile offices, but these individuals shape the future for Utah students and teachers,” said Royce Van Tassell, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools. “We hope this debate series will educate the public before the important June primary.”

Audio recordings of each debate will be available at KSL.com.

Debate schedule:

• Tuesday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m.: District 15 – George Washington Academy, 2277 S. 3000 East, St. George

• Wednesday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m.: District 4 – North Davis Preparatory Academy, 1765 W. Hill Field Rd., Layton

• Wednesday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m.: District 7 – Salt Lake Arts Academy, 844 S. 200East, Salt Lake City

• Thursday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m.: District 8 – American International School of Utah, 4998 S. 360 West, Murray

• Saturday, June 18 at 9:30 a.m.: District 11 – Early Light Academy, 11709 S. Vadania Dr., South Jordan

• Wednesday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m.: District 10 – Channing Hall, 13515 S. 150 East, Draper

• Thursday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m.: District 12 – Noah Webster Academy, 205 E. 400 South, Orem

About the Organizers:

• Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a nonprofit which advocates for the 67,000 students attending charter schools in Utah and their families.

• Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah is dedicated to promoting political and civic involvement and engaging university students and the general public in the political process.

• Sutherland Institute is a Utah-based non-profit focused on thought leadership, empowering principles, elevated dialogue and enlightened public policy.

• KSL NewsRadio provides news, traffic and weather on 102.7 FM/1160 AM.
• Deseret News is the first news organization and longest continuously-operating business in the state of Utah.