Utah faculty district spending flagged on meals, motion pictures, journey, luxurious blankets

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Some faculty districts in Utah have apparently spent tens of 1000’s of {dollars} this 12 months on catering, pizza, motion pictures, journey, accommodations, Bees baseball, Amazon and even high-end blankets.

A brand new report from the Utah Taxpayers Association outlines the spending, uncovered by a researcher who stated she pored over numbers in a public database for near 24 hours.

“We started to notice some interesting things popping up on the transaction side,” stated Billy Hesterman, president of the affiliation. “Our concern is that we’re losing the focus on student outcomes and that we’re more worried about the workplace experience or the student experience.”

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Eye On Education (Graphic: KUTV)

One district spent greater than $74,000 on Domino’s pizza. The Alpine District had expenditures of $22,000 for Minky Couture high-end blankets, and nearly $43,000 for Kneaders Bakery and Cafe.

Alpine stated it’s “mindful of the responsibility we have to use … resources wisely and make every effort to direct them to the best use.”

“I trust the discretion of the people at my school at the district,” said Hayley Enger, mother of young children in an Alpine elementary school.

“I think it’s outrageous,” stated Shelley Rowe, a lady with younger grandkids. “Where is that cash going?”

Rowe famous there are fundraisers on the elementary faculty her grandchildren attend, and oldsters and grandparents donate snacks.

The Provo District spent $10,000 on the Provo Marriott in the midst of July, and the researcher stated one other $10,000 on the Salt Lake Marriott for workers journey/per diem.

A district spokesman stated the Provo Marriott expense was for a big convention area, and the price of the Salt Lake Marriott was reimbursed by BYU.

The Provo District additionally spent greater than $30,000 for “Magleby’s Catering,” which the spokesman stated was for “multiple charges” over the varsity 12 months, together with a kick-off occasion for a whole bunch of lecturers.

Another district spent $36,000 for flights for conferences, per the report.

The Jordan District spent greater than $35,000 on the Salt Lake Bees on in the future.

“As a part of an occasion celebrating our 9,000 educators and workers, and welcoming them again to a brand new faculty 12 months, Jordan School District partnered with the Salt Lake Bees for an evening out on the ballpark,” stated Jordan spokeswoman Sandy Riesgraf.

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