SALT LAKE CITY – Voters had a chance to meet some of the candidates running for school boards across the state.
Organizers dubbed the rally: Elevating Utah Education – Common no more. Their vision is to change course from what they see as federal overreach in local education.
Anna Mock of Spanish Fork attended Saturday's rally to hear what candidates have to offer her family.
“I've got a 9, 7, 5, 3 and 1-year-old," Mock said.
Unhappy with the public school system, she home schools her children.
“Parents should be the sole responsible party for their children's education, and it just doesn't happen,” Mock said.
Candidates like Dr. Gary Thompson (District 10) and Alisa Ellis (District 12) sensed the frustrations of parents like Anna.
“Today, I draw a line in the sand, and for the sake of my children and your children and the community,” Thompson said.
“I'm running for state school board because when it came to discussing meaningful educational policy with my superintendent, I was told that we have no local control,” Ellis said.
Each called for the end to Common Core, which is a controversial education standards program passed by the State School Board in 2010.
They had an ally in attendance, Republican Gubernatorial candidate Jonathon Johnson.
“I'm committed to ending the Common Core mandate,” promised Johnson.
Anna liked what she heard from Johnson and the candidates, and she said it’ll hold a lot of weight come Election Day.
“I hope that if we have school board members, that were presenting today, and with him, and with more education and as parents know more about it, I think when the public conversation turns, I think it will be a lot easier to do that," she said.
Voters will get a chance to cast their ballot early on June 14th. Primary Election Day is June 28th.
