KAYSVILLE—Surrounded by trucks and machinery, at the Diesel/Heavy Duty Technician Lab at Davis Technical College (Davis Tech), Gov. Spencer Cox hosted a ceremonial signing on Monday, of several education and student opportunity bills. Cox was joined by the lawmakers who sponsored the bills. The new legislation will allow students to earn credentials while exploring careers and planning for their future.

“I can tell you I was not as good in this part as I was in the other part of school,” Cox said, speaking of technical education. “But I have a brother who’s really good in this part of school and has thrived in making sure that we have those opportunities available to all of our kids, whatever their interest is and whatever their capacity is.”

Cox, surrounded by bill sponsors, signs HB447 Statewide Catalyst Campus Model. Photo by Becky Ginos

 It’s so important, he said. “I’m so proud of what you (legislators) all have worked so hard to accomplish.”

“HB219 is a really important bill that facilitates funding for charter schools, particularly the facility finance space,” said Rep. Neil Walter. “One thing I love about this is it doesn’t cost the state money and we’re actually going to save schools. This is a great way for us to put money back into schools and back into classrooms by working on some of the financing mechanisms without asking taxpayers for more resources – more funds.”

Walter said they had some extraordinary help from industry professionals. “We had some very good research and industry perspective that was provided. Then we’ve had tremendous support from our charter school communities. It’s a great bill. Thank you for signing it.”

“HB260 is very near and dear to our hearts, something we worked very hard on,” said Cox. “This is the first credential program.”

“This is an example of a bill where many people came together,” said Sen. Ann Millner who sponsored the bill. “We started this work probably several years ago. The PRIME program was found to be something that was making a difference but it needed more clarity.”

It needed to be simpler for students, she said. “It needed to be simpler for parents and it needed to be clear that this is an option that would allow you to go to work or go to school, continue to do higher education or both just in case you’re interested in it.”

Millner said they pulled together groups of people over the summer and fall to help get the structure of it right. “That included superintendents, school board members, local school board members, teachers and others all coming together to help us make sure we’re doing this in the right way.”

The goal is that every student who wants this opportunity and a wide range of career fields in the workforce will be able to have that opportunity, she said. “That’s something that can make a real difference in terms of having our students have more opportunities.”

“I want to quickly give a shout out to our teachers,” said Rep. Douglas Welton, sponsor of HB381. “Our teachers do an incredible job educating the public and our students on the American government and civics. I look at students coming out of high school right now and they know more than I did when I graduated from high school.”

They have a better understanding of court cases and government documents and things like that but we still find ourselves at a shortage of civics education and our ability to engage meaningfully in the public square when we’re talking about the world that we live in and civics is a place that everyone engages in. So what this bill (HB381) does is put a greater focus on our government, principles and institutions and our documents including the study of the entire Constitution, something that I think not very many people have ever read.”

Welton said he believes that this bill will encourage better conversations with better outcomes. “This will have a ripple effect throughout many, many generations to come.”

“As I walk in it’s hard not to notice the backdrop,” said Speaker Mike Schultz, sponsor of HB447 Statewide Catalyst Campus Model. “What a great shout out and opportunity talking about technical education and a catalyst campus. I want you to know not only do I notice the vehicles, but also the smell. I love the smell of automotive shops. It brings me back to my days in high school automotive class.”

This catalyst campus bill is expanding career technical education opportunities in the high school range, he said. “I’ll never forget having an opportunity to visit the Catalyst Center right here in Davis County. They’ve really led the way. What I love most about the catalyst model is it involves industry.”

The workforce, businesses, citizens and kids are really wanting more opportunities in technical education, said Schultz. “This bill expands that.”

The last bill signed was SB162 Talent Connect that was also sponsored by Millner.

“As society changes, as career paths change, we’re going to be re-educating more and more people later in life,” said Cox. “I’m going to need a new job in four years so I’m going to need a place to come back and learn new skills. That’s what this is all about.”