The Education Statement

[Administrator]

The Education vision statement follows. Please add your comments by clicking on reply or starting a new thread on the topic. You can see the members of the Education Committee that drafted the statements at www.provo.org/current_issues.visioning_submembers.html#education.

Provo City is fortunate to have high-quality public and private institutions of higher education as partners. City leaders recognize the value of an educated citizenry by encouraging expansion and support of all educational institutions. The educational institutions help create important skills development and cultural experiences for all ages. Access to the best technology, opportunities for post-secondary education, and a commitment to zoning that enhances and encourages home ownership or long-term residency will continue to strengthen the citizens of Provo over the next 20 years.


Goal 1. Excel and lead in utilizing the talents and contributions of the diverse population of Provo City, recognizing that for a city with our needs, strengths, and vulnerabilities, we can and must do better than other communities in making our diversity a strength for the city--not merely as something to accommodate, but as something that makes the city attractive and vital.

Objective 1.1. Recognize and foster the development of the economic and human potential as well as the talents of Provo’s diverse population.

Goal 2. Pro-actively improve technological infrastructure to attract and retain residents and businesses, which will provide increased technological literacy, improve workforce training, increase access to technology, and enhance technological educational services.

Objective 2.1. Ensure a technological infrastructure that can support and sustain individual, educational, and business demands. The infrastructure should enable the access and use of the best proven technology tools.

Objective 2.2. Supply residents of all socioeconomic backgrounds with more autonomy for learning and equal access to basic 21st century skills, and partner with high-quality educational institutions to provide quality online learning opportunities.

Objective 2.3. Recognize the risks associated with free and open access to the Internet and increased communication channels, and combat such threats through safe and secure access and community training that reflects community values.

Objective 2.4. Form collaborative teams of diverse community members and organizations with the goal of establishing funding and partnership opportunities that will enhance Provo’s technology services. Understand the need to be fiscally prudent and the benefits of using Provo’s greatest resource which is Provo’s people.

Goal 3. Encourage stability and owner occupancy in Provo's housing stock by recognizing that zoning and land use have a significant and direct impact on the local school district and the district's ability to educate its students. Families that are unstable in terms of their location within the community make educating their children a daunting challenge for the school system.

Objective 3.1. Because as of 2011, 60 percent of Provo's housing stock is not owner occupied, owner occupancy or long-term residency in new housing developments should be encouraged, especially in developments designed and marketed as multi-family, or attached, housing.

Objective 3.2. Emphasize continued renewal and beautification of the city’s older sections.

.

Objective 3.3. To encourage a diverse population within Provo, blend home ownership with rental housing in developments that are not meant for college-student housing.

Objective 3.4. TAvoid concentrating large numbers of rental housing, either in one development or within one neighborhood, outside of areas intended for college student housing.

Objective 3.5. Work together with the local school organizations to create educational opportunities for land use (outdoor classrooms, conservation, sustainable development practices, etc.) and continue to partner with these organizations regarding facilities management and recreation.

Goal 4. Encourage and foster quality educational opportunities and networks to sustain and enhance economic development, recognizing that economic development is dependent upon the strength and quality of the city’s educational network (K-12 through higher education) and the level of educational attainment of its residents.

Objective 4.1. Engage Provo businesses in educational partnerships, sponsorships, internships, or volunteer opportunities.

Objective 4.2. Support economic endeavors where higher education-generated technologies, ideas, and entrepreneurial activities can flourish into profitable businesses.

Objective 4.3. Support the objectives of the Prosperity Subcommittee

.

[sharonk]

Although one of the Value statements under Education is "We value our access to quality libraries and arts", there are no goals addressing the future of the Provo City Library (PCL). The Library checks out over 1.83 million items annually from a single location and nearly 75,000 people attend library programs each year. In addition to traditional library functions, the PCL offers 70 public Internet computers and free computer classes, provides tax forms, and rents out or offers free use of meeting rooms over 1200 times annually. Preschool story times teach young children letters, rhymes and songs, and to love books. Where do you envision the library in 20 years? With ebooks and streaming music and video becoming more popular, it is not an easy question to answer, but it should be addressed. The Provo City Library is an important part of Provo City and its future should not be overlooked.

[cpk]

I agree with these statements and I am passionate about the importance of 3, 4. A certain amount of stability is paramount to maintaining a good school and community. I have had children go to schools in my neighborhood's boundaries and out and I feel so much more connected and effective when our local school is thriving. And I am much more aware of the needs in my neighborhood.

[liveworkprovo]

In response to Objective 3:

I'm glad the Vision recognizes that there is a need for non-student rental housing. To expect all dwellings to be owner-occupied is idealistic at best and disastrous at worst. The recent economic downturn demonstrated that not everyone can or, frankly, SHOULD qualify as a homeowner. However, the idea presented in the Vision of discouraging large concentrations of non-student rental housing is very exclusionary.

Apartment complexes or other large multifamily developments are often viewed in a very negative light. What some fail to realize is that these communities provide a very important component of the housing stock. Municipalities that would like to provide affordable housing options are sometimes ignorant to the fact that economies of scale are what make multifamily housing affordable. Higher-density development allows for lower rents. To pepper suburban-style neighborhoods with an occasional duplex or row of townhouses simply will not provide housing options for a large demographic, unless these units are highly subsidized. A well-managed higher-density housing development is, in my opinion, the best way to meet this segment of the housing demand. Transitory families, although a challenge for educators, are a reality in any community (and my mother is a retired teacher, so I know this firsthand).