Land Trusts, School Community Council
Trust Lands
In 1894, shortly before Utah became a state, Congress created a land trust including one-ninth of the land of the state to support our public schools. Today, schools still have 3.3 million acres scattered around the state. These lands are held by the state as trustee for our public schools. The lands are managed by the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA). All net revenue is saved in the permanent State School Fund.
Trust Funds
Under the Utah Enabling Act and the Utah Constitution, all net revenue is saved in the permanent State School Fund, which is currently over $1 billion. Investment of the permanent State School Fund is under the prudent direction of Richard Ellis, State Treasurer. Interest and dividend income is distributed by the School Land Trust Program through districts and directly to each school. All capital gains are retained in the fund to grow the fund and its impact on schools.
Program
The School Land Trust program brings tens of millions of dollars annually to academic programs in public schools across Utah. These funds are the only discretionary funds’ many schools receive. Each school elects a school community council consisting of parents, teachers, and the principal. Councils carefully study their school test scores, decide which areas they want to improve and develop a School Improvement Plan. From that plan, a council chooses one or more academic areas on which to focus its annual trust dividend from the School Land Trust program to improve student performance.
Each school elects a school community council consisting of parents, teachers and the principal. Charter schools are not required to have a council but instead have trust land committees that make decisions about the School Land Trust Program. Your council or committee prepares a plan that identifies the school’s greatest academic need(s).
Your council or committee receives an annual dividend from the permanent State School Fund every July to implement your school’s approved plan for the next school year.
Councils set measurable goals with a plan to achieve the goals and submit the plan online. Their local school board will approve the plan or may ask for revisions before approval. Funds are only distributed to schools with approved plans.
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USDB Council Membership
| Member: | Role: | Contact Information: |
| Charity Diven | Chair | charitydiven@gmail.com |
| Valerie Dodart | Vice Chair | valeried@yahoo.com |
| Michelle Tanner | Administrator | michellet@usdb.org |
| Carolyn Lasater | Administrator | carolynl@usdb.org |
| Melissa Brown | Secretary | melissab@usdb.org |
| Burgandy Keel | Parent | burg3g@gmail.com |
| Michelle Green | Parent | macatering@hotmail.com |
| Jami McAdams | Parent | jtwitche@hotmail.com |
| Stephanie Gunther | Parent | stephaniewkim00@gmail.com |
2018-19 SCC Meeting Schedule
| Date: | Location: | Zoom Link |
| September 17, 2018 from 5:30 – 6 pm. | 1655 E 3300 S. (OEC Board Room) or 742 Harrison Blvd. (Conference Room A/B) | https://usdb.zoom.us/j/663449113 |
| October 15, 2018 from 5:30 – 6 pm. | 1655 E 3300 S. (OEC Board Room) or 742 Harrison Blvd. (Conference Room A/B) | https://usdb.zoom.us/j/556152605 |
| January 21, 2019 from 5:30 – 6 pm. | 1655 E 3300 S. (OEC Board Room) or 742 Harrison Blvd. (Conference Room A/B) | https://usdb.zoom.us/j/248654792 |
| April 23, 2019 from 5:30 – 6 pm. | 1655 E 3300 S. (OEC Board Room) or 742 Harrison Blvd. (Conference Room A/B) | https://usdb.zoom.us/j/441287878 |
2016-2017 School Land Trust Final Report
2017-2018 School Land Trust Final Report
2018-2019 School Land Trust Plan
Archived Meeting Minutes
| Date: |
| April 30, 2018 |
| January 22, 2018 |
| September 21, 2017 |
