Finance committee backs $50,000 in federal mineral lease funds for community math pilot and research
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The Utah State Board of Education Finance Committee voted Oct. 3 to recommend that the full board approve using $50,000 in federal mineral lease funds to support the Utah Community Math Initiative — an after-school math workshop and research pilot presented to the committee by Bonnie Jones.
The committee also directed staff to contact Ogden School District to solicit feedback on the pilot’s planned local implementation and to report that feedback to the full board before the November meeting.
Why it matters: The proposal is intended as a pilot and research project to address math anxiety and strengthen family and teacher capacity to support students. The requested funds are federal mineral lease (FML) dollars; staff advised the committee the proposal meets allowable uses because it is a research and community-education project.
What proponents said
Bonnie Jones, who described herself as a teacher and researcher, said she piloted workshops over the summer and observed that “participants were able to reframe their past experiences and gain new confidence in making sense of math and using it creatively.” She said adults who attended gained conceptual understanding and that students “began to see [math] as something they can do and even enjoy.” Jones told the committee the project aims to make those materials and findings available through the Utah Education Network for broader replication.
Committee action
Chair Matt Heimas moved the funding recommendation. The committee approved the recommendation (one member, Christy Boggess, registered opposition during the committee vote). Committee members also approved a separate, companion direction that staff contact Ogden School District for feedback prior to the board’s November meeting. Committee members discussed the importance of district-level cooperation and confirmed staff would seek Ogden’s views on hosting, publicity and coordination.
Next steps
Staff will prepare the grant/funding paperwork for the full board’s consideration and will report Ogden School District’s feedback to the board in advance of the November meeting. If the full board approves the request, staff said the funds would support the pilot’s workshops, research activities and dissemination of findings.
The committee also directed staff to contact Ogden School District to solicit feedback on the pilot’s planned local implementation and to report that feedback to the full board before the November meeting.
Why it matters: The proposal is intended as a pilot and research project to address math anxiety and strengthen family and teacher capacity to support students. The requested funds are federal mineral lease (FML) dollars; staff advised the committee the proposal meets allowable uses because it is a research and community-education project.
What proponents said
Bonnie Jones, who described herself as a teacher and researcher, said she piloted workshops over the summer and observed that “participants were able to reframe their past experiences and gain new confidence in making sense of math and using it creatively.” She said adults who attended gained conceptual understanding and that students “began to see [math] as something they can do and even enjoy.” Jones told the committee the project aims to make those materials and findings available through the Utah Education Network for broader replication.
Committee action
Chair Matt Heimas moved the funding recommendation. The committee approved the recommendation (one member, Christy Boggess, registered opposition during the committee vote). Committee members also approved a separate, companion direction that staff contact Ogden School District for feedback prior to the board’s November meeting. Committee members discussed the importance of district-level cooperation and confirmed staff would seek Ogden’s views on hosting, publicity and coordination.
Next steps
Staff will prepare the grant/funding paperwork for the full board’s consideration and will report Ogden School District’s feedback to the board in advance of the November meeting. If the full board approves the request, staff said the funds would support the pilot’s workshops, research activities and dissemination of findings.
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