Extracts from the Constitution of the ARTICLE X. EDUCATION. Section 1. Free non-sectarian schools... The legislature shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of a uniform system of public schools, which shall be open to all children of the State, and be free from sectarian control. Sec. 2. Public school system. Maintenance. The public school system shall include kindergarten schools, common schools, consisting of primary and grammar grades, high schools, an agricultural college, a university, and such other schools as the legislature may establish. The common schools shall be free. The other departments of the system shall be supported as provided by law; provided, that high schools may be maintained free in all cities of the first and second class now constituting school districts, and in such other cities and districts as may be designated by the legislature. But where the proportion of school moneys apportioned or accruing to any city or district shall not be sufficient to maintain all the free schools in such city or district, the high schools shall be supported by local taxation. Sec. 3. Declaring What Shall Constitute the State School Fund, and Providing for the Apportionment of High School Funds. The proceeds of all lands that have been or may be granted by the United States to this State, for the support of the common schools; the proceeds of all property that may. accrue to the State by escheat or forfeiture; all unclaimed. shares and dividends of any corporation incorporated under the laws of this State; the proceeds of the sale of timber, min eral or other property from school and State lands, other than those granted for specific purposes; and five per centum of the net proceeds of the sale of public lands lying within the state, which shall be sold by the United States, subsequent to the admission of this State into the Union, shall be and remain a perpetual fund, to be called the State School Fund, the interest of which only, together with such other means as the Legislature may provide, shall be distributed among the several school districts according to the school population residing therein. Provided, That all funds derived from any State tax for high schools shall be apportioned among the several cities and school districts according to the attendance at the high schools therein; but no city or district shall be entitled to any part of the fund derived from the State tax for high school unless the high school therein is maintained upon the standard and for the period during the year that may be fixed by the state board of education. (Amendment adopted November 8th, 1910.) Sec. 4. University and Agricultural College located. The location and establishment by existing laws of the University of Utah, and the Agricultural College are hereby confirmed, and all the rights, immunities, franchises and endowments' heretofore granted or conferred, are hereby perpetuated unto said University and Agricultural College respectively. Sec. 5. Permanent funds. The proceeds of the sale of lands reserved by an act of Congress, approved February 21st, 1855, for the establishment of the University of Utah, and of all the lands granted by an act of congress, approved July 16th, 1894, shall constitute permanent funds, to be safely invested and held by the State; and the income thereof shall be used exclusively for the support and maintenance of the different institutions and colleges, respectively, in accordance with the requirements and conditions of said acts of Congress. Sec. 6. Separate control of city schools. In cities of the first and second class, the public school system shall be controlled by the board of education of such cities, separate and apart from the counties in which said cities are located. Sec. 7. School funds guaranteed by state. All public school funds shall be guaranteed by the State against loss or diversion. Sec. 8. State board of education. The general control and supervision of the public school system shall be vested in a state board of education, consisting of the superintendent of public instruction, and such other persons as the legislature may provide. Sec. 9. Text books. Neither the legislature nor the state board of education shall have power to prescribe text books to be used in the common schools. Sec. 10. Institutions for deaf, dumb and blind. Institutions for the deaf and dumb, and for the blind, are hereby established. All property belonging to the school for the deaf and dumb, heretofore connected with the University of Utah, shall be transferred to said institution for the deaf and dumb. All the proceeds of the lands granted by the United States, for the support of a deaf and dumb asylum, and for an institution for the blind, shall be a perpetual fund for the maintenance of said institutions. It shall be a trust fund, the principal of which shall remain inviolate, guaranteed by the state against loss by diversion. Sec. 11. Metric system. The metric system shall be taught in the public schools of the state. Sec. 12. No religious or partisan tests in schools. Neither religious nor partisan test or qualification shall be required of any person as a condition of admission, as teacher or student, into any public educational institution of the State. Sec. 13. Public aid to church schools forbidden. Neither the legislature nor any county, city, town, school district or other public corporation, shall make any appropriation to aid. in the support of any school, seminary, academy, college, university, or other institution, controlled in whole, or in part, by any church, sect or denomination whatever. ARTICLE 13. Sec. 7. Fixing the Rate of Taxation for State Purposes, Apportioning Same and Creating a High School Fund. The rate of taxation on property for State purposes shall never exceed eight mills on each dollar of valuation to be apportioned as follows: Not to exceed four and one-half mills on each dollar of valuation for general State purposes; not to exIceed three mills on each dollar of valuation for district school purposes; not to exceed one-half mill on each dollar of valuation for high school purposes; that part of the state tax apportioned to high school purposes shall constitute a fund to be called the "high school fund" and shall be apportioned to the cities and school districts maintaining high schools in the manner the legislature may provide. And whenever the taxable property within the State shall amount to four hundred million dollars, the rate shall not exceed five mills on each dollar of valuation; unless a proposition to increase such rate, specifying the rate proposed and the time during which the same shall be levied, be first submitted to a vote of such of the qualified electors of the State as, in the year next preceding such election, shall have a property tax assessed to them within the State, and the majority of those voting thereon shall vote in favor thereof, in such manner as may be provided by law. (Amendment adopted November 8th, 1910.) ARTICLE 14. Sec. 4. Fixing the limit of indebtedness of counties, cities, towns and school districts. When authorized to create indebtedness as provided in section 3 of this article, no county shall become indebted to an amount, including existing indebtedness exceeding two per centum. No city, town, school district or other municipal corporation, shall become indebted amount, including existing indebtedness, exceeding four per centum of the value of the taxable property therein, the value to be ascertained by the last assessment for State and county purposes, previous to the incurring of such indebtedness; except that in incorporated cities the assessment shall be taken from the last assessment for city purposes; provided, that no part of the indebtedness allowed in this section shall be incurred for other than strictly county, city, town or school district purposes; provided further, that any city of the first and second class when authorized as provided in Section three of this article, may be allowed to incur a larger indebtedness, not to exceed four per centum and any city of the third class, or town, not to exceed eight per centum additional, for supplying such city or town with water, artificial lights or sewers, when the works for supplying such water, light and sewers, shall be owned and controlled by the municipality. (Amendment adopted November 8th, 1910.) |