H.J.R. 9

1

RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING SCHOOL BREAK
2 FOR 2002 OLYMPICS
3 1998 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Gary F. Cox
6 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE ENCOURAGING UTAH SCHOOL
7 DISTRICTS TO ARRANGE A SPECIAL RECESS FOR STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC
8 SCHOOLS TO ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HISTORIC 2002 OLYMPIC
9 WINTER GAMES.
10 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
11 WHEREAS Salt Lake City is the host city for the Olympic Winter Games scheduled for
12 February 8-24, 2002, a time period falling within the school year for Utah's public schools;
13 WHEREAS the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City will be an historic event,
14 and will present a unique, chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity for residents of Utah and surrounding
15 areas;
16 WHEREAS the potential educational significance and impact of the Olympic Games is
17 enormous as tens of thousands of Utah's school children see the greatest athletes in the world
18 converge to compete in the Games;
19 WHEREAS ways could be found to permit Utah's school children to experience this
20 historic event firsthand;
21 WHEREAS Utah's school children should be afforded the chance to attend the XIX
22 Olympic Winter Games without missing any school days;
23 WHEREAS the special educational opportunities afforded by the Games should be made
24 available to all students regardless of economic status;
25 WHEREAS Utah's public school personnel should be afforded time to attend the Games
26 without missing any contract work days;
27 WHEREAS since some events will rely on nearby school facilities for parking, holding

1 classes during this time would create significant traffic congestion and other logistical problems
2 interfering with the smooth, professional presentation of the events;
3 WHEREAS Utah's young workforce may be made available for special student olympic
4 volunteer opportunities during this time period, decreasing the need to import a workforce from
5 other states; and
6 WHEREAS making the Games accessible to Utah's school children will allow them to
7 participate personally in the history to be made in their home state:
8 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
9 encourage Utah's school districts to structure a schedule that will allow students to attend the XIX
10 Olympic Winter Games and still complete the necessary number of school days to ensure
11 fulfillment of all education requirements.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah Board of
13 Regents, the Utah Office of Education, and to each school district in the state of Utah.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-7-98 11:23 AM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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