KCPW

Latino Business Leaders Support Vouchers

November 2 , 2007

http://www.kcpw.org/article/4738å

Nov 02, 2007 by Julie Rose
(KCPW News) Latinos are far more likely to drop out of high school than white students in Utah's public schools. Some Latino business leaders think vouchers might help address that problem:

"If we are, as Latinos, the largest growing minority and this trend continues, I fear we will have a second-class citizenry if we don't address dropout rates," says Antonella Packard, President of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce. "And I think vouchers is an opportunity to do something new."

Packard is part of a bi-partisan group of Latino business leaders urging a "yes" vote on Referendum One. Ironically, opponents of vouchers - including local leaders of the NAACP - say vouchers will actually create a racial divide. Many minority students come from low-income families that won't be able to afford the difference between private school tuition and a taxpayer voucher, say critics. But Latino community leader Tony Yapias says at least vouchers would give families the option:

"The reason I'm supporting is is I have talked to people in the community," says Yapias. "They have said, 'I want to send my kids to private school, but I have to come up with 100-percent of the tuition. (Vouchers) would give them some help."

A new poll from the Salt Lake Tribune shows 56-percent of Utah voters opposed to vouchers and only 36-percent in favor.