Some Republican lawmakers are contemplating a step that combines bad policy with poor politics: expanding and politicizing the Utah Board of Education.

The idea has been floated before. This time it's being pushed in earnest by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, who would expand the board from 15 to a colossal 29 seats, one for each state Senate district. Voters would pick board representatives in partisan elections. Not coincidentally, the move would likely give the board a solid GOP majority.

In the current process, a nominating committee sends a list of possible board candidates to the governor. He selects two for each of the 15 education districts. Voters then pick their representatives in a non-partisan election.

Proponents allege that partisan board elections would boost interest among voters. We think that claim is highly questionable. We are tempted to cough into our hands. Apathy is all too common in Utah, unfortunately, as it is elsewhere. Few Utahns could name their state school board representative if their lives depended on it -- or even if the school board member's life depended on it. Most Utah voters consider themselves to be independent and are uninvolved in the machinations of party politics even as they vote Republican in large blocs.

But from a purely practical perspective, it is simply not necessary to double the size of the panel for it to do its job. It's not a legislative body. Utah's board is already one of the largest in the nation. With 29 members it would be far ahead of the second-largest board -- Pennsylvania's, which has 20.

Look at some neighboring states. Nevada and Arizona boards have 10 members each; Idaho has eight; and Oregon seven. Those boards seem to manage the schools adequately.

People who have served on boards often find that a large one is unwieldy. Utah's current board of 15 already seems too big for a state this size.

A school board should not be focused on who's winning and losing elections but on how the public schools are doing their job. Someone needs to explain to us why education needs politics. A non-partisan board provides an independent voice in a state government dominated by one party.

This is not to say that Utah could not improve its board structure. We're open to suggestions. Some states do more to ensure a broad array of voices. Arizona and Wyoming, for example, mandate that some seats be reserved for teachers, school administrators or business owners.

Another solution might be for the state superintendent to be elected, as in California, Idaho and Arizona, with the governor appointing members -- perhaps five to seven -- for staggered terms. Such a system would give the electorate the loudest voice in the board's leadership, while streamlining and remaining nonpartisan.

Various ideas ought to be entertained, but lets keep the discussion as far from politics as possible. Sadly, the Republican plan seems to be more about politics than education. The timing of this measure is especially unfortunate because it gives the appearance of revenge after a contentious voucher debate in which the state school board sided against the Legislature.

While the Referendum 1 vote showed that Utahns hold public education in high regard and are suspicious of any changes, even good ones, we suspect voters will object even more to any attempt by a plan to give local politicos power to pack the board with members of their liking.

This ungainly proposal ought to be scrapped.