The Emery County School District met for budget hearings on the 2010 budget and the 2011 budget as well as a regular meeting. Business Administrator Jared Black presented the 2010 budget for review and the 2011 budget for approval. In his presentation Black noted there are 2,328 students enrolled in the county schools. The district employs 325 people.
Black reported the district has made the last payment on the debt service. The district runs 70 programs. The budget for 2011 is $23,663,806 The budget for fiscal year 2010 was $26,710,866. Supt. Kirk Sitterud commented the district has had several tough budget years and adjustments have been made. Board President Laurel Johansen said the district is well managed. The school board approved the budget.
Jon Crawford presented the Utah Program Implementation planning system. This system includes a lengthy process for audits, reviews and includes interviews with classroom teachers. Crawford presented a document to the board which is the summary and lists successes and noncompliance areas. Crawford said it is an extensive process, but it’s very important for the students. It has been well received.
Supt. Sitterud said the report was very complimentary and things are going well.
Green River High principal, Nolan Johnson requested the school board allow Green River junior high students to participate in the Castle Valley Junior High Athletics Association at the junior varsity level. Green River hasn’t been involved at the junior high level and they have scheduled their own games with San Juan, Moab and other schools. Transportation may be more expensive with involvement in the junior high association. At times the school will take the Suburban to avoid the costs associated with bus travel. The cost to join the association is $500, which Johnson hopes to have reduced because Green River doesn’t have all the sports the other schools participate in. They don’t have a football program. Johnson said scheduling should be easier by joining the association.
Supt. Sitterud remarked it will be a good addition to the program to have Green River participate. Mindy Crawford and Kaylynn Winn were approved as part-time workers in the school lunch program. Interviews were held for the warehouse position and Drew Sitterud has been selected for the position. The board reviewed a new policy to address social network concerns. The policy revision was to update computer terminology and to change the policy to reflect new language and terminology. The board approved these changes.
The next school board meeting will be on July 21 to avoid a conflict Black had with state meetings. The board approved some minor increases in student fees for the next school year.
The district will advertise the sale of its surplus vehicles. Buses are on a 15 year rotation and two new buses per year are purchased. Black reported the student built house for this year has been sold. The board approved the funding and the project for the student built home for the 2010-11 school year. The amount budgeted for the house for next year is $150,000.
The board approved the bus rental to Heritage Days to transport runners for the fun run. The board approved an increase in wages for the driver education instructors. These teachers haven’t had a raise for several years and the money comes from the drivers education funding.
The child nutrition program director contract year has been changed from an 11 month schedule to a 12 month schedule due to increased duties with the summer lunch program. The summer lunch program is self-supporting.
Board member Sam Singleton said he stopped by the Ferron Elementary and the participation there in summer lunch has been really great. One day Huntington Elementary served more than 200 lunches.
The board looked at the carpet bids and Certified Sales and Service from Salt Lake was awarded the bid for $18,880.57. The roofing bid was looked over and six bids were submitted for the roofing projects at Cottonwood and Ferron Elementaries. The All Weather roofing bid was accepted in the amount of $112,029.
In the superintendent report, Sitterud recognized the loss of one of Emery High teachers Darrell Gardner in a farming accident. Also the loss of Perry McArthur the husband and father of three of the custodians at the schools.
In the public comment section three students Jake Fausett, Cole Bunderson and Steven Giles spoke of wanting to place a memorial or monument for Darrell Gardner on the Emery High School grounds, preferably by the track. The students will raise the funds for the monument. A petition has been passed around and signed for support of wanting some type of memorial for Coach Gardner. Supet. Sitterud said the board isn’t opposed to it, but it hasn’t been a practice to name any school facilities after someone, it becomes political. President Johansen said they will look into it and they are open to proposals. Supt. Sitterud recommended the boys go across the street to Huntington Elementary where a monument is placed honoring a teacher who passed away while teaching there.
The board adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel issues.
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