School board meets at Huntington Elementary

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The Emery County School Board met at Huntington Elementary for their October meeting. Superintendent Sitterud submitted names for approval. John Hughes has been named the interim principal at Cottonwood Elementary. Mike Scow is the new Ferron Elementary custodian, Jace Fausett has been named the four hour custodian at Canyon View Junior High. Alison Jackson and Kimberly Nepp have been named preschool aides at Cottonwood Elementary. Eric Nelson was named the boys soccer assistant coach; Ariauna Arrien Downard has been named the assistant swim coach.
The board approved the school improvement plans for each of the schools. The elementary schools have a school reading plan that also must be approved. Most of the plans are the same each year with only minor adjustments.
School improvement meetings are held in each school to help develop these plans.
The board approved minor revisions to policy including a change in wording from premium to cost; premium employees pay toward their cost for staff fringe benefits. A minor change to the staff hiring policy; in which the auditors said the district must have a statement which states the district follows state law in regards to nepotism.
The policy on rental and use of the schools was revised to state, use is allowed unless the use interferes with a school activity.
The board approved a donation of exercise equipment for Emery High. The equipment was originally going to Africa, but the deal fell through. The equipment will be placed in a room by the wrestling room.
The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Carbon School District concerning the busing of students to the Castle Valley Center. In order for it to be a reimbursable route this agreement must be in place. Sometimes the bus is used to take the students on activities.
Principal Garth Johnson gave the school update for Huntington Elementary. He said, “I am grateful to work at this school. It’s a great school. Gayle (McDonald) is a wonderful secretary and we have excellent janitors, aides, great volunteers and crossing guards; we are blessed to have the teachers we do. They are very caring. I thank the school board and district staff. We have a great team that works together. We have self-contained Title I special education.”
Principal Johnson said they are working with small groups and intensive help in reading with the second grade that tested a little low. Each staff member received a book on how to be more positive. Research proves that being positive helps build up the staff, faculty and students. When kids receive positive messages it helps them along.
Principal Johnson gave each board member an I-pad to check out some of the apps the students use for learning. Wi-fi hubs are being placed in the classrooms to help with signal. The students enjoy using the I-pads.
One app shows a picture and then the students write about what they see and make a story from it. So far the school has three carts and 90 I-pads total. The I-pads have been purchased with the school trustland funds.
The kids can download books and read from their I-pads. Teachers can put quizzes on everyone’s I-pad at the same time and they can take quizzes on the pad.
Teri McElprang explained the six minute read program to the board. She’s uses it in her classroom to increase reading levels for all students.
The six minute read increases fluency. “I am a firm believer in it, I love it,” McElprang stated.
In the business administrators report Jared Black said the personnel directory has been updated. The financial report for the district is now on line. Oct. 1 was the official membership audit day for enrollment. Superintendent Sitterud reported at 11:05 a.m. that day enrollment was listed at 2,282 and at 6 p.m. that day it was 2,281. From last year, the district is down 36 or 35 students. Students in the elementary schools are down 56 students. Secondary students are up 20 students. Enrolled in kindergarten district wide this year is 172 students. Typically there are 185-190 kindergarten students.
Superintendent recognized the passing of one of the school district employees Alan Lemons. He was a custodian and an educational assistant at Canyon View. He was an expert at helping with the Dibels testing.
The board received a letter of retirement from Cottonwood Elementary principal Dennis Jones. He was employed with the district for 35 years. On Oct. 29 will be a USDA meeting in Spanish Fork at the Nebo school district office where they will talk about legislative issues.
The district has received several STEM grants; Science, technology, engineering and math. Special focus is being placed on these areas where testing in these areas is typically low. Training will be offered in these areas and this is being worked out currently.