Superintendent Sitterud announces retirement

By Alice Wadley Staff Writer

The Emery County School Board met for their monthly meeting at San Rafael Junior High.
Superintendent Kirk Sitterud announced his plans to retire on July 1. “I think new ideas, resources and perceptions are good. I have been with the Emery County School District for 44 years, 19 as the superintendent. It has been challenging and rewarding. I have gained more than I ever could have imagined. I appreciate the time I had to spend with the students. I appreciate the people I have worked with. The board members are my heroes. It is the ultimate in volunteerism for the pay you get. I appreciate the administrators. I value our teachers and everyone of us supports the interactions of the teachers and students. I will work hard until my retirement to make sure things run as smoothly as possible. Thank you all for what you have done,” said Superintendent Sitterud.
Amanda Holley representing the Apples for Teachers program was present to give an overview of the program and present a teacher with an apple. Holley said, the KUSA radio, Apples for Teachers program is back in Emery County. It recognizes outstanding teachers. We receive 15 to 30 nominations each month and we recognize one teacher from Carbon and Emery County. We can’t recognized teachers unless we receive nominations from students. There will be a drawing at the end of the year for all of the teachers who received the award. The prize is an iPad. There will also be a drawing for the students who nominated the monthly winning teachers. The prize is a $100 gift card. The first teacher to receive the award for Emery County is Jodi Carter. She was nominated by Braylee Conover. Mrs. Carter is a teacher at Huntington Elementary. Braylee summed up her nomination with Mrs. Carter is awesome. Mrs. Carter received her apple and a caramel apple. Bralee received a caramel apple for her nomination. You can nominate teachers by email, kusabuzz@gmail.com. For more information call 435-637-1080.
Superintendent Sitterud submitted names for approval: James Skinner – Custodian at Emery High School. Kristi Guymon-Custodian at EHS. Chris Justice-Head Boys Basketball Coach at Canyon View Junior High. Dave Justice-Assistant Boys Basketball Coach at CVJH. Courtney Justice-Assistant Girls Basketball Coach at CVJH. Brandi Truman-Assistant Girls Basketball Coach at CVJH. The board approved the names.
The board voted to rescind the excessive absence policy. The new attendance policy includes an excessive absence policy.
Heidi Hill requested travel for four honor choir students on Jan. 22-23. They will be traveling to Provo and Salt Lake City. The travel was approved.
The Emery High auto program requested travel to Hobbs N.M. for the auto competition. The students will be gone from Feb. 1-6. They are coordinating with Russ Goodrich from USU Eastern on transportation. The board approved the travel.
The board approved a memorandum of understanding concerning the use of the Emery County Aquatic Center. The school district donated the land for the pool in return for the use of it for the swim team and school purposes. The old MOU was worked out with the commissioners when the pool first opened. Since the initial agreement new commissioners have been elected and clarifications were needed. In the original agreement the schools had to pay for the use of the lifeguards. The county has waived the fee for the schools. All schools in the district have access to the pool for events of their choosing. The principal of the respective school will need to coordinate with the pool to schedule times for use.
The board approved the purchase of two school buses. A rear engine bus with storage underneath for $131,326 and a front engine bus for $115,330.
Principal Doug Mecham gave the principals report. He said one of the best things at SRJH is the annual Veteran’s Day program with the help of Mrs. Robinson, Mr. Horrocks and Mr. Gilbert. This year the students raised money to sponsor an Honor Flight for an Emery County resident. The students raised money for Melvin Gilbert. They had a penny war and raised $579.92. Desertview Federal Credit Union matched every dollar the students raised and other community members contributed. The total was $1,484.84. It’s great to see the students shake the hands of our heroes at the end of the program.
Through the course of the fundraising we learned Mr. Gilbert never received his diploma because of his military service. We would like to request an honorary veteran’s diploma for Mr. Gilbert. We would like to present it to him at the closing program this year. The school board will put it on the agenda for the next meeting.
Jared Black gave the business report. He is working on W-2s. This year medical costs need to be included on the W-2. The capital outlay requests are coming in. We commend our maintenance staff. They do a good job.
Superintendent Sitterud gave his report. The legislative session will run from Jan. 25 to March 10. The governor released his budget. There are usually 130 to 160 education bills presented at the legislature each year. The Every Student Succeeds act replaces the No Child Left Behind. The ESSA gives more flexibility to the states.
There is no longer a clause that says teachers must be highly qualified. In order to be highly qualified you had to have a major in the subject you were teaching.
This helps rural schools because not all teachers have majors in the classes they teach. At the Utah School Board meeting Laurel Johansen was recognized for 20 years of service and Sam Singleton was recognized for 16 years of service.