Ready or not it’s back to school time, classes officially begin in the Emery School District on Aug. 24. The Emery School board held their August meeting on the 10th. Several items relating to the new school year were discussed.
The following teachers were approved: Jamie Huggard/Castle Dale Elementary/fifth grade.
Kim Behling/Castle Dale Elementary/first grade.
Craig Gowans/Green River High/English.
Justin Gudmunson/San Rafael Junior High/science.
Justin Thornley/Emery High/vocational ag.
Jodie Ward/Ferron Elementary/third grade.
Kerry Lake is the maintenance supervisor, he read the asbestos report. It is a requirement that the report be read each year at school board meeting. Lake reported on several improvement projects that have taken place over the summer. A retaining wall will be placed at Cleveland Elementary. The school board is joining with Cleveland City for the completion of this project which includes the retaining wall and curb and gutter as well as concrete steps down to the sidewalk.
Several improvement projects have taken place at Green River High school. A new sliding glass window is in place at the office along with an office remodel and expansion of the principal’s office. New carpeting was also installed at Green River High in the class rooms. New lighting is also in place. A new boiler room has been installed at the school. The coal boiler is their only source of heat and in the new boiler room back-up propane has been installed.
Book Cliff Elementary in Green River has a new sliding window in the office too along with a new freezer for the lunch room and new carpeting.
At the Emery High football field new lighting has been installed. The lights are 60 feet tall with four poles and five lights on each pole. They also completed some cement work around the bleacher area to make the walk way safer.
A new awning was put in at Emery High between the school and the shop building. The drainage was wrong there and now the drainage will run onto the grass. The maintenance shop in Castle Dale has been started and the maintenance staff will do the heating which will save costs with the building. New roofs are being installed at both junior highs. New rain gutter is being installed at San Rafael to drain water away from the sidewalks to keep them from icing up in the winter.
The office at Ferron Elementary has been made larger and new lighting installed at the school as well as carpet in selected classrooms. Lake mentioned all of the lighting projects have qualified for a rebate from Rocky Mountain Power.
Jeneane Warren the director of school food service reported on the summer lunch program which ran from June 6-July 29. Meals served in Ferron this summer was down by 200 meals. Proceeds from the liquor tax in Utah goes towards the school lunch program. “It’s a worthy program which should continue. It benefits the children in our community,” said Warren.
Superintendent Kirk Sitterud said the goal of the summer lunch program is not to lose any money on the project. In July 157 meals a day were served at Huntington and in June 129 meals. In Ferron 144 meals were served in June per day and 110 in July. Book Cliff in Green River served 49 a day in June and 58 a day in July. If an adult wishes to purchase a meal the cost was $3.50 the childrens meals are free up to age 18.
Superintendent Sitterud talked about the on-line education options available for students. The maximum number of courses that can be taken on-line is two unless the student intends to graduate early and then they can take more classes. The on-line electronic high school courses are free. The BYU independent study program has a fee attached. The counselor at the high school can register the students for on line courses. Superintendent Sitterud said any time one of our students takes an on-line course the district will lose money. The online classes are generally more difficult but they are a good option if you want to graduate early or if you want a higher level course and have taken all the offerings at your local school in a certain subject area then you can generally find an on-line course in that subject. Drivers education will continue to be taught before and after school.
After two years of enrollment increases in the district the school year 2011-12 is projected to start down 20-21 students. Numbers are calculated the second week of the new school year and then exact enrollment numbers will be determined. Superintendent Sitterud said, “We’ve had two years of growth, but enrollment is expected to be down this year.”
Emery County Sheriff Greg Funk said with the return of school on Wednesday it will mean more children out and about on county roads and streets.
“We need all motorists to slow down. Especially with the construction zones in Huntington and Green River right now. It’s confusing for drivers. Be extremely cautious. Especially in the school zones before and after school and during lunch. I will be speaking at the opening assembly to the high school students. We want them to be aware and use caution when they go to town for lunch.
“We can’t emphasize enough how people need to slow down and pay attention. Don’t text and drive. It would be good to put down the cell phones and concentrate on the road ahead and watch out for the school children,” said Sheriff Funk.
It’s back to school on Wednesday
"Back to school includes the return of the Emery Spartans to the football field as their first outing results in a win against Richfield. Quarterback Spencer Labrum gets ready to run a play against the Wildcats."