School board looking for new member

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The February school board meeting was held at Bookcliff Elementary in Green River. Board member Nanette Tanner read her letter of resignation to the board. She expressed appreciation to the board and thanked everyone for their support these past six years she’s been serving.
Superintendent Kirk Sitterud expressed his appreciation to Tanner on behalf of the school district and the students of Emery County for her contribution to the district and for good ideas and programs that benefitted the students. “As superintendent and administration we want to thank you and thank your husband Mark for his support. We are sad to see you go,” he said.
Tanner said increased business responsibilities led to her decision to resign. The board will begin the advertising process to choose a new board member from Orangeville and Castle Dale, west of Center Street. They will have 30 days from March 3, to complete this process. The vacancy will be filled until the next election in November of 2016 when someone will be elected to the position.
The board approved James Skinner in the position of part-time custodian at Emery High replacing Mike Monfredi who resigned from this position.
The board approved a judgment levy to recoup taxes which must be refunded to Utah American Energy in the amount of $122,000. There will be a public hearing on the matter in August.
The tax increment financing discussion was tabled.
Ryan Hepworth a counselor at the school gave a report on the comprehensive guidance programs at Green River High. Recently the counseling department underwent a formal review and passed. There are 10 standards and in order to pass, the program must score at least three points in eight areas. One area that needs improvement is in providing data to the school board about program effectiveness and keeping better data. They are making extra efforts with the seniors to help them attend college. They are looking for scholarships, federal funding and other avenues to make it possible. Their goal is to increase college attendance by 25 percent. Currently half of the student population is Hispanic and they are looking at funding for minorities that could be used to advance these students. The elementary school is reporting a 70 percent Hispanic population. Hepworth said they are working to make the best situation for all their students. Hepworth said they are also exploring private scholarships.
They are working harder at getting information to students and parents on the website, letting students know of opportunities out there for them with college and financing and general information. They are going to take students on field trips to colleges to boost interest and also to businesses. They have plans to visit Adobe in Lehi. They attend college day at Grand County and they are successful in getting the seniors there.
Board member Marie Johnson wondered if the website is available in Spanish. Hepworth said they are working on that and they have sent out school letters in Spanish. They have two Spanish speaking teachers who help with translation at the school.
Principal Melinda Durrant gave the Bookcliff Elementary school report. She thanked the board for the new parking lot that looks and works great. She thanked her staff and teachers for giving 200 percent. “I’m grateful for their service,” said Durrant. They have a new fourth grade teacher this year, Christy Senn who is young and new and fills the school with a lot of excitement. The teachers all have a renewed commitment as her excitement is contagious.
Iva Wilske is on sick leave and won’t be returning to finish out this school year. “We are grateful for her service,” said Durrant. Her class will finish out the school year with Pam Hunt. Aides will be in the classroom all the time to help out with the nine second graders. Hunt has stepped up to the task and is doing an amazing job reported Principal Durrant. The Title one students are being served well in the school. The Dibels testing was complete and most students at the school are up, scores are way up and the school is excited about that. Other testing is also taking place. “We are excited about our students and helping them to grow and achieve,” said Principal Durrant.
Green River High Principal Nolan Johnson reported their school received a B on their report card and the school was very pleased. Academics are a high priority at Green River High. They have been working on improving core performance on testing and it is paying off. This has been an effort of the entire staff at Green River High. The community council has been working extra hard. A new plan to help students perform academically is to reward them with field trips. One trip was to Goblin Valley and Principal Johnson was surprised how many of the students had never been there before. Students had to be passing every class and no U’s or N’s on their report cards to attend the field trip. They also went to the museum in Price and bowling and some of the students had never been bowling before either and had a lot of fun. The number of failing grades and failing citizenship grades have decreased from last school year.
Principal Johnson said the school has been exploring the possibility of going to block scheduling. This will give more concentrated time slots to work on the core subjects. The school hopes to add a study skills class to help the students complete homework assignments before they leave school for the day. Two weeks into the new term there are 78 students out of 100 that are missing assignments. “It is a great frustration, it seems they have no motivation to complete assignments once they leave school. We can control what happens at school and we want to help them complete assignments,” said Principal Johnson.
The school has a new music teacher, Nathan O’Bryant, business-Stuart Morris and family consumer science-Madison Suarez.
Principal Johnson said he has been talking to other schools that use block scheduling and it seems to be working for them.
Superintendent Sitterud wondered what the challenges to a block schedule would be. Each teacher would teach eight classes. It would change the way a teacher would teach with an expanded time period for instruction. Superintendent said they haven’t had a lot of time to look at it yet. Would the graduation requirements need to be modified? There are several questions to evaluate as the school looks at block scheduling.
Superintendent expressed his appreciation for the academic focus at Green River High and their efforts to improve. There are teachers working on endorsements and they hope to reopen the shop at the school and Superintendent said they are looking at having auto repair classes if there is enough student interest.
Board president Laurel Johansen said the board appreciates what they have been doing at Bookcliff Elementary and Green River High to increase student success.
Superintendent said they need to look at transportation for ninth grade students for home games. He has been attending the legislature on Fridays to keep updated on bills affecting education.
The board meeting for March has been rescheduled from March 4 to March 10 at San Rafael Junior High. Those interested in applying for the vacant school board position must do so by Feb. 25. An interview process will be conducted on March 10 prior to board meeting to select the new board member. The interviews are an open meeting, for everyone but the applicants who will interview one at a time.
Teacher Neal Peacock from the Emery Teachers Association thanked board member Tanner for her service and sacrifice to the students of Emery County. Tanner was on the negotiations committee and she will be missed.
Jed Jensen announced the district spelling bee was held with Andie Curtis taking first, Jayce Rudd second and Dani Jo Thatcher, third place.