School board meets in Green River hears GRHS/Book Cliff report

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery District school board met at Green River High for their February meeting. Superintendent Kirk Sitterud announced Sonia Torres was the apples for teacher winner for February. She will receive her award in her classroom from KUSA radio.
Traxton Conover nominated her for this award, he said she is a loving and kind hearted teacher who is working to meet students needs and to teach them to become independent workers. Mrs. Torres was an ESL teacher for a number of years and is now a first grade teacher at Huntington Elementary.
All students are encouraged to nominate their teachers, one teacher is chosen each month to receive the award.
Superintendent Sitterud said there are two policies that need revision. One is to bring the district’s graduation requirements in line with the state requirements. Financial literacy is now a stand alone credit. Graduates will need three social studies credits, plus the financial literacy credit. There will be a math competency requirement. These graduation requirements will begin next year.
The board cleared up the teacher leave and absence policy. The policy will define purposes for leaves as well as benefits for teachers while on leave or sabbatical. Further education would be one reason for leave. It is a generous policy and there is one teacher looking at it.
The board approved a revision in the Cottonwood Elementary land trust plan. They are amending the plan to include hiring a tutor for math to help bring students up to proficiency level. They will be using some of their supply money also to fund this position.
The board approved a Veteran diploma for Melvin Gilbert. He will receive his diploma at the closing program for San Rafael Junior High in May. He was drafted into the war and missed out on receiving his high school diploma.
Kacey Fluckey is the acting principal at Green River High, she gave her report to the board. “I am proud to be representing Green River High. It is our goal to have responsible and respectful students. We have started having the students put their cell phones on the wall (in a pocket holder) at the beginning of each class. This has helped cut down on interuptions. We have a sweeper class where the kids go if they are tardy, this has cut down on tardies. The Sweeper Class is essentially a class that students are swept into if they arrive to school five minutes after the tardy bell has rung. They are swept into my classroom and work on packets that deal with being on time, being responsible, and showing respect. They are kept in sweeper until the end of the hour. We do this first hour and fifth hour. It has cut down on our tardies immensely. I appreciate the staff helping with the policies.”
Principal Fluckey said the teachers have much enthusiasm and the new policies are helping to improve citizenship. Students receive rewards for good citizenship. Once a quarter they go on a field trip. They went to Southern Utah University and saw the play Dracula. Next week, they are going to the museum in Green River and to see the work on the Tusher Diversion dam and the reconstruction there. The community council has put the trustlands money into technology with chrome books and an I-pad cart. There are 29 computers at the school. They hope to put more money into technology and they are incorporating google classroom into the school. This will help everyone because the students are all at different levels and they will be able to work on their level.
The school partners with the Epicenter. Mr. Gowan coordinates with them, a traveling museum visited the school and the kids wrote about it. Some of the students are participating in National History Day. There was a clothing class where the students learned to spin wool into thread. Each student was given a kit to take home. Mr. Goldman from the drama department has been working to get forensics and debate going again. Mr. O’Brien has started a pepband and they have given some great concerts.
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes are going well. The Green River students took third in the quiz bowl.
Principal Fluckey showed a slide show of what’s been going on at Green River High to the school board.
JR Jones, the acting principal at Book Cliff Elementary spoke next. He thanked the board and the district office for letting him serve in that position while he becomes certified. He said there have been a lot of changes at Book Cliff with new people and teachers moving around. The first year teachers are showing good progress. Mrs. Nelson has stepped up and is teaching two curriculums for two grades.
The secretary Cindy McFarlane is new and very organized. Principal Jones said she keeps him on the right track. The students are doing well with the Road to Success. They set a goal of reading 350,000 minutes and so far they have read 130,042 and hope to achieve their goal by the end of the year. The testing for Title one has been going well. Book Cliff is working with Headstart to get a program in Green River. The district has a pre-school but some students don’t qualify for the pre-school and they would be able to participate in the Headstart. The school will apply for a grant to help get Headstart going in the community. This will help prepare the students for kindergarten.
Principal Jones has been working with Principal Fluckey at the high school to make the transition for students from the sixth grade to junior high easier.
Superintendent Sitterud said he is very excited about what’s happening at Green River High and Book Cliff Elementary. He’s pleased with the focus on how to get students ready for kindergarten. “I hope that partnering with Head Start will have a huge impact. I am impressed with what the leadership here is trying to accomplish and improve things. I’ve never seen a higher level of commitment and excitement,” said Superintendent Sitterud.
Board chairman Laurel Johansen said the feeling of excitement is felt at the schools and throughout the entire town.
Superintendent said a preliminary cost estimate is being prepared for the reconfiguration (ninth grade to the high school) at Emery High. They will continue to review and provide information to the board. There have been some interesting comments from the teachers. They’ve met with the staffs and the junior highs and at Cleveland Elementary and have had some good discussions. “We are getting close to having enough information to making a decision. We want to make it right. We don’t want it to be a nightmare,” said Superintendent Sitterud.
He also pointed out when and if the move occurs there will be four grade levels moving, not just two. The current ninth graders plus the eight graders would move to the high school; the current fifth grade and the sixth grade would move to middle school. It will take some time to make a decision. Superintendent Sitterud also pointed out the school district doesn’t want to lose any money at the instruction level.
Rep. Kay McIff is sponsoring a bill to provide more money for Necessary Existent Small Schools.
Rep. Stevenson has a bill which will take more property taxes for charter schools. Most tax payers aren’t aware of the money going to charter schools and now they want more.
The governor is proposing a 4.75 percent increase in the WPU. Superintendent Sitterud said they would like to see growth funded, supplies, step and ladder monies as well as 2 percent to recruit and retain teachers. “There is a tremendous teacher shortage. At Utah State (USU Eastern) there are only 18-20 students in the education program. Alpine district hires 200-400 teachers a year.” Superintendent Sitterud said there are a lot of good programs out there, but the legislature needs to fund the programs already in place.”
Sen. Osmond is sponsoring a bill where students can opt out of testing, but testing is part of the teacher evaluation process so what will happen there if 20-40 percent of students opt out of testing. Schools won’t meet federal regulations. The teacher evaluation is a cloudy system. A letter from a parent requested a FFA class at the junior high level. The district will look into seeing if this is possible.
Green River Mayor Pat Brady reported two refineries are still looking at Green River. One is progressing, the other is waiting. The water for the nuclear power plant is still in court.
Principal Jones thanked Superintendent Sitterud for the dedication he’s had to the students and to education in Emery County.
Jed Jensen reported Principal Fluckey has been working with Principal Larry Davis at Emery High to bring the two schools together and the student councils from both the schools are meeting so they can exchange ideas and build friendships.