School board hears Emery High report

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County School board met at Emery High for their November meeting.
Dayna Terry, counselor said they are having a college application day at the high school on Nov. 16. There will be representatives from various colleges on hand to help students fill out applications and some application fees will be waived for students signing up that day. EHS will also be having a night for filling out student aid applications. The rules have changed with FASTA and the students will be able to use 2015 tax returns to complete the application.
Students are involved in early bird classes. In the machining class students were given a survey to see what they had learned and to take their comments. Some students said it has given them more than one way to solve a problem, others said learning how to use the tools was beneficial.
With the concurrent enrollment classes, many students are earning college credit while still in high school. Some students are considering careers in engineering. Some skills they are learning they are putting to use right now.
A STEM grant was received for $200,000 which is being used to fund a computer programming class, send teachers for training and for the robotics class. Another goal is to involve more girls in the STEM field. Some of the funds will be used for a technology field trip. There will be day camps for computer coding. The counselors are trying to lead students to think of these fields as career options. They are also working on broadcasting the programs to Green River High, too. Emery High is being used as a pilot program for the STEM grant.
Ashley Jensen, counselor and Dayna Terry have been working towards the move next year when the 9th graders move to the high school. They will be supporting parents and students with this transition period.
They are working on the senior time line which is much improved and outlines the steps students need to go through to complete high school and begin college.
In the robotics club, 50 percent of those involved are girls at the elementary level. In Green River half of the participants are girls.
Next year there will be a robotics class, this year it is a club.
Chandler Peacock requested the auto program be allowed to travel to Farmington, New Mexico to a competition. They will use the college van.
Superintendent Larry Davis submitted names for approval for job openings; Alan McArthur as head custodian at Canyon View Junior High and JoAnn Taylor as part time custodian at Canyon View Junior High. Howie Shorthill was approved as an assistant baseball coach.
The board approved sports schedules and the 2017 meeting schedule and three year calendar.
Emery High Principal Steven Gordon gave his report. He said the boys cross country took second in state. An aerospace tour was held at the school and many activities were held for the students to explore career options in the aerospace industry. Jake Tuttle came to the school to speak to seniors. The youth protection seminar was Nov. 3.
New bleachers were installed at the football field and a new soccer field is being constructed. Teachers have been participating in training in google docs, google classroom after school. Students are rewarded for good behavior with the nuestra casa program, for good grades, attendance and school service. There is a new student handbook out which includes a calendar and a list of faculty and staff at the school.
The integrity program recognizes students who step up and do the right thing. The school had a safety week and fire drills. Twenty-four AP tests were taken and 13 passed.
Currently 235 students have been participating in extra-curricular activities, 55 students have been drug tested with 0 positive results.
Principal Gordon said the school has undergone many changes this year. This is his first year as principal at Emery High. Dean Stilson is the vice-principal, new teachers have been added, Mr. Winget, Mr. Nobee and Mr. Peacock as well as new cheer and drill advisors.
No juniors will take the SAGE testing, they will concentrate on the ACT tests. The sophomores will take the SAGE and this is where the school’s grade will be determined. The school’s grade this year was a C.
This year the school has 137 seniors, 129 juniors and 151 sophomores; next year the school will have 129 seniors, 151, juniors, 165 sophomores and 164 freshman.
Principal Gordon said as the school adds the 9th graders next year, two additional classroom/modular units will be added to the school. There will be additional staff hired to teach the larger studentbody. This year the total is 417 students and projections next year have the studentbody increasing to 609 students.
There were ACT tests held recently and 91 students took the ACT to better their scores.
There were 60 fee waivers this year for a total of 15 percent of the studentbody.
Jared Black, business administrator said the groundwork is beginning for the 2017 legislative session. One item the district is watching is the necessary rural schools which brings 1.7 or 1.8 million each year into the school district. The district is also going to apply for funds for schools which have lost enrollment.
Superintendent Davis said they received a letter from the health department congratulating the school district for promoting healthy lifestyles. Olive McArthur was recognized at an open house retirement party for her 41 years of service to the district. There were several students who received academic allstate for fall sports.
The administrators will go through an evaluation process which will be similar to the teacher evaluations. The new principals will be provisional.
There will be a legislative lunch on Nov. 17 at the Carbon District where the school board will meet with local legislators to discuss education bills and issues.
The school board thanked Principal Gordon for his work at Emery High.