Two new members join School Board

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

Emery County School Board met for their first meeting of the year at Canyon View Junior High. The new school board members, McKenzi Guymon and Tracey Johnson were sworn-in along with re-elected Laurel Johansen. Business Administrator Jared Black swore in the board members.
Board President Johansen welcomed the two new board members. Johansen was re-elected as board president and Johnson was elected vice-president. Jared Black was approved as the business administrator for the board.
Larry Davis, superintendent asked for board approval of Dawnette Gordon as the secretary of Huntington Elementary. Out of state travel was approved for the Emery Youth Coalition. They will travel to Washington DC Feb. 6-9. The training they will attend is for prevention of drug and alcohol use. Five students went to the training last year. Three students are going this year.
Four Corners Behavioral Health pays for the youth coalition to attend. The students have also participated in fund raising to help pay for the trip. One of the students received a scholarship to attend. The students will come back and train other coalition members. They host events each year after ball games and at other times, they will host a parents empowered training to help keep kids off drugs and alcohol.
The Green River FACs students will be going to Grand Junction to donate blankets to the hospital. They will leave on the 18th and return the same day.
The junior high honor choir requested permission to attend the practices and concert for the Honor Choir. They will also attend the concert for the high school honor choir.
Principal of Canyon View Junior High, Yvonne Jensen discussed the junior high sports schedules. She said they have requests from teams around the region for Canyon View to host a game at their school as well as travel to another school in the region to play. Currently junior high students are not allowed to travel out of Emery/Carbon counties for their games.
Jensen said the junior high sports are feeder programs for high school sports. The opportunities they have at the junior high level will help them compete when they move onto high school. The school has had requests from Salina, South Sevier, Moab and surrounding teams. Sometimes a team from these other schools will play a home game in Huntington. But, then a traveling team will go down and play that school in their town, because the junior highs here can’t travel.
The board asked if they could see a request in writing of what the school would like to do.
Jensen said it’s hard to propose a schedule with additional games because they aren’t allowed to travel. She would provide a schedule of the current games for this basketball season. The teams this year have 10 games. Most of these additional games if allowed would take place on weekends and the students wouldn’t miss school. Guymon said she likes the idea of allowing the students to play outside the area teams because it will broaden their opportunities.
Marie Johnson, board member said her concerns would be with the students missing school.
Jensen said most of the games do not start until 3:30 p.m. after school.
Superintendent Davis said one issue is transportation. Additional travel would increase transportation costs and scheduling. He said currently the policy doesn’t allow junior high students to travel outside the area for sports. A new policy would need to be drafted and passed before outside travel could take place.
The board will look into the matter.
A job description was approved for an entry level technology technician. The district isn’t currently hiring anyone, just developing a job description and pay scale for when this takes place.
Principal Jensen gave her report. She said Canyon View has undergone many changes this year. They have a new principal, new teachers, new aides, new janitors and changes to the community council as well. They have developed a Cougar Pride program. They are helping students develop skills that will last a lifetime and help the students to be better students and community members. The teachers are given pride cards to hand out to students. This is a pat on the back to students for positive behavior. A positive note is also sent home to parents.
There have been some changes on lunch time probation. Students will work on assignments related to why they are on probation. If it’s tardies, they will have assignments related to being on time. Students with an F are required to attend homework class. The school has cut the number of F grades over half from last year.
The school hosted an anti-bullying assembly. They have a kindness wall where you can leave positive messages and notes. Jensen said some of the students are struggling with reading. The learning strategies focus has been reading. Each teacher chooses how to emphasize reading in their class. Some have read out loud to the students and they follow along. Some have the students do the reading. Some play audio books and the students follow. Some students have individual reading time. Jensen said testing will see if these strategies are helping raise reading scores.
Jensen said their school is filled with good teachers and welcomed the board members to visit the school any time.
Black said the child nutrition audit review official final report came out and it was the cleanest review of any in the state. Ferron and San Rafael nutrition programs had actual site visit evaluations. Black said this was great because the child nutrition program has a big book of requirements.
Superintendent Davis said he has visited all the schools and met with the new teachers and transfers. He sees a lot of high quality instruction going on at the schools. Areas where improvement is needed, he will arrange for professional development.
He reported Pat Quarnberg a long time Green River teacher had passed away. Gayle Macdonald retired as secretary from Huntington Elementary. A computer lab position has opened up at Huntington Elementary. Jody Cox has resigned from Cottonwood Elementary. Superintendent Davis said they may just fill that position for now with a long term substitute. He is also sending out a letter asking teachers if there are any that plan to retire. He needs notification early this year, because of the staffing requirements with the ninth grade students joining the high school. The junior highs will become middle schools and the sixth, seventh and eighth grade students will go there. He is working on staffing right now.
Superintendent Davis said Initiative B passed and this will result in a 30 percent increase in school trust land funds for the schools. The elementary schools are losing a grade, so they won’t see an increase in funds as funds are allocated by population of the school. The high school will see a big jump in funding with the 30 percent increase and the addition of the ninth graders. “The schools will look for ways to make best use of the funds and spend it wisely. The community councils develop a plan which must be approved by the school board. We are looking at combining resources with the district to fund projects. It’s a good thing for our school district,” said Davis.
Superintendent Davis said he will attend the Utah State Legislature throughout the session. He is working on a recognition program in the district that could recognize, students, teachers or parents for outstanding contributions.
The technology grant is for $70,000 and hasn’t been awarded yet. Emery district has a good plan in place and when the money becomes available they will initiate the plan.