School Board meets at Cottonwood Elem.

By Alice Wadley
Staff Writer

The Emery County School District held their March meeting at Cottonwood Elementary. Korie Bouldin was approved for the Canyon View resource aide.
Principal John Hughes gave the principal’s report. Cottonwood Elementary has made many changes in the last year. We have been using the Mastery Connect software along with the master grading instead of letter grading. This program makes you teach each student individually. It lets you see the strengths and areas that need iprovement of each student. We have had a lot of success with this program.
We also tried no homework this year. We have not had any negative feedback. We are working with the students to get them to work harder at school to get their work done. Cottonwood Elementary had a science fair. We had 13 students go to the district science fair, six of our students placed.
We have an award program for students called the Colts Club. It is for students who go above and beyond what is expected of them. The students earn a ticket, which is put into a weekly drawing. At the end of the year we will be drawing for a new Kindle. We added six Kindles to our library this year. We received them through our participation in the Road to Success program.
Our school had a food and clothing drive, it was a great success. Principal Hughes thanked all of the teachers and staff at Cottonwood Elementary. Laurel Johansen thanked Principal Hughes and his staff for all of their hard work and enthusiasm.
Principal JR Jones from Book Cliff Elementary requested out of state travel for the lower grades to travel to the Grand Junction area. They are planning to go to the Museum of the Western Colorado, the Dinosaur Journey Museum and the Museum of the West. The school board approved the travel.
Jared Black gave the business administrator’s report. He has been at the state legislature and is monitoring some bills. One of these is Senate Bill 80. This bill is concerning and we are monitoring it closely. A weighted pupil unit increase of up to 4 percent is being discussed by the legislature.
Superintendant Larry Davis gave his report. The county attorney is working on a MOU between the school district and the county for fundraising for the swim teams. The aquatic center purchased a Wibit that can be rented out for parties. A portion of the funds will go to the swim teams.
Superintendant Davis congratulated the Emery High and Green River High basketball teams for making it to the state tournament. Ty Mecham and Newt Oveson took second place at the state wrestling tournament. The Emery boys swim team are state champions. The Emery girls swim team finished second. Congratulations to the district spelling bee winners.
J.J. Grant is retiring and we have received seven applications for his position. We have an advertisment for two educational aides at Castle Dale Elementary. The transition of the ninth and sixth grade is on time and staffing is being finalized.
Superintendant Davis is watching 77 bills that could effect education.
President Trump withdrew the action from President Obama concerning transgender bathroom use. Utah had joined a lawsuit saying the ruling was an overreach by the federal government. If this should become an issue it will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
The technology committee is working on the digital teaching grant. They are also working on updating the technology policies for the district.