The Emery County School District met at Ferron Elementary for their November meeting. A working session was held prior to the regular school board meeting. Board members received the auditor’s report for fiscal year 2016-2017. There were a few discrepancies, but no major findings.
The school board heard about the statewide funding equalization. This is a joint legislative committee. The equalization will guarantee a certain amount of money to each school district. If each school district does not receive a certain amount of money through taxes, the state will put in money for the school district. The Emery County School District will not benefit from this right now. The district’s levy generates approximately $3.4 million and the guaranteed amount is $2.4 million. The proposal is to freeze the current levy at .001568. Emery County has a high centrally assessed tax to generate this money. If property values go down, the school district will not receive any additional funding and there will be no way to make up for the lost funds. The school district is following this very closely and have expressed their concerns to our representatives in the legislature.
The regular school board meeting was held. Superintendent Larry Davis submitted names for approval. Hillary Hurdsman, district speech aide. Tyler Morris, two hour custodian at Emery High School. Cresta Winter, resource aide at EHS. Bowie Jeffs, assistant basketball coach at EHS. Tyler Bastian, girls basketball head coach at Green River High School. Michael Shaffer, assistant girls basketball coach at GRHS. Travis Olsen, junior high basketball coach at GRHS. Madison Suarez, junior high girls basketball coach at GRHS. Michaela Hughes, assistant boys basketball coach at GRHS. Lannie Olsen, aide at Castle Dale Elementary. Korinda Stilson, aide at Cottonwood Elementary and Danielle Farley, aide at Ferron Elementary.
The school board received a travel request from the EHS auto department to travel to New Mexico. They will travel with the USU Eastern team. It will be an overnight competition. Chandler Peacock will be traveling with five students. The travel was approved.
The school board approved the middle school and high school sports schedules for the winter sports.
Principal Brian Dawes gave the principal’s report. The student council had just returned from a field trip to BYU. They learned about leadership. A military veteran spoke to the students about having courage. The Liberty Kids ceremony will be on Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m. We are happy to have a new teacher this year, Lindsay Hinkins.
Jared Black gave the administrator’s report. He attended a cyber security seminar, he was amazed to find out on average 200 million attempts are made each month to get into computer systems. He assured everyone the school district would continue to keep the district’s money and personal information safe.
Superintendent Davis congratulated the boys cross country team on their championship. The robotics team continues to grow. The Emery Robotics Club is featured in STEM Action Center Spotlight. A robotics team from Emery County will attend the district day on the hill. The Utah School Boards Association conference will be in January.
School board hears about equalization
Principal Brian Dawes gives the principal’s report.