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Show Schools Of Alpine District Meeting New Problems Of Fewer Students, Defense Program For the first time in a number of years the Alpine School District will have a decrease in the school census. This has come about very largely for three reasons: First, a declining birth rate. This became evident last year when, for the first time in the history of the Alpine School District, tnere were fewer children in the six lower grades than there were in the six upper grades. Second, this decline is due to some migration from our district to sections sec-tions where there is more employment. employ-ment. The Government's Defense Program is partially responsible for this. Third, it is due to some annexation annexa-tion by Provo of territory originally in the Alpine School District. At this date there are 4,908 students stu-dents enrolled .in the schools of the Alpine District; at this date last year there were an even 5,000 students stu-dents enrolled. As state aid is on a per capita basis, this decline in the number of students has some effect on our school revenue. However, How-ever, as yet this decline is not serious, ser-ious, especially if certain sections of our district continue to grow as they have done and if there are no further furth-er annexations by Provo. In general I feel that the schools of Alpine District are in good condition con-dition financially and educationally. The School Board has definitely adopted a pay-as-it-goes policy and is determined, if possible to retire bonds as they become due. Last year the Board paid $35,000 in bonds i and will pay this year $33,000. This has been done without in any way curtailing our education program. The Board is doing all in its power to do its share in the defense program, having already set up a class in welding at the Lincoln high school. At present it is planning the following classes: Operation, J care, and repair of tractors; wood-I wood-I working and building construction; elementary electricity, including j operation, care, and repair of elec-! elec-! trical equipment; and a course in j drafting, if there is sufficient demand. de-mand. These latter courses are for j men between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. I mention the above program because it is new. It is made possible because the expense is borne almost entirely by the Federal Fed-eral Government, but is under state and district supervision. If space would permit, much could be said- about our regular school program, which is as broad and complete as it has ever been, including in-cluding as it does a health program second to none in the state, an increasing in-creasing emphasis on trade and vocational vo-cational education, and a definite increase in emphasis on fundamentals, fundamen-tals, especially reading. The Board appreciates the splendid splen-did work being done by all cooperating cooperat-ing agencies, including the Parent-Teacher Parent-Teacher Association and its parent-education parent-education program, the NYA and its program of student aid the WPA and its lunch program, and all other agencies, including the public press, which is so willing to offer space at all times. As Superintendent of Schools my chief interest shall continue to be the educational welfare of the boys and girls in our district. That is why we have schools at public expense, ex-pense, and the public has a right at all times to insist on economy and efficiency in carrying out the purpose pur-pose for which the schools are instituted. in-stituted. I desire to extend to patrons, students, stu-dents, and teachers my very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Happy New Year. D.fR. Mitchell, Superintendent |