THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1990 gg-g-'- Redrock Elementary School's parking lot was newly paved. The old asphalt was tom up, removed, and new asphalt was laid. This cost the district $58,000. More than one person I talked to was amazed that money was spent on such a project They do not understand how asphalt can be a priority when they continually hear about the financial straits of the district and the need for new textbooks, more supplies, and more teachers. They perceive that surely the district must have surplus funds If It can afford an expensive project of that nature. Personally, I do not understand how a new parking lot can take priority over an adequate play area and playground equipment for Redrock. Most citizens do not understand that the money spent on the parking lot was a capital Improvement project and could not have been spent on hiring a new teacher or buying new books and supplies. However, It could have been spent on a capital Improvement that would have ed more directly affected children. I often wonder about the contrast between the beauty of the front of the Redrock building and the dismal appearance around the back of the building where the children have to play. This brings us to another capital Improvement undertaken this summer. The playground at Redrock needed some attention. Some of the concrete footings on the equipment were sticking up and needed to be buried so not to pose a safety hazard. Also the playground was to be leveled so that water from a rain would hot run down the dirt In streams and pool up Into puddles, creating mudholes. In the process of doing these two things ajl of the playground equipment was removed. There were seven pieces of large climbing equipment made from large log timbers and metal. The principal's understanding from Georgina Nowak with the Southeastern Utah Health Department was that these pieces would need to be phased out over the next few years because they were starting to dry rot and splinter. Neither Ms. Nowak nor Ms. Hopkln requested that they be removed Immediately. Unfortunately, this summer they were dismantled In such a way that none of them could possibly be The children lost a large percentage of their playground equipment that cannot be replaced. I asked about this at the school board meeting and was told that the timbers were posing a safety hazard and were to be removed anyway. The treasurer assured me that I was sure to be pleased with the playground once It was completed and that there was money budgeted to replace playground equipment, and pointed to the $11,000 figure In the budget I spoke with the treasurer again to be sure I understood the budget correctly. He clarified that only $7,000 of that $11,000 Is designated for playground upgrading, In addition to the fact that It Is to be spilt between Redrock and HMK. I also found out that the bulldozing already done at Redrock for leveling of the ground must come out of that money. Ms. Hopkln stated there was $2,000 In the playground equipment budget and that the PTA has donated $1,000. There Is no way that the demolished playground equipment will ever be replaced with the money allocated for playgrounds this year. A new playground set, with today's safety standards In mind, costs approximately $20,000. With 600 students at Redrock, two or three of these sets would make well-groom- ted. -- PAGE 5 JJ.ULlllll.lJli-JlimSIILJlii- IJ.UJ U each decision concerning allocations of funds should be carefully weighed. At the state level there are funding Inequities when comparing rural schools to urban schools. Money Is allocated In such a way that urban schools provide greater opportunities for students while rural schools suffer. In Grand County we must not let these Inequities apply to the different schools we have In our district If $30,000 was spent on the hlghschool football field this year will that same amount be spent on the playground at Redrock next year? Obviously we cannot make every Improvement that needs to be made In one year, but the master plan that addresses future needs should balance the amount of money spent at each school and be somewhat dependent on the number of children that will be directly Impacted by various projects. We have let some school board decisions go without much question. When I sit In on these meetings there are often only 3 people attending. Without adequate Input from the community the school board has carte blanche when considering decisions that Involve major expenditures. This Is too great a responsibility to go unchecked. Without our Input they have no sense of what the citizens of Grand County expect from their schools and students. They need to hear from more parents, teachers, and concerned citizens so they can truly act on our behalf. 2-- VOTE KNUTSON a uersatile kind of guy an adequate play space. I also asked about why there Is no large grassy play area for the children at Redrock. Ive asked this question before and Initially was told that It was too costly to maintain. This Is Interesting because the district Just spent $9,835 to replace the sprinkler system on the high school football field and another $16,000 for new sod on the field. (This figure Is considerably less than the $50,000 they allowed In the budget for Improvements to the football field.) They obviously Intend to upkeep this new field. The district also Is maintaining the large grassy soccer field behind the hlghschool, In the hlghschool baseball but presents a diamond, and behind HMK. The front lawn at Redrock Is The 600 there. of trees of random the for because group scattering games problem each outside least three times who children school day) are regularly play (at elementary forced to run and play In the dirt and dust, while the high school students (375) have three large grassy areas for their P.E. classes, many of which are conducted Indoors anyway, not to mention the fact that the football field Is not used for P.E. or even football practice, but only for the four or five home football games each year. We have allowed this situation to occur over the years. To be fair to the school board, they did tell me that the sprinkler system In the football field was dangerous and presented safety problems and needed to be replaced. I I pointed out that It seemed like a lot of money for sod and a watering system. was also I but pretty basic. agree with reminded that our football stadium Is hardly I Informed that the lights In was also It this remain should think and this assessment way. In next two years at a cost the to the football field are antiquated and will need be replaced of $70,000. I would hope the board looks at other alternatives to this problem, possibly playing afternoon games for a few years, before making another major Investment In the football field so soon. There are certainly other school programs that deserve the concentration of funding that hlghschool athletics seem to get In a district where every dollar needs to go towards benefiting the most children, well-maintain- ed, state-of-the-- art, Republican for Grand Co. Commission on November 6 -- Paid Political Advertisement