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Show ry PAGE 6 am Interview" with Tom Martin the G.C.H.S. principal talks about education On September 15, an Interview was conducted with Grand County Hli School Principal Tom Martin.. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. Funding The Schools Zephyr: Funding far education has been a tong lasting concern. Can vou explain lust how the budget for Grand Countv Schools is funded? Tom Martin: The funding formula for education in the State of Utah is a very complex one. Basically, here in Grand County, we receive from the State about $120(100 per student on the rolls. That may have gone up a little. And that's not a lot of money, considering the national average is close to $3,000. That $1,200 Is the same for all counties. Therein lies the problem for rural school districts. The vocational program generates Its own funding; It's separate from regular education. For awhile, we weren't pushing vocational education, but In the last 3 or 4 years weve been pushing the vocational courses. Weve done so because 80 of the kids in Utah go on to a vocational oriented program or they go to work. Only about 20 go on to college. Zephyr: What percentage of the budget comes from within the county? Tom Martin: About 40. Your taxes on real property, business taxes and so on make up that 40. Any time we go to raise the mils to increase revenue for the district, weve got to bring It up for a vote of the people. The local board can Increase each year, those mils so much without a vote, and we did that this year. The Issue that may bother people here Is how can you paint the buikfing and do all those things if you're broke? We have what we call a capital outlay side of the budget That's not been the problem. The management and operations side Is the problem that's the salaries and those types of things. Zephyr: You dont have the option to move those funds? Tom Martin: The State Legislature has allowed school districts to balance their budgets by using capital outlay funds, if they don't have the funds to finish the year out That's what weve had to do. Its very frustrating. I was asked yesterday by KCNY about our football field. It needs to be upgraded and Itll come from the capital outlay side. We've got to fix that thing, but Its going to cost between 20 and 40 thousand dollars. Zephyr: But vou could take that money and move It to the other side? Tom Martin: Right And that has been done by the way to balance our budget The State has helped us by making that legislation. But its still our money. We have received grants and a lot of help from the State Office Of Education In financial ways. An example Is our computer lab - a $30,000 lab. . " Curriculum "" ; Do vou offer Do vou a Countv curriculum? Grand think offers Quality Zephyr: the variety of courses that students need to allow them to apply to anv university of their choosing? Tom Martin: The curriculum that we offer Is fantastic. You have to understand, we have to provide minimum requirements for graduation from high school In Utah, but we exceed that We offer 4 years of Spanish, and not very many schools do that. We have a dynamite Spanish teacher. Our English program is solid. Seniors dont enjoy this very much, but I require 4 years of Englsh. In math, we have it all: algebra I, geometry, algebra II, trig and calculus. I dont know of any other math we could add there. Social studies Is a very strong department. We require every freshman to take world geography. Weve done that, for years. Youve read how students couldnt Identify states and cities, and countries. We've been teaching that We require sophomores to take ancient pre-algeb- ra, V-"- ; '- - world civilizations and modern world civilizations. Third year, they take U.S studies, which Is American history, and their senior year, .they're required to take economics. This year government They usually back that up with a semester of since the Korean War. American of In history weve also tKfded a course the study I add. Donna Brownell added an hour of that at her expense might In the vocational area, we have one of the strongest departments anywhere. We have an auto I and II program,. We have excellent computer programs. Industrial arts, cabinet making, and last year we added principals of technology with . is really a lab physics course. run the course of least resistance. to tend Is students we have The problem more challenging courses. the to take not going If we dont push them, theyre a counselor. Wouldnt that addition have Zephyr: The high school doesnt help provide that push and guidance for students? Tom Martin: I agree with you, Jim. This Is my fourth year and thats the stress of my Job because there isnt one. The other principals are also faced with that Were fortunate that we have a good student body. We have our problems, our sk students, drug problems, family problems, like any other community. But Its awfully nice to have that counselor there to be that buffer between the student and the teacher or principal and parent That may be one reason I dont I I think the get a lot of phone calls. Im happy about that But play all roles. know well when theyre out together. They student body accepts me, and we work of line, and 99 admit it and work with It But if you have a real sensitive problem, theyre not willing to come talk to me, where a counselor could make the difference. Although, any social problem that can happen, Ive dealt with In high school. Suicide, In particular, Is a very sensitive Issue, and weve had students every year in real difficulty. Zephyr: But all this raises the Question, which do vou need more, a counselor or a rehabilitated football field? Tom Martin: Yea. I hear you. The only problem Is you cant take capital outlay money for salaries. Zeohyr: But vou can use It balance the budget Tom Martin: Right we can do that; Its sort of a paper shuffle. Zephyr: What If vou hired a counselor, knowing vou didnt have the funds on that side of the budget and took It out of capital outlays at the end of the year? Tom Martin: Actually, the Board gave me the green light to hire a counselor for this year. We advertised, and we had 2 applicants. They laughed at what we are offering in salary (starting pay is approximately $14,600.00 a year). The basic problem Is salary. If Utah doesnt address the problem soon, were In big trouble. When I moved here a few years ago, Utah ranked 35th In salaries. No we're 40th or worse. That doesnt say very much for this state. The local association has made It well known that, not so much that they'll go on strike, but they're going to support what other teachers do in this state. ' As a type person, I may be' sticking my neck out, but hey more power to them. If It gets the message across to the State Legislature. .! Im getting tired of hearing complaints that teachers shouldnt make any more than anyone else who works hard at their Job. But teachers are professionals. And students are only going to be as good as who we bring in here. You get what you pay for. But faculty-wi- se this school district is outstanding. I hired some people this year excellent people, and I can't tell you how we got them. Im thankfuL But to keep good people, we have to pay them. A year ago, our base salary was $14,600. San Juan County Is $15,200. For a year? Come on. There are a lot of Jobs around here that pay more than that with less responsibility. The greatest responsibility on the face of the earth Is the education of our youth In the community; of course, Im In education. Well wake up, I hope. Soorier or later. Zephyr: How do Grand Countv test scores compare to the State? Tom Martin: Were above the state and national average. 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