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Show BOARD OF EDUCATION Dan Eastman, Vice President Louenda Downs, President Barbara A. Smith Dixie H. Hill Robert L. Thurgood A Glimpse at Life at the District Center . . . a fast-pace- d environment An often mentioned solution to school funding needs stated by some is reducing the administrative budgets. The truth is, ratios of administrators to staff are lower in Utah than other states and the Davis ratio is even lower. It should be enlightening to take a glimpse at the highlights of a busy year providing leadership for 70 schools and alternative programs and 60,000 students. Located space and teachers for 1 ,340 additional students, as well as textbooks, transportation, etc. Provided leadership along with Davis legislators for the passage of SB 1 99 and subsequently SB 1 to gain funds by equalizing capital outlay formulas. When that was vetoed, intense efforts centered on achieving some equity with SB1 in the special session. Conducted a study of growth in enrollments, school capacity, curriculum and school needs with a committee of community leaders. Recommendations led to the bond election. Conducted a bond election, emphasizing the education of voters, to raise $50 million for school voted leeway classroom construction and a for textbooks, supplies, new staffing, salaries. ill of principals, Assessed performanc administrators. Conducted, analyzed and reported student programs ment, End-of-Lev- SAT, Advanced Place- ACT, etc. Coordinated special programs Centennial Schools, Schools of Excellence, NBA Stay In School, Hall of Fame, athletics. Adult and Continuing Education, etc. Finalized and initiated Davis Course of Study which identifies specific subject content to be learned by all students at each grade level. Heard and judged 65 boundary variance appeals. New textbooks and materials were studied and selected for Science and French. Developed policies addressing Safe Schools, Emergency Preparedness and Comprehensive Counsel ing, Student Registration, Government Records Access and Management, Blood Borne Pathogen Control, Textbook Adoption, School Fees and Par- ent Participation. high school was opened construction completed, inspections, interior fittings, books, equipment, computers and staffing. Site purchase, planning, site preparation and initial construction for new junior high school. (Brick walls are going up.) Assessed school capacities and enrollments, then shifted staffing and portable classrooms for new school year. Assessed needs, planned and delivered thousands of hours of staff training for teachers and other department staffs. Organized and conducted music competitions - for junior high and high school - choral, band, orchestra, small groups, etc. Developed and initiated new high school graduation SEALS program. Efficiently managed a budget of $191,051,658. Implemented new guidelines for fee waivers. Sought and received $24 million bond for school classroom construction. Managed insurancebenefits for over 5,000 full e staff. and Human Resources hired 1 ,05 1 new staff, arranged 486 employee transfers, processed 1,200 applications and interviewed 700 applicants. Scheduled and transported 17,000 students to and from school each day. This includes special routes for special education students and buses for severely disabled students. 171 buses. maintained Fully Data processing provides services to schools and district class scheduling, attendance, budget, transcripts, employee records and more. Provided appropriate placement, staffing and education for 6,063 special education students under complex state guidelines and close parent participation. There are 14 categories of student levels. A new part-tim- ed Continued development of Spectrum" program to address unique needs of fast learners. Developing a Student EducationOccupation Plan format for secondary students. Coordinated with leaders from Davis cities and county, Utah State Office of Education, Utah State Legislature, federal and state government. Established a partnership with D.C. Heath for an extraordinary program at Columbia Elementary for development of educational materials and staff training. d Assessed junior high program and d determined to discontinue any at the secondary level. Provide purchasing and warehousing for sixteen districts, in addition to Davis County Schools. Established interlocal agreements with cities regarding the use of school facilities by cities and vice versa. Initiated employee background checks. Established teacher training sites at six Davis schools with the University of Utah. Broadened the trimester student education plan model developed at Bountiful Elementary to 24 schools. Students and virtually aU parents set goals and evaluate. Maintain and renovate all buildings and grounds. Oversee school construction, small capital projects. School Foods served 5,513,565 lunches and 436,747 breakfasts during the past year. With community members studied and recommended various boundary changes. Directed the work of 58 District committees. Developed safe walking routes for every school. Student Services counselors spent 8,704 hours working with 538 Youth in Custody placements, 1,741 transfer requests, 49 Foreign Exchange students. Placement, guardianship, counseling, suspension, etc. required 1,307 appointments. A partial list only but suggestive of the many tasks needed in a District of 60,000 students. year-roun- year-roun- Principal Velda Morrow, teachers Karin Olsen and Mike Hough went to dinner with President Bill Clinton to honor Blue Ribbon" schools. They proudly display their own Blue Ribbon" flag. The national honor was awarded following a site visit from a US Department of Education evaluator who praised Knowltons parents and staff for exception?1 contributions to learning. Governor Michael Leavitt celebrates A Thousand Points of Light" with a thousand kids at Knowlton Elementary. Davis County Schools Focus is published as an information resource for the citizens of Davis County. Dr. Richard E. Kendell Superintendent of Schools Sandra W. Wilkins Director Community Relations Michael Macfarlane Writer Trinette Huber Layout and Design Assistant to the Editor Kayleen Carter |