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Show library dayis county public Lakeside THE COMMUNITY NEWS WEEKLY FOR NORTH DAVIS COUNTY TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 1990 VOLUME 10, NUMBER 38 New policy . , V 4 "A - A i ' vt Standard-Examine- & r, w v Ti V y t . sion mx i "i " s V ''X f4 i V4 Robert Down to earth Katie Clement (top) and Ann Harding tape paper 'continents onto a balloon representing Earth in preparation for Layton Highs Homecoming rade. The world was placed in a coffin by mem Aug. 15 public hearing. ; this bers of the schools Save the Earth Club to symbolize the crisis facing earths environment. The clubs sponsor is Jim Lindsay. The school ebrated its Homecoming last week. cel- By RUTH MALAN Standard-Examine- correspondent r The Davis Library Board has agreed the library system will take over administration of a literacy program that is being staffed by volunteers who work with adults. Since the spring of 1989 the library has participated in the Davis County Literacy Coalition in promoting Project Read, a national program aimed at improving the literacy of adults who are e unable to read to at least a He said the specifics dealing with sentees and tardies are being left to local school authorities to sort out. The policy also states serious negative behavior could result in a U or unsatisfactory citizenship grade. Teachers are required to notify students in plenty of time who are in danger of receiving a U. The policy also encourages schools to implement procedures for recognition of outstanding citizenship such as a citizenship honor roll, recognition on diploma and opportunity to apply for a PTSA citizenship scholarship. The committee that created the policy was made up of parents, teachers and administrators. The Davis School Board adopted the policy in February. has spent the better part of a year helping adults learn better reading skills. Amy Marks of Layton Volunteer: Job By RUTH MALAN Standard-Examine- r correspondent de LAYTON An interest Amy Marks had in helping others learn to read has become a reality. A year ago she became a volunteer with the Davis County Library System in a program aimed at improving adult literacy and now she spends two evenings a week working to help an adult leam to read. I have been interested in it (teaching people to read) for quite a few years. has rewards When I read in the paper that a training seminar was going to be held in the library near where I live, I decided this was my chance, said Marks. That was a year ago. She attended an intensive seminar taught by an experienced teacher where she learned the necessary skills to teach reading. The methods are designed specifically for adults and are coordinated with adult reading books. Its a very structured program specif-Se-e VOLUNTEER on page 2 City Library. According to librarian Joan Christiansen, the city library board has approved the concept but final plans wont be made until the library gets names of clients who need to learn bet ter reading skills. Buchanan is a retired school teacher who shies away from the words adult' literacy and prefers to call it a program for reluctant readers. She said most of the volunteers in the program will be retired teachers but that doesnt limit those who can volunteer. Anyone who has a desire to work with unskilled readers may volunteer their services, she said. We anticipate mostly retired teachers who are already trained will be the volunteers. They can do a lot to said Buchanan. help with The program will be taught on a basis, rather than a classroom setting. self-estee- one-to-o- ne See KAYSVILLE on page 2 End of meeting leaves residents in the dark minutes later, after most were already trying to feel their way into the d hallway, the lights were turned back on. At the beginning of the town meeting Fruit Heights Mayor Blaine Nelson had announced that it had to be adjourned by 9 p.m. as per the agreement with the school for lease of the gymnasium. But aftigr hearing an hour and a half of speeches from city officials, many residents were more concerned about stating their response than about the time. The lights out action followed a A few By JaNAE FRANCIS Standard Examiner correspondent KAYSVILLE Officials had a hard time getting people to see the light conclusion of a meeting designed to inform Fruit Heights residents of city . at-th- needs. It wasnt because the 130 or so in attendance didnt understand the issues. The problem was, they were literally in the dark. At 9:30 p.m. last Tuesday, 30 minutes after the meeting at Burton Elementary was scheduled to end, a janitor turned the lights out on the crowd. semi-lighte- , r , 3 er state i V FARMINGTON As Davis schools begin cashing in on $1.3 million from the state Legislature, the Davis Education Association president hopes the state keeps its financial, promises over the long haul. During the last legislative session, House Bill 468, sponsored by Rep. Richard J. Bradford, was adopted. The bill will appropriate $13 million per year for four years for the technology enhancement of Utahs educational system. Davis districts technology plan, ap- -t proved by a state steering committee,' will provide Davis 67 elementaries and secondary schools with $4,000, each, plus a prorated amount from' $15,000 to $30,000 per school per. year, based on number of students. . But DEA President Joel Briscoe,' who has been critical of the states lack of commitment to education funding, said although it is a good start, promises remain to be filled. 10-ho- ur Teacher hopes to start reading program Ann Buchanan KAYSVILLE would like to see everyone know how to read and its her goal to begin an adult literacy program through the Kaysville student-to-teach- keeps funding promise fice tcmzshipfroircyMH schools in Davis County. According to the district personnel department, there are approximately 2,281 teachers employed by the district, not enough to lower class sizes. Since 1983 the district has grown at a rate of 1,750 new students each year. District Assistant Superintendent Stephen Ronnenkamp said the ratio is too high on all lev- DEA chief hoping fifth-grad- fifth-gra- mentary, ele- secondary and special eight-perio- level. The coalition includes the county Ofof Employment and Training, Davis Applied Technology Center, the Davis School District and the library system. We did not want to take over the program but if the library does not take it over it wont thrive, Pete Giacoma, assistant director of libraries, told the library board in a recent meeting. He described the library as being the switch board for the program as people call there for information. The county Office of Employment and Training and the school district help those who can read above a level, while the library assists those with very low reading skills or none at all. The DATC handles the printing needs for the program. Each member of the coalition is responsible for its own part, he said. The Office of Employment and Training doesnt have the staff or isnt equipped to handle it, he explained, which is why the library board recently See LITERACY on page 2 The Davis district includes all to 1 in higlvschool, figuring in prep d block factors. periods and local library. ab- 1990-9- 1 school year shows 55,191, which is 1,944 students more than last year. els. He said the ratio of full-tiequivalency students in elementary is 27.55 to 1; 31.8 to 1 in junior high; and 32.4 FARMINGTON Adults who have trouble reading or want to learn how to read have some help available at their . A head count of students in Davis School District ReganStandard-Examine- r ogram: Up with literacy bit. Source: Davis School District The commission ruled Sept. 10 that the city must readvertise its proposed increase and hold another public hearing on the matter, or limit its tax increase to the percentage that was advertised in newspapers before its FARMINGTON page 3.) Goal: According to the policy, imschool year, plemented this 1990-9- 1 its main objective is to improve the academic ability of students in Davis County. Reasoning: The policy committee, made up of parents, teachers and administrators, says when students are not present or present and disruptive, the students who want to learn are hindered. Requirements: Students in ninth through 12th grade now must earn citizenship credits at the rate of one credit per class per year, in addition to an administrative credit. An "H (honors), S" (satisfactory), or N (needs improvement) grade in citizenship earns credit. Only a U". (unsatisfactory) grade warrants the loss of a credit. According to the policy, an unsatisfactory citizenship grade can shall result from three key factors: Three or more unexcused absences per term on an eight-perio- d schedule. Makeup is allowed at $10 per credit lost. OR four or more tardies per term. Teachers may allow makeup for tardies. OR serious negative behavior. The policy allows for makeup of citizenship credit available through Davis School District Community Education classes and through each school. The policy also encourages schools to implement procedures for recognition of outstanding citizenship such'as a citizenship honor roll, recognition on diploma and opportunity to apply for Parent Teacher Student Association citizenship scholarship. It further protects the students in that it requires teachers to notify students receiving a "U with plenty of time to make it up. increase. Davis schools have 1,944 more students An area of the policy some students object to is the limit on absences and tardies. (See story on student reaction, - improperly The city advertised a property tax increase of 3.5 percent, but the commission says a 5.5 percent increase is more accurate based on revenue growth of the city. The council held a closed executive session to discuss the matter after its regular meeting Sept. 11. City Manager Gary Uresk said hes not a liberty now to disclose what was discussed in the closed session, but that it would be fair to say that the council is reviewing its options which include filing suit, readvertising, or doing nothing. ence. The policy states that three unexcused absences or tardies per term is excessive and will result in losing a citizenship credit. The policy allows for makeup of citizenship credit available through Davis School District Community Education classes and through each school. The bottom line, according to district officials, is student accountability and responsibility. Steve Ronnenkamp, Davis School District assistant superintendent, said the district doesnt want students to get the wrong idea. We dont want to bring across the idea that students have so many free days to miss school. When a child misses school that is a concern to us, he said. Of course we will work with parents because there are so many scenarios to consider. I think (the policy) will be a positive thing after things settle down a little that Clinton advertised its proposed property tax 'tX - Clinton may challenge tax commission ruling CLINTON The city council is considering a legal challenge to a decision by the Utah State Tax Commis- "'r :i r. ! ' y ' summary of the weeks top local news stories from the A i ' ' ' Davis Bureau x w s ' FARMINGTON Teachers, parents and administrators are giving thumbs up to the new Davis citizenship policy which requires students to earn citizenship credit in order to graduate. Educators and administrators believe the new policy will hold students accountable for their behavior, something the former policy didnt do. It tells students that there now has to be accountability for why they are not in school, said Davis High School Principal Michael Duckworth. To students it says it is necessary to be in school. Overall it seems to have been accepted fairly well by students. , Ray Meibos, a teacher and coach at Clearfield High School, said he likes the new policy because it is to be enforced districtwide. There wasnt as much meat in (the school policy) as there is now (in the district policy). We just had a school policy before and some believed it, some didnt, he said. Having it enforced by the district makes a big differ- s 'i ' By JAMES NICKERSON r 1 - - V , gets grade: Thumbs up Standard-Examine- HEA0LUS ''' stem warning by the janitor 15 minutes earlier. But at 9:30 p.m. Nelson was still scurrying to call on all those who still want- ed to voice their opinions on a proposed new city office complex or annexation. No one was interested in announcing their opinions anymore once the lights were out and people were leaving. Those that remained still werent in a hurry to leave. Many stayed behind for about 20 discussions minutes of and even a little arguing. hand-shakin- g, ' 1 New animal control ordinance proposed FRUIT HEIGHTS The current Davis County animal control ordinance is unclear and cumbersome, making many common violations almost impossible to prosecute, an animal control official says. De Anne Hess, director of Davis County Animal Control, said simply clarifying the ordinance was not enough so she, with input from her staff and various cities, rewrote the entire ordinance and is proposing the new one for adoption in Davis County. She says the proposed ordinance addresses specific violations that in the, past were unenforceable. The greatest enhancement in the new ordinance is our ability to prevent animal cruelty, she said. Animals running at large, including livestock,, and owners responsibility for female dogs in heat (are specifically addressed too). We had to give the ordinance a 'face lift. Best quote 'Let's consider the dog's tail cut off Andrew L. Derbyshire when he declined a request to remain on the ' Private Industry Council after his term as board chairman was up and a new: chairman appointed ) - |