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Show Disturbed Parents Meet On School Issue by Laura Briggs "The children are adjusting. It's the parents who feel the trauma." Bud Brazier, parent spokesman for a group of forty distrubed parents from the n in Morton Meadows the Northwest sector of Salt Lake City, summed up the primary effect of a Precinct 1 School Board decision to transfer 32 kindergarten age children from sub-divisio- Franklin Grade School to Were they going to be shoved into crowded classrooms? Franklin School has Teacher's Aides. Whydoesn't Newman have Teacher's Aides? Would this fact be significant to their children? Would they get less individualized instruction? Would Newman School be able to accept the balance of Morton Meadows' children next term? If not, where would the children be sent? Newman Elementary - two weeks after the school term began. The parents, calling their Tuesday evening, September 26 Burton Miller, spokesman for the School Board, explained that it was highly likely Newman meeting an "information accomodate Morton Meadows youngsters whether parents session," met with the School Board, Franklin and Newman School officials to discuss what specific things about the sudden move upset them the most. They declared they resented not being consulted or informed prior to the transfer of their children from one school to another. Many felt they did not want their children to lose the benefits of the Title enrichment program that Franklm School has and which Newman does not. They were advised that Franklin School may be closed at the end of the 1972-7school term. Was it going to be traumatic for children who were separated from brothers and sisters in other grades, who remained at Franklin School for the time being? Sould they move all the children of Morton Meadows to Newman School now and get it over with, or should they insist the children finish their year at Franklin? Why hadn't the School Board realized that Franklin would be too crowded at Kindergarten level before the children were situated in their classes? Were their children unhappy? Upset over busing? I 3 problems of inconsiderate transfers, crowded classes or inadequate teaching staff, were adamant in their declarations of intention to protect their children from any such future problems. The meeting was adjourned after the parents voted to support the transferring of their Kindergarten children to Newman School, and to keep their other children at Franklin School the balance of this school term. They agreed to continue to work together to insure the most desirable arrangements for their children in following years. wished their children to enter this term or wait until next year. The problem Salt Lake City School District has in losing school population is a serious one, requiring many controversial changes, according to Miller. "In a period of ten years, school population in Salt Lake City Schools has dropped from 42,000 to 30,000," Miller continued. "School census is completed each September and is applied to classroom plans the following May. Therefore, any significant changes in school population in a given area in the eight month interim between the September census and the May planning can cause upheavals such as the one being discussed." Parents declared they felt a better system of predicting classroom and school enrollment could be devised. School Board officials agreed, inviting parents' suggestions and assistance. Dr. Eugene Garcia spoke briefly advocating parent participation in School Board decisions. being consulted and the model neighborhood news Publication of the Model Neighborhood News is made, Model Neighborhood News is a publication of the Salt Lake Model Cities Agency under the supervision of the Joint Board of City and County possible through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. offices located at 151 East 21st Soutn, Buildinq No. 4, Salt Lake Publication of the newspaper weekly with a distribution of Commissioners with editorial is 20,000 copies. City, Utah 841 15. Marlene Marie Young, Editor and Community Information Specialist Distribution by Reliable Courier Kirk Terry, Staff Reporter Roger Taylor, Staff Reporter and Photographer Steve Varley, Staff Reporter and Photographer Joint Board of Commissioners Ralph Y. McClure, Chairman Phillip R. Blomquist Stephen Harmsen Conrad Harrison Jennings Phillips William E. Dunn Court Action Being Taken Against Landlady shut off the gas. She said the Department official said they don't order utilities discontinued in apartments that are being inhabited at the time. ignored, Dedrick explained, it is added to the charges being Mrs. Fernandez said that introduced presently into court. There are 11 such delinquent violations to date, he continued, and the number is increasing. This specific case, said Dedrick, is one of a typical "absentee landlord." She is hard to track down, he stated, and has been known to leave the state when action is brought against Candy and Ruben Fernandez related their story as tenants of this landlady. "I always paid the rent with no hassles," said Mrs. Fernandez, of 244 West 400 North. However, she continued, in April of year, she asked the apartment as bugs, roaches and many other types of insects were infesting the place. by Kirk Terry A local landlady with extensive property holdings in Salt Lake, has been accused of being a "slum queen" by her tenants and the Union of the Poor, an group. anti-povert- y The landlady, Mrs. Beth Purdue who was not available for the subject of comment, intensive court action being brought against her by the Union of the Poor who have cited nearly 100 different demands for as many problems and violations noted by the Union and the Health Department. Fred Dedrick, Union of the Poor staff member, exhibited Health Department reports that cite health code violations against the woman that date back two years. Dedrick produced another stack of reports, some additional information from the Health Department and others compiled by the Union. The history of tenant complaints registered against landlords locally has not been favorable in outcome for the tenant, said Dedrick. However, in this case, the Union has current Health Code reports compiled by Department inspectors, in which the number of demands to resolve when the August rent was due she offered the landlady the normal month's rent of $1 25.00. She said the woman told her that only a portion of that amount would be required as she was only permitting the Fernandezes another two week stay at the unit. Mrs. Fernandez said she was informed by the landlady that the rent would increase from her. A man responded to the complaint, said Mrs. Fernandez, in June, appearing with a young boy. The fumigating duo, she stated, sprayed the apartment with Kerosine, squirting the highly flammable liquid on beds, floors and walls. Mrs. Fernandez said that when her sister-in-laliving next door left that unit, they moved into her apartment as the fumigating and other complaints had been ignored; the rent was still paid up in the second apartment, she added. When the apartment change was made last June, Mrs. Fernandez continued, the is Parents decided that not he exhibited show conditions found by inspectors and a dateon which the condition is to be remedied. As each of these violations are noted. Current reports landlady to fumigate the School would be able to salt lake The possibility of their children being jostled into crowded classrooms with perhaps, inadquate teaching staff, were their main concerns. Parents whose children had, in the past, already experienced landlady asked for $12.00 to cover the rent for the three days she had allowed the Fernandezes to live at the second apartment. The couple stayed on in the apartment, however, said $125.00 a month to $150.00 a month. The gas has not been restored to the unit, said Dedrick, and this situation as well as the other demands to fix plumbing and broken windows, and many more at that location alone, is the foundation for the present court action. Dedrick said that the Fernandez story is just one of the many allegations supported by other tenants and Health Department inspection reports, which affect a great deal of the property owned by the landlady. Other bad conditions discovered on her properties, he stated, include refuse in basements that serve as playgrounds for children. Poisons being found in units, and totally unsatisfactory and dangerous plumbing are other health code violations of concern. News Requested From Agencies The Model Neighborhood News is requesting all agencies in the Model Neighborhood to Mr. submit any news items which would be of interest to the residents of the area. indicated the present problems occured. Repeatedly, said Mrs. Fernandez, a man was sent to evict them. One time, she said, he came to the apartment saying he had been instructed to remove the doors to the dwelling. Another time, she continued, he produced a handwritten eviction notice that later he admitted Space will be made available Fernandez. During that stay Fernandez writing himself. Mrs. Fernandez said that earlier, the landlady had the lights turned off in the apartment, but had a single extension cord run into the apartment from the unit next door. This was the only source of lighting, stated the tenants. Again, later in August, they continued, a man appeared at the apartment and proceeded to turn off the gas to that apartment. Mrs. Fernandez said she confronted him as to the reason for the gas being shut off and was told that the Health for Letters to the Editor, constructive criticism, news of programs, appointments, expansion or changes in human interest procedures, stories or anything of importance to you, or that you feel is worth publication. This applies to agencies, residents, neighborhood councils, or other organizations. The Model Neighborhood News is delivered to approximately 20,000 homes and also to public officials and organizations expected to be concerned with the problems and interests of the area. Many of the residents are not acquainted with the work being done by many of the agencies and would appreciate any information that might forthcoming. Items may subsequent telephone call to the be mailed, delivered or telephoned to the Model Neighborhood News office, 383 East 1700 South, Salt Health Department, Lake Department ordered it. A unwanted conditions and she said, revealed that t e Department was violations increase telephone totally unaware of any order to given prompt attention. daily, he be City, Utah 84115, 467-80- 1 4. They will be |