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Show icGi!! lays Paoirclliiase If 2 Lots By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON -- The Davis County Board of Education approved purchase of two lots for the Woods Cross High School building program during its regular Tuesday night board meeting. THE LOTS can be purchased for no more than $16,500 each according to board stipulation. They are located in a subdivision about one-half mile from the high school across Interstate 15 and north of 1500 South. It has not been determined which lots will be purchased but that will be negotiated, said Assistant Supt. Gayle Stevenson. Two lots previously considered in the subdivision have been sold. IN OTHER action, the board expressed disapproval of a proposal to realign high schools in different athletic competition districts. Such action would divide the school district into three different divisions, leaving Clearfild alone among district schools as it would be included with schools from districts farther north. Mr. Stevenson said the proposal, from the Utah High School Activities Association, would place the top 24 high schools in enrollment into 4A classification. By enrollment, that would include schools with about 1,350 students and above in the upper three grades at each school. "IT PUTS THE regions in different configurations,' Mr. Stevenson said. "Clearfield "Clear-field would be in the north region with such schools as Skyview and Ogden. Layton, Bountiful and Viewmont would play the Salt Lake City schools of East, West and Highland. We would have three different districts in the county."' Davis and Woods Cross would be in a third division. All board members sounded sound-ed pessimism at the proposal, noting that such action would isolate Clearfield, further break up athletic competition between in-district schools and affect attendance and gate receipts. "I THINK WE should oppose op-pose the proposed realignment," realign-ment," Mr. Stevenson said. "It is a four-year proposal and the projected enrollment in the district would need to be considered and could change in some schools. It's usually only done for two years and that is an alternate proposal." Although no formal resolution resolu-tion was passed by the board, members told Mr. Stevenson to convey their feelings of disapproval to appropriate officials. At this time, principals prin-cipals have been asked to relay feelings on the proposal, Mr. Stevenson said. THE BOARD also gave the ' go-ahead for two additional schools to begin implementation implementa-tion of a teacher preparation time that would release students from school one-and-one-half to two hours early one day a week. Schedules would be realigned to begin school earlier so no overall class time would be lost. South Weber and E. G. King Elementary schools had asked for the change. At present, six schools operate under the program. Before approval was given by the board, it had given Deputy Supt. Lawrence Welling the directive to prepare a letter along with the two principals outlining the plan for distribution dis-tribution to parents. Parents were then asked to return their feelings on the plan. ABOUT 70 percent of the surveys were returned by South Weber parents, Dr. Welling said. Results showed 41 percent definitely for the plan with 22 percent listed as either way and 27 percent opposed. op-posed. At E. G. King, 35 percent per-cent voiced favor, 39 percent indicated feeling either way and 25 percent were against it. "My concern is with those who are opposed," Dr. Welling said. "I think about the same figure at South Weber was obtained when the proposal was presented before. If I was a building administrator I would be concerned if one-fourth opposed." op-posed." VOICING SIMILAR con- ' cerns was Supt. Bernell Wrigley who said, "I don't believe there is positive support sup-port with these communities like the others (where preparation time has been instituted). in-stituted). Based on that I would have concern. We had hoped it could be 90 percent or above in favor or 85 but down this far we could be in the middle of some pretty serious discussion of policies that couldn't be settled." Dee Burningham, Davis Education Association secretary, secre-tary, added a different light to the survey figures. He said, I'm not sure how valid the comparison with this survey and previous surveys is. We had 65 to 85 percent who said they were in favor or would go with either plan in previous surveys at other schools. We have 70 16 75 percent when we combine the two categories. IF THE figures of those, in favor and those in favor of either plan are combined, they are "remarkably close" to those tabulated at other schools already on the plan from their surveys, and show a majority would be in favor, he said. "You're turning your back on the majority vs. the minority." Board member Sheryl Allen voiced concern about possible abuses of the program. "I was concerned about the comments from two parents that we shouldn't of received from E. G. King. There's been some talk that teachers use the time to go golfing or get their hair done." DR. WELLING said that he had heard of no such abuses at the schools using the program and a Salt Lake City resident teaching In Davis District said he had heard of no violation of the program in that district although it has been in use there for a longer period. Although the board approved the preparation time for the two schools, it stipulated that the entire program be reviewed at those schools and the other six in the spring. Actual start-up of the program has vet to be de- termined, Mr. ' Stevenson said. BUT ONE thing was sure. Preparation time will not be allowed on Friday afternoons, although that day was given preference by both schools. The board has previously rejected that time slot and reaffirmed that move Tuesday Tues-day night. |