Show Committee reports school district allegations Dear Editor In the past several months numerous allegations have been made against the Board of Education the Superintendent dent of Schools and other administrators of the Uintah School District The undersigned people formed a committee to examine examine examine ex ex- amine these accusations to determine for ourselves whether they were factual and if so what effect they should have upon the Uintah School District in the future We hope our findings findings findings fin fin- dings and conclusions may assist citizens who may have had difficulty assessing the charges Our committee began when Dr Hugh II It Knapp was asked by Dr Wayne Reid Superintendent of the Uintah School District to form a group to investigate the accusations being spoken and published Dr Reid chose none of the other members of the committee himself They were selected by bythe bythe bythe the chairman as representatives of the community and with competence in various fields We as a committee looked into the charges in some detail Most of them seem to have come from a group entitled Concerned Citizens of Uintah County We attempted to meet with this group to hear their charges but were refused However we have read publications and materials printed and gathered by the Concerned Citizens of Uintah County We have also heard charges and questions raised by them verbally in several Uintah C County School Board meetings that were open to the public We have discussed the issues with administrators board members teachers and private citizens in an effort to come to some conclusions based upon facts We have also examined the Uintah School District records We do not pretend we have made a complete legal investigation but we do feel that we have gathered enough data to draw some conclusions and make suggestions The major allegations follow in no order of priority 1 Kenneth Jennings a. a It H appears that Mr Jennings was not carefully screen screen- ed There are some valid concerns about the past policy of using using us us- ing the same contract form for hiring all personnel in the district Mr Jennings was hired on the strength of three letters letters letters let let- of recommendation We find that Dr Reid Heid has tightened lightened and is improving the hiring process b. b Mr Jennings' Jennings salary was determined and provided bythe bythe by bythe the State agency which funds the out Drop Prevention Pro Pro- gram Any comparison with the pay scale of a beginning teacher is not really pertinent although cases such as this may well indicate that we should pay teachers better c. c Mr Jennings' Jennings termination seems to have been in accordance accordance accordance ac ac- ac- ac with policy The fact that he was paid his entire salary under the contract may be distasteful to some citizens but has the legal support of state rind and local board at I x past court cases and the State Superintendent of rp Public i T c yak 5 r 2 Travel Expense Policy P licy a. a According to long established Uintah School Board policy first-class first air fare has been provided for long trips Th back many years to times limes when travelers were often bumped from tourist flights The board has continued continued continued con con- to allow the expense of the first class tickets even though coach fare was purchased District travelers have used used used us us- ed the balance as they have seen fit fit- fitIn In some cases first- first class fare has provided the he means for spouses to be included on trips We do not think that those provided for in this way were unethical illegal or intentionally seeking to gain At Atthe Atthe Atthe the present time the board is reviewing the travel policy We recommend coach air fare and expenses paid to working p personnel per personnel per per- r- r only 3 3 Utah Mot Motor r and Mr John The charge is that his being a Board member associated with Utah Motors is a conflict of interest Some parts for school buses were purchased from Utah Motor Company This company is the normal dealer for Dodge parts and would under ordinary circumstances receive what business that might come up on that make of vehicle It does not seem right to criticize and penalize the district by not letting them buy parts from the appropriate dealer Perhaps the Conflict of Interest Policy needs to be reviewed and clarified especially since many prospective Board members are associated with businesses We want to be clear however that we see no wrong on the part of John in the matter under question 4 Assault charges against Superintendent Reid Heid Mr Thomas Snyder charged Dr Wayne Reid Heid with striking striking ing him with his vehicle and leaving the scene The matter was tri tried d in court and resulted in an acquittal In as much as as this occurred on school property and during working hours we feel the School Board was within its rights to pay Dr Reids Reid's legal fee and give him support if they felt it ap ap- ap- ap 5 5 Checks to Walker Bank The question was raised by the Concerned Citizens as to why a check for was made to Walker Bank It H seems strange that this should have been a charge of wrongdoing wrongdoing wrong wrong- doing as the matter has such a simple answer Perhaps those who raised the question did not get a direct answer The fact is that this was a transfer of funds to an account at Walker Bank paying the highest possible interest 6 6 Mr Stan Allens Allen's qualifications It seems that Mr Allen has advanced within the District sometimes with special authorization for or new jobs However he has worked at filling qualifications for or certification Mr Allen has served in ut all II his positions with the knowledge and approval of the State Slate Superintendent of Public Instruction At this time and in his present position Mr Allen has fulfilled all his professional requirements 7 Morale of teachers and staff starr Charges have been made of threats and arid harassment to teachers and staff who expressed their opinions on problems and school issues If I this has happened we deplore the fact and do not see this reaction as necessary on anyone's part However there are proper channels through which problems and grievances should be bl directed by employees and hopefully these channels will work We want to support our School Board in the effort it has been making to improve education in Uintah County We feel eel their endeavor or to set academic standards and goals is com com- Our Superintendent Dr Ur Wayne Reid Heid has we feel demonstrated good programs for improving our educational educational ional system He lie should not bo be judged for past board policies but should be supported in m the positive changes he is making Personal attacks using highly charged emotional words only serve to demoralize him and the school administrative ad ad- staff We feel that the School Board has not acted illegally in any of f th these e charges charge which have been made There are two areas which we feel need improvement 1 I The allegation against the School District began when some citizens felt fell there was a serious problem possibly h |