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Show EDUCATION EDITOR: Taylor Elsenman 649-9014 ext.118 education@parkrecord.com A-17 THE PARK RECbRD www.parlcrecord.com i.:.-j, ,' H| SAT/SUN/MON/TUES, MARCH 29-APRIL 1, 2008 Decision reached on post-retirement BRIEFS ...•;..!•>; EDUCATION < f y « - , , • '••• •. • Write right The I V k Gey Ubrary and Louona Tanner of die Uah Calligraphic Artists will share the history and technique of writing with anyone age eight and up on Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, email mwhite@parkcity.org or a1l(435) 6I5-560Z Celebrate Somali Bantu Culture Rowland Hall-St. Mark's Middle School. 970 E 800 S., Safe Lake City, will host cultural dances, drummer Omar Musa, a documentary video, games, social service tables, native food and artwork end a discussion of Somali history on March 29 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call Paul Chamberlain (801)486-1004. Prizes for Safety Treasure Mountain International Middle School has started a safety campaign to encourage young and learning drivers to buckle up. Students seen wearing their safety belts will be awarded prizes. For more information,call Diane CasheLTMIS counselor, (435) 645-5641. Camp Invention Students will have die opportunity to go to Mars in a module called MARJi (Moving at Rocket Speed) and save the dying Sludge City, among many other activities, from June 16 to June 20 at Jeremy Ranch School.The camp, designed for children entering first through sixth grade, will be open for registration until May 31. For more information, call (800) 9684332 or visit www.campinvention.org. School Board searches for the fairest possible solution By TAYLOR EISENMAN Of the Record staff Not every problem has a win-win solution. The Park City School Board faced that reality Wednesday when they had to decide on the fate of the district's two post-retirement policies. They chose to align with the postretirement committee's recommendations and eliminate the policies by creating a two-year "sunset" during which the policies will remain in effect for this school year and next. The board will pay for employees who choose to retire and receive these benefits with the $1.8 million already set aside for the policies. After March 1, 2009, no other employee will be eligible to receive these district retirement benefits. However, any money leftover from the $1.8 million, which Business Administrator Patty Murphy estimated to be about $650,237, will be appropriated for employees who have been with the district for five years or more in amounts based on years their of service. The policies were created 2002 after the district received a windfall of Olympic funds. A teacher must qualify for state retirement in order to utilize these district benefits, which include an ongoing stipend and health insurance coverage, The size of the stipend and number of months the benefits will last is based on how long an employee has been a full-time teacher, their final salary, as well as other factors. The district's benefits end whenever an employee qualifies for full Social Security benefits. However, it became clear that keeping these benefits as district policies would be impossible after the federal government mandated in 2006 that a reserve fund be set up to ensure the cost for all district employees was covered. Murphy estimated the district would have to put $9.5 million into a reserve fund, which, according to the mandate, they could never touch. Al! this left the board "between a rock and a hard place," as Trailside Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Linda Crowther said. Many teachers had counted on this money when they planned their retirements. In the public comment portion of the board meeting, Crowther said this left some "with a gaping financial gap for th8ose who were expecting it." But it also left the district to create a $9.5-million untouchable reserve fund, which is money that could go toward more programs for students or back to the taxpayers. The question became what's fair, and as Superintendent Ray Timothy put it, "Can we be fair to everyone?" What the committee and board soon found out was that in this situation, they couldn't, but they came as close as they thought they could, "It was a difficult process," School Board President Kim Carson said after the board voted unanimously to phase the policies out in two years. "There was a lot of discussion working toward a balance between all of the stakeholders, and we feel that we've achieved that." Board member Vern Christcnsen Please see Sunset, A-19 TAYLOR E\SENMAWPARK RECORD Park City High School physical education teacher Bob Burns speaks during public comment in Wednesday's school board meeting. Threats cause concern at Treasure Mountain Two separate notes left in school bathrooms By JASON STRYKOWSKI Of the Record staff Over the past week, two threatening messages were discovered on bathroom walls at Treasure Mountain International Middle School. The first message was discovered by a custodian on the morning of March 21. The short warning mentioned a general attack on the middle school and gave a date of action. After finding the message, the Park City Police Department was contacted by school supervisors and immediate action was taken. In concert with the police, school authorities were able to determine that a student was responsible for the note. That student has been suspended, pending a safe schools hearing with the Superintendent, from school as of this past Tuesday and will likely face a form of legal action, already in discussion. Faculty members met on Monday after school to discuss the incident. The following morning, school supervisors and two members of the Community Council as well as the co-presidents of the Parent Teacher Student Organization assembled to create a plan of action. A letter was written and prepared for distribution on Wednesday, March 26. That letter was never sent because that same day another message was discovered. This message was noticed by a student in a boy's bathroom and reportPlease see Police, A-20 YOUNG, KESTER, & PETRO Attorneys at Law 0PP01TONITY! Buy Homes Direct from Builder! Builder has decided to. LIQUIDATE! DEER VALLEY MOUNTAIN RANCH ESTATES PROMONTORY RANCH HUGE DISCOUNTS SELLER FINANCING With offices in Provo and Now in Park City Allen K. Young Sarah H. Young Tyler S. Young Pam J. 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