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Show Board increases salary for driver's education Lions Club asking for sight Vernal Express Wednesday, September 15, 1993 3 Q5" by Kathleen Irving Express Writer The Uintah School Board unanimously unani-mously voted last Tuesday to raise the salaries of district driver's education edu-cation instructors from $10 per hour to a $13.50 hourly wage retroactive to July, 1993. The decision, which is a step toward to-ward reaching the state average salary for instructors, came after UHS principal Ted Taylor and district dis-trict administrator Bill Caldwell informed in-formed board members of increased state funding for the program. According to Taylor, during the 1992-93 lawmaking session, the State Legislature increased payment to districts from $60 per student in driver's education to $90, retroactive retroac-tive to July 1992. They based the increased in-creased funding both on rising costs of operating the program and requiring requir-ing driving instructors to take over the Utah State Driver's License testing test-ing program for first time teen-age drivers. Allowing instructors to test students stu-dents frees the time of state testing officials, as well as offering students school time to take the tests rather than requiring them to miss school to meet state DMV hours. The pay raise now makes Uintah more competitive with other area school districts. According to Taylor, Carbon and Box Elder districts dis-tricts pay instructors $16.50 per hour. Wasatch district pays $12.50 hourly or $75 per student for training, train-ing, as does Duchesne School District Emery has been paying $13.50 per hour for the past two years. Caldwell praised the local driver's training program and instructors as "outstanding." "We've never had a complaint,' he sai d. Board members also grappled with changes to the Classified Employee Handbook shown them by employee association representative representa-tive Dale Batty. Dialogue between board president Dennis Judd and Batty became tense as they discussed grievance procedures. Batty contended that employees legally have unlimited access to personnel files. Judd said that although many people peo-ple believe that is the case, there is no state law that allows such access. "Some confidential reports could be harmful or damaging to the subject sub-ject of the report," said Judd. He balked at including in the handbook blanket permission to review files. Batty also said that if the board were to make their own changes to the Employee Handbook, his organization orga-nization wanted the right to vote on the changes before they became district dis-trict policy. "We've negotiated some points sometimes," said Batty, "and the board has changed them later." "Your association can have input," said Judd, "but not veto power." The board agreed to an executive session with Batty following the meeting Tuesday, but tabled ap-proval ap-proval of the handbook until the district dis-trict attorney reviewed the entire document for legality. The board also tabled a decision on a contract for outside-district transportation. They had been set to renew a contract with Wilkins Transportation to provide smaller, comfortable coaches for longer distance dis-tance trips taken primarily by UHS athletic teams and other school groups. Wilkins had been the only contractor con-tractor submitting a bid for the contract con-tract until last week when Bonanza Transportation submitted a bid for $.15 to $.25 less per mile than Wilkins' bid of $1.25 per mile, the same rate they charged last year. District business administrator Richard Tolley also told the board that the state transportation funding formula had changed. Costs for school bus travel was calculated at $1.67 per mile last year. This year, due to the change, that cost is only $.60 per mile, making travel by school bus cheaper for the district in most cases. Both costs exclude wages and per diem paid to bus drivers. District administrators assured board members that travel costs would be estimated before each trip and the less expensive mode of transportation would be selected. It is possible that using one motor coach with under-carriage storage capability will be cheaper than run ning two busses or one bus and a van to haul athletic equipment Administrators praised Wilkins' service last year citing the storage compartments in their coaches and reclining seats which are far more comfortable for students than seats on school busses. They al so mentioned Wilkins' later model equipment, noting that Bonanza's fleet included an early model school bus and older motor coaches. In addition, ad-dition, Tolley said Bonanza had not provided the district with proof of liability insurance, nor had a visual inspection of their equipment been conducted. Board member, who seem inclined in-clined to accept Wilkins' bid, nevertheless never-theless tabled the decision until more information could be obtained from Bonanza. The Vernal Lion's Club is asking for help in the "Sight First" program. pro-gram. By donating old eye glasses so they can be recycled, you can help others in underdeveloped countries. coun-tries. Colorful boxes have been place at Smith's Food King, IGA Food Town, Day's Thriftway, Wal-Mart and K-Mart. "Just drop your old eye glasses and glass cases into the boxes and the Lions of Vernal will do the rest," said Vard Openshaw chairman of the Vernal project The Lion's Club's District Governor's night was Wednesday, Sept. 8, at the Skillet West. Conducting was Lion President Everett Pitt Guests were Lion District Governor Dee Mecham and wife, Lion Joyce from the Heber Lion's Club and Lion Zone Chairman Clint Park and wife, Lion Helen from the Duchesne Lion's Club. Lion District Governor Mecham spoke to the club following dinner on subjects concerning the Lions. One of his subjects was the campaign cam-paign "Sight First" a program world wide throughout the Lion's Club International to eradicate preventable pre-ventable and reversible blindness. This challenge has been given to every Lion's Club, beginning July 1, 1993, and ending June 30, 1994 and has been declared the "Year of the Campaign Sight First." District Governor Meacham presented pre-sented plaques of appreciation to the 1992-93 Region Chairman Lion Ken Tripp and 1992-93 Zone Chairman Lion Alta Winward. Reports were given by the finance chairman, Lion Bill Hall, Parks and Recreation chairman, Lion Clayton Curtis and Sight and Conservation chairman, Lion Vard Openshaw. I ZT , X Jl RECYCLE YOUR I ". ' OLD GLASSES 1 i UNOtiXVM.Oil0 CO-) I VERNAL LIONS Vard Openshaw and Lawrence Wardle hold box where residents can deposit eye glasses to be recycled for use in third world counties. Right now it wont cost you a dime to reduce the debt on your house. (Unless, of course, this is your house.) If you think cutting the national debt is going to cost you, try refinancing at almost any bank other than Zions. You see, Zions Bank can help you refinance your home for the same amount you can afford to pay in addi tional taxes right now. Nothing. No points. No appraisal fees. No title insurance fees. No origination fees. No filing fees. No fees of any kind. And nothing will be added to the amount you end up borrowing which can be as much as 75 of the value of your home. 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