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Show A-12 fchoo board iaoid by Jennifer McKenna OF THE RECORD STAFF After much public comment, the board members themselves took time to discuss their feelings regarding regard-ing boundary alignments. The Kurd is scheduled to make a decision deci-sion at its next meeting Tuesday. Von Hortin said TMMS light, air and water qualities will probably be tested over Chnstn as acation. Tom Van Gorder presented the board with the numbers of minority students. Option 5a-tb addresses diversity issues minimally, said 'an Gorder and the minonty students will represent " percent of students next vear. Curriculum director Haugen said "there isnt a answer" regarding the between options four and 5-r 5-r for Park City, "but there probably is a better choice among the two." Haugen presented the board with the description of three schools that currently mirror the proposed option four. In Box Elder School District in Merry wrong choice I't.ih. the schools are split between K-3 and 4-5. Whivpers in the audience of "we're not Box Elder" clashed with earlier comments com-ments urging the board to "look at other schools" currently using option lour. According to administrators in Box Elder, test scores improved over the last three years with this design. K-3 schools focused on literacy liter-acy and character education, while 4-5 schools focused on music, arts, service learning. It is cost effective, allows for teacher collaboration and reduces the number of discipline problems, "bullying" resulting from the mix of older students with younger, an administrator told Haugen. In Cache County, Utah, the school district split elementary schools up due to a large division between low socio-economic areas and high socio-economic areas. The teachers love it. according to an administrator in the district, said Haugen. although it was originally a difficult idea to accept. Haugen said that research that claims students have a difficult lime adjusting to new schools and that their academic growth slows down, really "means something different" than what parents par-ents in Park City have taken it to mean. According to Haugen. the studies refer to when students change schools across new states or cities, not within their own cities. In Cache Countv move throueh the His? a? o (M Ws mm for- &tKtfanmwmmbh mnmmmimvf -vmn wmM&kwAtt- ?Mm ita?&?iitfi& ton- thristmas la ageant Ever The 60s Musical '...shines iBSSml 2 .-n ii.aiBiiw.M 1999 TONY AWARD FOR BEST NEW PLAY The George S. & Dolores Dore Feb. 3, 200 1 2 pm or 7:30 pm s - .S. Jm Egyptian Theatre (435 district with their peers and the schools are able to maintain age-appropriate age-appropriate materials. There was also an almost complete disappearance disappear-ance of problems with children due to the age group limits. A school in Newport, Virginia is also using this design. In this impoverished impov-erished district. K-2 students flow into a 3-5 magnet program or to another elementary. K-2 focuses on literacy and printing. One goal of this design was to promote racial diversirv haugen is excited about this plan considering L'tah's new state core curriculum for K-2. "It would be wonderful to have schools that would focus on this new curriculum." curricu-lum." she said. Board member Carol Murphy said chaneing dvnamics of Park Citv The pain and anguish is difficult, it may take the emphasis away from educating kids. This is getting in our way. " - David Chaplin School board member "behooves us all." She noted that everyone who moves to Park City immediately changes the dynamic's of it, and this is the history of the town: unforeseen change. Murphy presented the board ith a brief history his-tory of education in Park City. The Washington School, the St. Mary s Parochial School and the Marsac School in the l.iXfc were the first schools in Park City. In 1977. the new Park City High School opened and two years later, a meeting meet-ing was held to discuss the building of a new elementary school. Parley "s Park. "It's too far." Murphy said parents claimed. "It's out in the middle mid-dle of nowhere." In January of 1981. Parleys opened. Treasure Mountain Middle School also opened, which housed fifth -graders, and later fourth-graders. In the planning for McPolin began. "This is just right" Murphy said parents felt. However, in 1W0 kindergarten students went to kindergarten at TMMS and fourth-grade fourth-grade moved back to the elementary school. The building of Jeremy-Ranch Jeremy-Ranch Elementary was discussed, and kindergarteners were moved to the high school. In 1WH. Trailside planning began and again, said Murphy, parents made the same cry that it was in the wro.ig place. .: " Almost any grade configuration can work." said Murphy. "We have "One of the best Christmas stories ever-and ever-and certainly one of the funniest" The Seattle Time December 8 - 3 1, 2000 "Sansoni makes a glorious Cline... Petersen's engaging comic banana antics compliment Sansoni's welcoming grace, making a dynamic combination." The Salt Lake Tribune February 1 6 - March 24, 200I "A Cherry Coke show with plenty of fizz!" Time Magazine June 22 -Sept. 2,2001 the spotlight on the last surviving special interest group in America: HOPEFUL HETEROSEXUALS." Rodger A Hammentein Theatre Library July 6 - August 26,2001 "wonderful...heartbreakinz and touching, a play of true feeling." The New York Timet Sept. I4-Oct.20,200l fZfmirr tfrktl&flt for the performing arts Rainforest Odyssey 4. i Ticket vouchers are a $36 value. Vouchers must be exchanged in advance at - 649 - 9371 )for ticket to the performance of your choice The Park ss boundary options a long history of things kxking very difterent in a year or two." "I have no doubt option four would work." said board member Colleen Bailey, "we have a bnght staff, students, committed parents and community. People would make it work." However, she said, "option tour divsnt make sense. The reason is not great enough yet" she said. "There are too many unknowns with it. Fears of these unknowns highlighted high-lighted many of the board s and parents' par-ents' comments. Murphy urged the board not to set aside these curriculum curricu-lum advantages though. But it did not sell that night "I cant think out of the box." said Bailey. But hoard member Kathryn Adair told hoard members this is exactly what they need to do. considering the current financial limitations of the district. "If I were sitting in a classroom with 53 percent per-cent non-English speaking students. I would be begging beg-ging someone to think out of the box." she said. "Without cutting teacher salaries, increasing class sizes, and begging the Park Citv Education Foundation for money." Adair does not see how the district can not go to option four. To relieve overcrowding. overcrowd-ing. Adair said "we have to move somebody out of McPolin." But Bailey does not think the school district has the parent and community support to change to option four. "Because the most important factor in education is parent par-ent involvement." she said. Not according to Adair. "I have never heard the number one reason for success is parental inv olvemeni." she said. "1 was on the fence until Merry 's report tonight," said Adair. There are several board members mem-bers still on the fence. Bailey's comment com-ment that "the reasons we would do it would be fuzzy." "What a great plan" 1 originally thought, said board member Nikki Lowry. "It met all the criteria and priorities f the school board. Our goal is not to polarize the county and city. I still think it's got possibility." she said. She agreed with Bailey that a long-term reason for this . option is needed. "I think it needs more study... don t close out option four. We always have to think out of the box." she said. "Change is here," said David Chaplin. "We have a wonderful place until it becomes a mess. When , a person chooses a home, it's no ' small decision. Schools are a won- The . - -f i turn the Tark Record itiiit YOirg PERFECT. iia Record derful reason to choose a home. But no one can guarantee that child will go to that school,"- he said. "The pain and anguish is difficult, may take the emphasis away from educating edu-cating kids - this is getting in our way." Chaplin said the board has Ken criticized for "lack of foresight." fore-sight." especially in the building of Trailside. "I too had an epiphany." laughed Chaplin. "Based on Merry's (report 1 1 see four as a good solution that would serve all the people really real-ly well. But I'm not quite sure of it yet We've got all the information. We have got to do it very, very carefully, care-fully, stepping out of the Nix." The board discussed possibly making a temporary decision and reconvening on the issue next year. But Adair "doesnl think anybody is willing to go through this again next year." Bailey wants better presentations and education. Superintendent Nancy DcFord said that if ESL extras are placed at McPolin. parents have to know that it must be counterbalanced, by cutting cut-ting other programs. "Four has brilliant bril-liant possibilities." she said but the district is not ready to make a commitment com-mitment Haugen then presented the board with the core test results and SAT scores, which will be printed next week in the paper.Site council evaluations were presented by DeFord. which includes each schools plans to improve its academics, academ-ics, sen jces. and other aspects of the school. The meeting closed with a ery tired and frustrated board, and only two remaining audience members. In other business: Tuesday's board meeting began with a board recognition of member Nikki Lowty, who will he leaving in a few weeks, replaced by long time music teacher Jim Santy. Board member David Chaplin presented Lowty with an impressionist painting paint-ing of a British detective he made especially for Lowtv, who is also a fan of British mysteries. Chaplin said he learned three words from Lowry: "passionate, responsibility, and strategic planning." With tears of gratitude. Lowry sat down to begin her last schooi board meeting in Park City. The board decided to follow the Building L'tilization Work Group's recommendations for the school district dis-trict which include the following: to maintain current grade alignment through 2003-21XU; to appoint a committee for final recommendations; recommenda-tions; to develop capacity plans for the hich school. U Calls for convenience Continued from A-11 fair, best academic and most equitable" design. Although parent Kathy McMahon does realize "there is a diversity problem," she does not want the Parley's Park neighborhood to be torn apart. Convenience is a word that came up several times, as it did for parent Renne Wideman. mother of four. "It needs to be convenient for parents. Convenience is a big thing. Get rid of option four." she said. "It just seems bad all around. I know there's a better option." If there is. most people are having trouble finding one. A woman raised in Europe commented com-mented that she moved here so that her children could w alk to school. "Don't make walkers get bussed." she told the board. Parent Joanne O'Connell argued that she did not want "financial benefits to outweigh academic benefits." which received much applause from the audience, but increased Sundance 0 Sundance Film Festival has Gen-Y film studio this year by Jennifer McKenna OF THE RECORD STAFF Who can forget E.T.'s lighted orange finger, his desperate cry-to cry-to "phone home" and his first sip of Coors Light? These images have become icons of our culture, like Charlie Brown's football games and Norm's entrance to Cheers. They are chapters to stories that we know by heart, stories that we love to hear again and again. Filmmakers will tell you that "every good film stems from a good story." So would Mer lith Lavitt. the Documentary Film Program Manager for the Sundance Film Festival. Lavitt is working with a program which gives high school students interested inter-ested in film the opportunity to work with other filmmakers during dur-ing the Sundance Film Festival. "The goal of these programs," said Codirector Nicole Guillemet, "is to empower and FELON GUNNING t ( ) Of ( H7-, f-A I "S-. ' The Gift of Learning Knowledge is a treasure that lasts a lifetime. This year, give that treasure to an inquisitive adult on your holiday list. Just wrap up a $25 or $50 gift certificate cer-tificate for a Lifelong Learning class from the University of Utah. You can also choose the gift of a specific class. Call today to give the gift of learning to someone you love. (Then make it twice as nice by registering together!) Lifelong Learning I University of Utah 645-8638 www.lifelong.utah.edu Saturday, December 16, 2000 frustration from board members mem-bers because the current struggle strug-gle is due to a lack of adequate financial resources. According to board member Kathryn Adair, it is not that simple. The resources are not available. Without a major increase in funding from the state or from a miraculous source, she said, "the school district will hit the wall in 1.3 years." Part of the need to realign grades is to distribute the limited resources the district dis-trict does have. The crowd emptied after the boundary discussion, prior to Mem Haugen's discussion on SAT and core test results. Haugen is the district director of curriculum and instruction. The board decided to delay a decision on the boundary alignments until Tuesday, Dec. ls. when they will hold a special spe-cial regular session meeting at 4 p.m. There will be no public comment at this meeting. Editor s note: for the school hoard member's discussion on these boundary options, please see "Board tackles." student films inspire the young generation to tell their stories." And this vouna generation is Generation Y. Gen-Y Studio, only in its second sec-ond year of operation, gathers students from all over the country, coun-try, and the world including Israel. Kosovo and Afghanistan. About bXi students will spend four davs in Park City, sharing ideas with each other and listening listen-ing to filmmakers describe their own experiences in the film industry. Students were selected on a first come, first serve basis this year. They are either in high school arts classes or in community commu-nity film programs, and many of their expenses are paid for by these groups as well as corporate sponsors. To reduce costs, students stu-dents stay wnh residents who are willing to be host families for the week. Host families are needed for session B. which runs from Tuesday. Jan. 23 through Fridav. Jan 26. 2tXH. Host families are needed for the days Monday. Jan. 22 through Saturday. Jan. 27. For more information. contact Suzanne Snead. 801-32K-345f bv Fridav. Dec 15. (P06R c |