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Show THE PARK RECORD SATURDAY, DECEMBER Id, 2000 Fiewp A-15 oints. 1 EDITORIAL The difficult choice must be Tuesday's school board meeting was full of impassioned impas-sioned speeches and pleas to board members to reconsider their options for changing current school boundaries. The majority of comments sharply criticized option four, one of two options the board is scheduled to ote on next Tuesday. Option four splits the four elementary schools into two pairs: McPolin serving students grades' K-2 and Parleyis Park serving students grades 3-5; Trailside serving students grades K-2 and Jeremy Ranch serving students grades 3-5. This option would reiieve overcrowding at McPolin and Jeremy and address diversity throughout the district. According to district director of curriculum and instruction instruc-tion Merry Haugen. option four has Iwonderfuli cumcu-lum cumcu-lum advantages, allowing each school to focus on particular particu-lar skills such as reading and math, w hile ha ing the ad an-tage an-tage of age-appropriate matenals at each school. However, parents were upset that students would not attend neighborhood scliools (or half of their elementary careers, requiring them to be bussed farther from home. Parents are not convinced the academic benefits outweigh the inconvenience and disruption of students and statls. These sentiments were shared by audience members as was the understanding that the boundary decision is difficult diffi-cult and probably necessary. But board members faced an even greater challenge: a community that is divided over what is an appropriate age to bus students, how far is too far from school, and what constitutes a neighborhood scruxJ. In addition, many audi LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Ripping the RAP tax LJitor: Tlie promoters of the special RAP tan have succeeded in convincing the majority of taxpayers that the RAP tax is needed and will generate $,).H) for needed local arts programs and recreational projects. W here is this need to be found ' They have told us nothing of how they plan to organize the group into a legitimate business to receive the funds from the RAP tax. Who is authorized autho-rized to operate this organization? How are they to be selected? How much are they to he paid or are they volunteers? How are these funds to he distributed. To whom? Questions ? Questions? Questions? The one thing the RAP tax has succeeded in doing ts to raise the prices on new houses, the old will follow. Utilities, food, just about everything is going to increase in price At the present time there no STUKXl). To generate the $?00.HK) the taxpayers and visitors must purchase SUO.OW.UIO in taxable tax-able goods in Summit County each year. Assuming the RAP tax has a life of 10 years, the taxpayer has voted to give the promoters of the RAP tax a blank check in the amount of $VM.tmo Is this what the taxpayer envisioned? How many of you read the Guest Editorial "Arts Sates Tax ts a bad idea." bv Jim Schefter, The Park RtxvrJ. Nov. 4. 20(0. TTiis is an excellent article on art. John Rugar Paik Citv and Las Vecas. Nev. Think of the kids first Editor: In regard to the current boundary issues the school board is facing. 1 understand the benefits of Option 4 (which pain the four elementary schools). Resources would be pooled between two schools instead of four, and 1 st and 2nd graders could be grouped as needed by developmental level. However. I am very concerned with this option. Yes. Option 4 does meet a majority of the criteria, but is it worth the cost and effort to ov erhaul our three schools' teams of teachers and staff, instructional resources, and to bus every elementary-age child within with-in the district to receive the exceptional education edu-cation they are already getting? Having a 2nd grader move to a new school for 3rd grade would sTow down the leading process. It would take time to gel acquainted with a new school, new team of teachers and staff, new students, and even a new curriculum. Teachers would have to adjust also to a new staff, new school, new elementary style. Parental involvement would be difficult if you have siblings split between schools. The valuable mentoring programs currently in place would be lost. A child with medical or special educational needs would have to be readdressed within the new school. On top of this, if the hoard were to choose the UI HI lUUUIU Asked at Christmas in the Park, Dec. 13,2000 With Main Street closing for the duration . "fp. rV -t- Colleea Rush "Something that involves the athletes, ath-letes, where they can mingle with the public, after their events over and the pressuie is off." are L ,4piPHfHB-4fc,.dWi rffft'fc jli ence members failed to listen to the needs of other speakers speak-ers w ith differing opinions, doing precisely w hat some have accused the school board of doing ft making decisions based on emotions and personal desires, rather than what is best for the district as a whole. The Park City School Board represents the interests of all students in all Park City Schools, longtime residents as well as newcomers. Board member Carol Murphy was wise when she noted that throughout its history , and most certainly in its future. Park City is a dynamic place, full of unforeseen changes. And we are all responsible for those changes. It is essential that parents voice their opinions to the school board. It is essential that the public understand the value of public schools, and most importantly, its limitations. limita-tions. Parents and teachers are making demands such as smaller class sizes, more ESL aides, more bilingual teachers, teach-ers, a school in Pinebaxk. more bus routes, less time on buses, more class offenngs and higher teacher salaries, all of which supercede the distnctis current resources. In essence, we want private schools at public school prices. The truth is: the Park City School District is not wealthy. It is funded by an underfunded state system that must grapple with budgets and capacities like other pubic school districts. However, in order to continue setting the standard of quality education for all students, the Park City School Board members, many of whom admit option four is the best academic solution, should have the courage to vote for it even in the face of public skepticism. Buildinc L'tihzation Oranee design (grades 6-7 at Lcker Hill. 8-9 at TMMS. and 10-12 at the high schixtl). along with Option 4. our students would be attending five different schools from K-12. .4 of these changes slow down the teaching and learning process. !; is developmental inappropriate to shuffle our kids around this way. I question again, and again, and again. Is this major overhaul of our school district really necessary ? The benefits of a K-5 or K-fc school far outweigh the benefits of Option 4. I realize setting new school boundaries are difficult decisions to make. And 1 also know that some McPolin parents feel that their children are receiving a less-than-exception-al education at their school. If there are facts to prove this, then let's address this issue specifically within McPolin. I trust that the school board will not be hasty in their decision deci-sion with these difficult issues. Carol Llbrizzl Thanks to council applicants Editor I would like to publicly thank all of the . candidates w ho applied to fill the v acancv on city council that w ill be created w hen Shauna Kcit assumes her position on the county commission. All of the candidates are well qualified and are extremely impressive individuals. indi-viduals. They represent a wide range of expertise and backgrounds, with each person per-son bringing useful skills to the position. The final selection of the person to fill the v acancy acan-cy was very difficult because of the high caliber cal-iber of all of applicants. I appreciate the willingness will-ingness of the 13 candidates to dedicate the time required to serve the city. I encourage all of them to consider running for election in the near future. Thank you for being involved in the process and canng deeply about our community. Sincerely. Fred Jones An elegant solution Editor There has been a huge outcry from the parents at Parley's Paik and Jeremy Ranch elementary schools against the possible Option 4 that is being considered by the Park City School Board to address the need ft modified boundaries. I am surprised and disappointed by this reaction. Option 4 would combine McPolin and Parley's school communities into one w ith K-2 at one school and 3-5 at the other. This option not only solved the problem of filling the newly expanded Parley's, it does much more: It fairly distributes the burden of busing to all students. And students would only have the longer bus ride for half of their elementary elemen-tary years. The Parley's parents object to busing and would prefer that the school Kirsta Bleyle "It's an opportunity to showcase local visual and performing artists and highlight the historic district without the distraction of cars," jfcto. jtfQi jajpfldiaidfcfcrilL j(ldj J - I mi ..run ii miir i f i 1 1 m r n , i ii.i .i.t.i.i n Hi - MAKING A DECISION AINT made 50 HARD. WHY. ANNOYINS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SILLINESS WE JUST FLIPPED A COIN hoard pick an option that would require some McPolin kids to le bused their c tire elementary life so that Parley's k.Js wouldn't be inconvenienced by busing at all! This option provides for more diversity through out the community. McPolin has the majority of the Hipanic population at its school. It has been a challenge to adapt and give every child a good education. In the lower grades, the non-English-speakmg kids outnumber the English-speaking kids. Many of the Hispanic families have voiced a concern con-cern that at with a concentration, their children chil-dren do not have as much opportunity to learn English or become integrated into the community. 1 grew up in the Washington, DC area in the 'Wis and without busing there would not have been integration in the schools and without integration in the schools, there would not have been integration integra-tion in the community. The term "neighbor-hosxT "neighbor-hosxT school w as an ugly term, synonymous with segregation. We are living in a community commu-nity that ts not v ery well integrated. Option 4 would be a step in the right direction to better bet-ter integrate our community. This option provides for a bigger and better bet-ter community. Some parents have voiced concern over breaking up their "neighborhood" "neighbor-hood" school This option does not break up anything'. Their children would be with the same children by grade plus have the opportunity oppor-tunity to meet new children and families. The combination of PTOs by grade would also enhance fund-raising activities. This option prov ides the greatest opportunity opportu-nity for academic excellence. Each' school would have a few grades on whkh to concentrate. con-centrate. There would be a choice of six to seven teachers for each grade instead of three or four. As a McPolin parent. I am very concerned about the relative academic performance of the schools in this town. SAT tests taken this October indicate a ro'ich poorer performance of McPolin students stu-dents versus students in Parley's Park and Jeremy Ranch. I strongly urge the schsvl board to consider consid-er the broader issues here and not be intimidated intimi-dated by a gamp of parents that don't want change or busing. Busing will be inevitable w ith future over-crowding at the high school I congratulate you for coming up w ith such a good option. Now . please have the courage to implement the option and do what it right! Dianne Walker Open letter to the school board Please support Boundary Option 4 for the following reasons: 1. It provides the highest quality of education educa-tion for all students in the district. 2. It is the most fair and equitable solution, in terms of both buvng and educational opportunity, for atl students in the district. 3. It is the only option that addresses divr-sity m our district in a mean"rful way. and avoids segregated schools, 4. It maintains a substantial number of of the Olympics, what David BeU "Street performers of all types-dance, types-dance, vocal, instrumental Also ceremonial things near the intersection inter-section of Heber and Mam." " V ' j, v ft ' I ....n,,,.!...,,,-!. ' l, .n.,..,,,, nr nil IN THAT parent volunteers in all elementary schools, which enhances the quality of our children's education. 5. It is the most cost -effective boundary option. Please don't allow segregated schools in Park City We believe that "the only fair and educationally sound alternative to Option 4 is to provide substantial increases in program pro-gram funding at McPolin. in the form of: a. Eighteen to one student teacher ratio: or b. Full time teacher's aide (bilingual preferred) pre-ferred) in all heavily impacted classrooms; or c. Creation of a magnet school program at McPolin Elementary . Concerned community members, Teresa and Mitch Silverman, Marian Serra, Peggy Stuber-Peterson, Lora Payne, Pam Preib. Jill and Eric Schifferil, Kathy and James Meyer, Harry Bibb, Laura Andrews, Wendy VanReyper, Georgeanne Young, Pat Cone, A.M. Rairton, Beth Miller. K. Haws, Heidi Peterson. Greg Eisenbarth, Linda Eisenbarth. Lori Kadwit, Cynthia Bainbridge. Kathy Emmons, Kathy Hunter, Marie Lyons Burns, Sarah Jones, Mary Allen, Elizabeth Swank. Diane Maynard, Nancy Pofley, Jeri Briggs, R. Briggs, Pat Kenny, Jack! Day, Ginger Varca. Corrie Grodnick, Carol Daft on, Christie Semas, Pam Behm, Clay Stuard. Maria Graybill, Jani Jones. Linda Fisher, Judy Carin, Shirley Murray, Uz Lee, Jim and Nancy Barth. Ellie Stephens and Stacy DymalskI Paul Wayment indictment Editor am not a liberal. I do. however, believe that no parent can be punished more severely severe-ly for a lapse in judgement than to lose his or her child The Summit County "powers that be" have apparently decided that they can Wvy a more intense form of anguish on Paul Wayment for the death of his son. Gage, than he is heaping upon himself. I am not related to. nor am I a fnend of, Mr. Wayment. I did, however, spend hours and hours on the side of a mountain cast of Coalville with my search dog. combing thaiugh thick underbrush and slogging through mud in an attempt to help the Wayment family find cksure to a heartbreaking heart-breaking situathKi. I admit. Mr. Wayment's story sounded suspect to me when I met him briefly at the search site. I voiced my suspicions to a few fnends and family For these, my mistakes, I apoknuze to Mr. Wayment. To those w ho seek their own brand of justice jus-tice for Mr. W aymcnt. I ask: Is your child secured in an approved car seat eery time you leave the driveway? Have you ever answered the telephone while bathing your infant? Do you allow yxmr child to partici events would you kr a Fiskcr "A Pleasure Island like at Disneyland, with beer and food stands, so we can eat and drink our wav around the world." -jlHIJI in. yi, f j v ' - II" I I .0N fciBCV1 PH RECORD pate in activities which could result in injury r death 1 1 believe strongly m justice I also believe Paul W ayment's jutise ts served by his separation sep-aration trom his son To thise that feel the arrogant and uncontrollable need to punish others, may sou never make another mistake mis-take as long as you live Dave Brown Summit Countv The Park Record Staff PU8USHER Editor Stiff writers rsian O-a at Noa. Bruce Lens Jay KarrsJxirgef jennfer McKenna Va-ssa Gonase Jc-e Marfan ;er,rtg Ciiord Tor- cvae K- BfOuQl Gary We:ss Jay Mwai Courtney Hmzfgm Crsraa KoT-a Ian Mcet VVeJy Du"n Parts Crvtstenser Ca!7 Vanoej,s Var Dntng Betsy Sxwe Smm Gav Seaman Kkama Trxxnas Arws CtrTWTWsgs Wendy HaiNSay Les. Sc-aj Sai Rjssh Va'y Ann Meu Kat Ja-rses S?epn Z-Sy Airy HoOtS Wa!t GonJon Knst Wasters Ywrve Rum Seen Ast Tns.1 Graha'n Roy Lewis Kristin Thomas Mcna Ascam Karsn Yener John Kitoourn Contributing wnttn Editor itiislim Office accountant Classified atfvtrtising Reception Circulation warteger AdwtisNif director Advertising soles Editorial erotuctio Photographer Product) oa director Product) Distribution Cartoonist rVw"-1- f:o V... V. m .-v?prs 4 .' f-fr msrit.t V: Hut V Trnv?i',f tm tttrwj ".. 'lMrx,: ' v ,wii t ii1 s ,1 v . Thf it SPS ?N.Vi i!VsV ti-js siis-i r puHrtfx-d ! K rcrvticd Sjfxj:t4ii SoNfMfx"v r.; Kfin.'a l t ;i I t.ih fixiot rN.i ,cv J Fi'i t h-s I !ih fMSlMVSUR VnJ jkUcss to Hv Ac Kn,r,l H,i Vvs-s pjri t its I Mh t Mi-ft-a wssmj ,'iv mj'u-i M.is s l"thr otiM in Put I its I ijih s aixlrr the Vi o( Mjrcft 1. is' SuK-rcpni r jto : $1. mJc Sunwrui I ,jim Vi.uTsds j nmi I un!s I tah Susvnprw .stc 'rartvT-jNe S ,3ivs iU'hw K-e Phoo vS Ni',4 ,v Us i4;i 42 PuNtvhi-J ,-scrs W esybi irvj Stufsias PHOTOS BY STEPHEN ZUSY like to see there? "J "f 1 '- """"J ii--ii . ; - j Taaia and Torn Taraer "A kick-off parade with the athletes. ath-letes. Also a big screen TV and fire pits to keep warm while hanging hang-ing out watching the events." |