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Show Wednesday. June . Vol. 6 No. 22 mi 50 cents a single copy Lehi wants sdiflwl for grades III 6-- 9 M By MARC HADDOCK In a move to be "the Pioneers we really are," the Lehi Public Involvement Council has requested that the new school proposed for the Cedar Hollow area be a combination middle school-junio- r high that would include grades 6 through 9. In a meeting with Alpine District Superintendent Clark Cox, council members said a vast majority of the Lehi residents polled preferred the middle school-junio- r high combination - with a school instead of the school already approved by the Board of Education. They also stressed that regardless of the size of the school, the community appeared to strongly favor moving the 9th graders from Lehi High School to the new school. While Dr. Cox said he had no philosophical problems with the middle school-junio- r high concept, which would get the 9th graders out of the high school and relieve pressure on Lehi's elementary schools as well, finances in building a larger school could be a problem. "The agreement we had was for a school," Cox told the council, "and I don't think I will recommend a larger school. We have fought that battle, and I don't want to have to fight it again." Cox said he would pass the council's request along to the board at it's next meeting on June 12, and urged council members to prepare a the group's report detailing recommendation that he could send to the board members tomorrow, prior to the meeting. But he said building a larger school could create other problems for the district. "The problem we have is financial, not philosophical. If we build a larger school, it will put off building other new schools," Dr. Cox said. 1,200-stude- 1000-stude- 1000-stude- , "That's why we reduced it to 1,000, so we could build new schools in other areas where they will be needed, i.e. Highland. "This may take more board discussion," he said. Council's Involvement The proposal is modeled after a similar school in Spanish Fork, where the 6th and 7th grades meet on one side of a building and 8th and 9th grades meet on the other. Separating the two is a core with gym, shop and lunch facilities. Students from the two areas have different hours, so the younger and older students don't come in contact at all during the day. Connie Nielsen, who presented the idea for the council, said it had met with strong approval in Lehi. Survey's showed that 261 residents favored the middle school-junio- r high concept, while 71 said they wanted a 7th-9t- h grade junior high. And of the 40 residents who showed up at a meeting to discuss the alternatives, 33 favored the 6th-9tgrade proposal. Response of getting 9th graders out of Lehi High was stronger. "I don't think there was one person we interviewed who wanted to keep our 9th graders in the high school," Mrs. Nielsen said. "But we also find that our sixth grades are bulging at the seems, and we looked at that. The council came up with a recommendation after Cox told Lehi residents after the board approved the new school that they could suggest the kind of school they wanted - either a junior high school to get the 9th graders out of high school, or a middle school which would include the 6th grade to relieve elementary overcrowding. Either way, it was estimated that about 800 students would be attending the new school when it looking for a fancy school, but ; rather "to get the most for our money out of what we gel." Dr. Cox assured the group that the district "wants a quality building, but we don't want a Cadillac structure." He said no cost figure had been set for the new school. Instead, he said the district is looking at several different cost proposals for new building, including energy efficient buildings and the concept - a building method the district has considered before and abandoned. "We have really got to get moving on this, but we are looking at several possibilities," Dr. Cox said. He said costs would be figured up for three junior proposals - a a high, grades middle school-junio- r high, grades school with and a The combination schools grades would be designed around a separating core. And he assured council members that one major concern 'was resolved. "The highest concern was that the 9th grade not continue in high school," he said. "I can say we will not put them there." But he stressed that the final decision would be with the board, and they may or may hot favor the middle school-junio- r high school concept. If the sixth grades are left in the elementaries, modular units would be used to handle growth in the schools. "We don't look at a new elementary until the current ones are 25 percent over capacity, and Lehi's elementaries won't reach that point for quite some time," Dr. Cox said. "We do have some major problems in other elementaries, and when we use that money somewhere else, those schools can't grow.'.'. design-constru- - v: r. - r 1000-stude- 7-- i cCSsb-X:: A J i ?. X ... & fl h - Connie Nielsen lobbies for new middle school-junio- r high in Lehi as Jack Reid and Howard Johnson listen. They were part of a meeting of the Lehi Public Involvement Council with Superintendent Clark Cox. MAKING A POINT opened. But all four grades included, there would be just over 1000 students headed for the new school, if it opened in three years. Dr. Cox also cautioned the council about going for a concept that was relatively untried. "There are many kinds of middle school configurations," he told the council, " but I've never heard of grades 9 in the same plant before. You may bet getting something thai 6-- once you have it, you might not be so excited about it." But Catherine Webb, another council member, said all of the parents in Spanish Fork that the council had contacted had been very positive about the combination school there. Cox also said that by going for an unusual configuration in the school, Lehi might find itself out of step with the Alpine School District in years to come as programs are developed for 2 the current grade configuration common throughout the rest of the district. "If you went to a you may be a in forever the district," he said. But council member Renita Revill countered, "We have got to quit worrying about being and think about what's best for the kids. Rather than being different, we feel we would be innovative." Mrs. Webb said Lehi was not 10-1- 6-- d 1000-stude- 6-- 1200-stude- 6-- Fox, Mellor to face off in Primary Voters in Representative District Fox received 39 votes, Mellor 30 which includes most of American and Don Hampton, 25, at Saturday's Fork and all of Lehi, will have to Convention in pick between Merrill Fox and Carl Republican County of that primary The winner Orem. Mellor, both of Lehi, for the Republican candidate in the state's race will face Democrat Ferrell J. Hill for the seat now occupied by primary election on Aug. 21. 57, i ilil' Republican Neal Evans. in Richan, from American Fork, recieved 533 delegate votes, while Miner received 454. County Commissioner Keit Richan against O'Neil Miner. Local voters won't see any other local contests in the primary election. Local voters will also participate a county-wid- e Republican primary race that will pit incumbant Miniature parade has deep roots "4 fl now-famo- BEST HONOR OF ALL'-Russ- ell Felt holds plaque presented to the school by family of student Mike Baker. Family award 'best honor of all Assistant Principal Russell Felt accepted an award to Lehi High School students that is "the best honor of all." Charles and June Baker made the presentation to Mr. Felt in a special ceremony at the school. ' They gave it to the school to thank the students for the way they've made life comfortable for Mike at the school. According to Mr. Felt, Mike is a young man with handicaps who was accepted and loved by the other students. Mike received a certificate of completion at graduation exercises Thursday evening. Felt used part of the following tribute ' in his speech on the graduation program. Hundreds of people in Lehi have sore knees, bruised thumbs, sour stomachs, headaches, bleary eyes and hungry kids, as they spend hour after hour creating floats for the Lehi Miniature Parade. Have you watched as gaily decorated floats parade down the street to the tune of high school bands and the tapping of onlooker's feet? For pure pleasure you haven't seen a parade until you see the Lehi Miniature Parde the last weekend in June each year. Proud mothers and dads decorate a float platform using an idea dreamed last winter after reading a delightful story, fairy tale, or after watching Saturday morning cartoons or commercials. One of the floats this year will use the famous Cabbage Patch Dolls as the central theme. Each year there are new ideas all designed to showcase some of the cutest kids in the state. According to former Primary president, Edna Strasburg, Round the Block Primary Parades, were forerunners to the now famous Lehi Miniature Parade. Primary officers used to stage the Round the Block Parades to climax a season of Primary activities. "This award," he explained, indicating the engraved plaque, "is more meaningful than any honor we could have received." Mike's grateful parents expressed their gratitude to Lehi students with these words: 1084-8- 5 Lehi Pioneers Champions To the students and faculty of Lehi High School for outstanding performance in love and affection towards those less fortunate and for providing human opportunities would otherwise that be unattainable. Charles, June and Mike .Baker Coaster wagons were decorated with crepe paper, or geared up with barrel staves and sheets to resemble a pioneer's covered wagon, and the children would dress up in sun bonnets and long skirts, clown costumes or any other creation their imaginative mothers could create for their Primary age offspring. Gradually, platforms were built for Radio Flyer coaster wagons and the floats became bigger and more intricate. Perfection became the watchword and exquisite details were woven into the float theme. Animated floats, brain children of clever fathers and mothers, became parade popular and miniature became so popular that the mammoth parades held previously were abandoned in favor of the more original miniature floats. The main attraction of miniature floats are the little children who add the personality to the Children turn into beautifully colored butterflies, pink rosebuds, droll cowboys, perfect dolls, tiny animals, or whatever else excites parents' imaginations. Edna Strasburg recalls when Myrtle Allred, Annie Webb and in the old school located near the junior tennis courts to curl crepe paper for their parade creations. used to build Ada Whipple gorgeous floats. One called But- terfly Fantasy had three sections. These floats were sponsored by her husband's business, the Lehi Lumber Company. Alice Broadbent and her family-havspent weeks building floats to advertise Broadbent's Store and there's been much pride and that old competitive pioneer spirit as they put together, add to, and inspect the floats for the most minute mistake. Prizes are given to the best mini-float- Beatrice Taylor spearheaded parade efforts. They'd get together Lehi woman dies after auto mishap A Lehi woman was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the American Fork Hospital Monday, apparently as the result of a fall from a moving vehicle. Utah County Sheriff's Deputy Bob Eyre identified the woman as Francine Alfredo Leal, 19, 1500 E. and Utah Highway 73. Ms. Leal apparently died of a skull fracture, however, officials Tuesday were awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Officers said the woman ap creations, but you won't see a dud in the whole parade. And, one of the best things about the parade is every miniature float is a new, shining creation, built by loving or club members parents, businessmen as a public service to the Lehi Special Events and Parade Committee. One of the side benefits of the parade is the- rentability of the floats throughout the state for other celebrations. Float builders can reap rental fees for their creations and that helps to heal the battle scars they get while stapling, hammering and See Miniature parade on page 3 parently fell or jumped from a vehicle traveling about 40 mph outside of Lehi at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. She was described by family members as being following the incident but was taken home and put to bed. She was breathing at 9 a.m. Monday, they said, however, when they tried to revive her, they were unable to do so. The incident is being investigated by Deputy Eyre and Deputy Frank Wall. i 4 tj-'.-- r 3 I semi-conscio- Graduation '84 - TEARFUL FAIRWELL One graduating senior wipes sway a tear as the emotions of the moment touch her. See graduation photos, story on page 3. |