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Show School board approves purchase of $1.5 million in tax anticipation bonds The recently completed Bluff learning center features traditional Navajo hogan-typ- e design. Stan Byrd photo Tlh San Juan Record HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER Vol FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH 25 cents 70 No 43 November 30, 1988 For the first time in recent years, San Juan School District will borrow money to pay for In a current expenditures. Mexican board meeting held at Hat Elementary School on November 21, the school board approved purchase of $1.5 million in tax anticipation bonds. The money will help defray costs of running the districts schools until taxes are collected. The county and most other school districts routinely borrow money in the fall to operate on until tax payments come in late November. Until now, the school district has not found this necessary because of a large surplus fund. However, this fund has been used in recent years to supplement declining state funding and a decrease in local taxes, and to help pay for capital projects at Monticello, Blanding and Mexican Hat. When asked if the district would ever again be in a position to finance itself through the fall without borrowing, Kent Tibbitts, district business manager, replied that he didnt think so. UNDO Bluff learning center opens After years of delay, the UNDC Bluff learning center was dedicated and officially opened November 22. Teachers and students were part of the small audience. Medicine-maJune Blackhorse conducted the traditional Navajo blessing on the new building. Guest speakers included Bill n Todachennie, Aneth tribal councilman, and UNDC Education Director Mark Maryboy. George Etsitty, adult education supervisor, acted as master of ceremonies. Construction on the center started in 1985 but funding cuts delayed completion until this year. The 1,300 square-foo- t building replaces a galvanized storage shed that served as a learning center since 1974. Though renovated, the old storage shed lacked adequate classrooms and office space. The new building boasts a study area, office space, bathroom with showers, and kitchen. The centers design follows Navajo tradition. The eightsided building resembles a stretched hogan load-bearin- UP&L seeking rate reduction Utah Power and Lights rates in Utah will soon be lowered for the fourth time in 1988. The company has filed documents with the Utah Public Service Commission seeking approval to decrease rates by $17.9 million annually beginning December 1. The state Division of Public Utilities also endorsed the reduction request. Customers will see a rate reduction of 2.5 percent, or about $12 per year for an average residential customer. It is the fourth time since January that UP&L has reduc- ed its rates. Combined with the previous three reductions, rates have now dropped six percent. The company has not had a general rate increase since 1984. The latest rate decrease was made possible by a,variety of without trusses or internal, walls. The centers single multipurpose room can be divided into smaller classrooms. factors, including a reduction in the amount of royalties paid on coal UP&L produces. Lights on after all The Christmas lights are on in Monticello City Park but not in the same number as last year. Disappointment registered by the public prompted the city to turn on the lights, thereby cancelling an earlier decision to eliminate the seasonal lighting display. Because strings of lights were disappearing from the park, the city council voted on November 16 not to turn on the lights. The lights were disappearing faster than city crews could put ' them up. v-- ' ; - g According to UNDC education statistics, the Bluff center has the leading student enrollment among seven learning centers. According to George Etsitty, the new center is one of several being considered for other parts of the reservation. The adult population on the Utah Strip deserves better educational facilities than what they have now, Etsitty said. Proposals are pending in Window Rock for similar adult education buildings in places like Navajo Mountain, Oljato and Aneth. Etsitty said the new building will help further education in The Bluff the Bluff area. learning center is a contributing factor in enrollment and participation and provides a positive atmosphere for learn- ing. 99 By depositing the money at interest between the time taxes are collected and next June when the bonds must be repaid, the district will realize as much as $2,000 on the transaction after all interest and fees have been paid. Once the process is set up, the annual fees will be slightly less and the district can expect to earn more in future years. In another matter, school district patrons can expect to receive a district report card in December. The report is a new requirement imposed on all districts in the state by Governor Bangerter. The governor asked for the report to be sent to his office and to patrons of the schools. lion in P. L. 874 money. This money comes to all districts in the United States who have large numbers of students living on government lands, such as Indian reservations or military bases, and is based on student population in those areas. While the money itself is not restricted in any way, the guidelines are set up to insure that the parents of students for whom payment is made are aware of how the money is spent and have some input into the way the funds are used. The Transition Center in Blanding will relocate. The board approved a request to move the center into the building previously occupied by UNDC education offices. The Transition Center serves handicapped students who cannot move directly from the public schools into the job market. Students at the center will provide routine janitorial and maintenance services at the new building as well as continue with the training and manufacturing programs they currently operate. The new building provides more room for approximately the same cost as the current building. A review of capital outlay budget requests for Whitehorse High School, Monument Valley High School, and the San Juan A building (the old high school), resulted in no firm action on any expenditures at this time. With the exception of the A building, all requests will be routed through regular capital prioritizing and pricing channels before any action is taken. The A building, approved last summer for extensive revamping of the mechanical systems and the fitting of some classrooms into office space, Jensen came under scrutiny because Hal Superintendent submitted a draft of the report very little progress has been for board input before it is made. Two reasons given for finalized. In draft form the this were that the district report is eight pages long and maintenance staff has been too reviews special programs, per- busy to handle the amount of sonnel, district finances, and work necessary, and no firm student progress. The object of decision has been made conthe report is to make parents cerning the type of office space more aware of the districts required. A committee of district staff programs, goals, income, and and board members will tour expenditures. Seven members of the newly the building early in December formed District Indian Educa-- . to determine exactly what type tion Committee met with the of remodeling must be done to board to review the Indian accomodate the offices and Policies and Procedures docu- whether or not to contract the ment that is currently being work or to ask district maintenupdated to conform to new ance crews to handle the governmental guidelines for project. receipt of more than $2.5 mil (Please turn to page 2) |