OCR Text |
Show DAVIS REFLEX JOURNAL MAY 15, 1985 DAVIS COUNTY CLIPPER, MAY 15, 1985 'hum in: or v iioimiiti. MM Teachers Could Work Extra Bays IfPlan Qkd for six years experience plus graduate training. TOM BUSSELBERG Reflex Journal Editor By -- o A BILL passed the House limiting extra days to five but was killed due to lack of time in the Senate. The state school board must follow the laws that are written, Board Member Bruce Parry said. The guidelines say 50 percent (of funds) can be used for extra days. Ive felt bad that teachers spent a lot more than three (extra) days (in preparation). Six days maybe is not feel six days is justified. enough--- I d k Bountiful Academy BOUNTIFUL -- - Knox- Perhaps ville, Tennessee or New Orleans had bigger worlds fairs during the past three years, but none was more diversified, more thoroughly thought out or educational than that of the Bountiful Academy. THE private school on Bountifuls east side exrecently presented a and of displays songs, travaganza food highlighting a number of foreign countries as well as several of the United States. Each of the 47 children enrolled at the academy was involved in the project, the culmination of several weeks of intense study and preparation by students from kindergarten through seventh grade. day-lon- g three years ago after leaving the public education system, designed the worlds fair activity toempha-siz- e learning on a number of skill levels, from physical to intellectual. PART OF the program were a series of folk dances from Israel, Germany and New Zealand. Each emphasized hand and eye coordination," as well as developing an understanding of differing world cultures. Each student spent between four and nine weeks preparing a table display on various countries, cultures and traditions. A sampling of those displays included clothing, food or money, as well as written histories prepared by the students, of such places as Bolivia, Brazil, Ireland, England, Spain, France, Australia and the Soviet Union. THIS ISNT a merit pay plan, its a career leader plan. Its very difficult to measure performance. We need to devise some methods to better do that, Mr. Parry added. Board member Ray Briscoe said were caught in a dilemma where teachers and legislators both must be satisfied or the program will fail. Five days (extra) and teachers will be unhappy and six days (could make) the legislators unhappy. six-da- Showcases World By TOM 1JARALDSEN AN ESTIMATED $3.4 million will be awarded the district by legislative mandate. As envisioned, that money pie would be broken up thusly: $1.4 million for six day extension of teacher time; $1.2 million performance compensation; lesser funds would go for mentor and cooperating teachers, secondary department heads, elementary school projects, special and evaluation projects. y Discussion centered largely around the extension, vs. five or the four currently in member of place. Pam Mitchell, the career ladder evaluation committee thats worked to prepare the proposal, questioned six days. PTA-Pare- THE STUDENTS were required to carefully research each country, writing a paper on some facet of that country. For instance, we had one student write a paper on relations between the Soviets and the United States, and another wrote on relations between Egypt and Israel, Mr. Hassett stated. The academy has continually grown from an early beginning to its current enrollment. All of the students would most likely be classified as gifted in the public school system, highly intelligent and achievement oriented, Mr. Hassett said. PLANS call for the fair to become an annual event, he added. Parents and family members of the students were invited to attend this year's fair. post- six-da- y AND WHILE parent involvement through a PTA representative will be included, it wont go all the way through evaluation-teache- r vote selection process, thanks to a three-twagainst that option by the Davis Board. Those two points were among many haggled over for nearly three hours, last week, as the districts career ladder proposals were hammered out. Theyll get further honing, no doubt, from the state board of education, espechanges cially thanks to some recently-enactenot yet released to local officials. WORLD FAIR hours THE DEA (teachers association) executive extended year with board supports a career ladder compensation based on daily pay rate. One parent attending the school board meeting submitted a letter as part of the "open comment allowed during career ladder discussion. It questioned using a large portion of career ladder funding for extended days, citing who reportedRep. Robert Garff, ly didnt feel legislative intent followed that course for that many extra days. FARMINGTON - Teachers will have six extra days to prepare for school and ready report cards if the Davis School Boards career ladder proposal passes state scrutiny. Chris Maynes of Fruit Heights shows his display of Wildlife of Bountiful during the Bountiful Academy World's Fair. Dozens of displays and demonstrations study of cultures of others capped a multiple-weestate and countries. Plans call for the fair to become an annual event at the school. 30 nt THAT doesnt fill the main intent of legislative funding, she said. I feel we should use the money more for merit pay rewards with a little more emphasis on true merit. She referred to a mixed review from pateacher days that gave rents of the mid-yetwo days between terms for report card preparation and getting ready for the next term. I think the majority felt supportive of the extra time, though, she added. QUESTIONING How well controlled and utilized the extra days were was Board Member Dee Forbes. There was the chance teachers could take a three day weekend during the semester break, for instance, but Board Pres. Sheryl Allen said I heard no question on use of career days. Discussion went long on how much PTA members should be involved in career ladder evaluation for determining who is included. There was some concern expressed that names of those awarded career ladder funds should be kept confidential, largely so parents with students in classes where teachers werent career ladder participants wouldnt feel their youngsters should be transferred to a teacher who was in the program. ar BEYOND THAT, Mrs. Mitchell said parents were very grateful for the chance to be heard and were very encouraged by PTA involvement in hammering out career ladder proposals although participation was not 100 percent. She said afeeling of trust could be built with district and school staff partly through such efforts. Saying probably no topic has created more interest and taken more time than the career ladder, Davis Education Assoc. Pres. Delbert Francom said many teachers are thrilled with changes. Those include eliminating need SEVERAL expressed feeling the career ladisnt perfect and can see further refinements in future years, including Board Member Henry Heath, chairman of the committee hammering out the proposal. der plan State Willing To Move Ahead Commissioner Wary Of Joint Jail THAT COMMENT came on the heels of a jail feasibility committee meeting, April 30, where a state FARMINGTON - Davis Coun- Attorney Generals opinion quesof Legislature-allocate- d ty may not get a state community tioning expenditure funds for various jail proresource center with its new jail, but a new facility will be coming. jects was discussed. By TOM BUSSELBERG Reflex-Journ- Editor al -- state doesnt County Com. Harry Geren lach sounds dubious they the countys taxpayers will have to foot a much larger bill. The decision has been pretty much made that we will go it alone," Mr. Gerlach said in a telephone interview at the weekend. Wed still like to evaluate the present (jail) site along with other property, he said, mentioning the proposed public safety complex. AND IF the partici-pate-an- d will-th- county-owne- d By Com. Gerlach said it was felt the possible time lag and a lot of public resistance due to a lack of understanding could kill waiting for state participation in a facility that wouldve included a county jail in one portion and a resource state center for prisoners in the other. Many facilities that could be shared, such as kitchen, laundry and recreation areas, wouldve been built in common, saving funds for construction and staffing. medium-securit- y FARMINGTON cise regularly? al -- Are you too-- busy to exer- - HOW IS your blood pressure? Do you rely heavily on pain killers and other medication to get you through the day? How much sleep do you normally get? If this sounds nosy, its not George Orwells 1984 coming to Davis County. It is a health risk appraisal program, though, that does ask some personal questions in an attempt to help the respondent evaluate his lifestyle. The county wouldve controlled (facilities) completely, and acti- vities the state was going to provide we will have to provide anyway. Its too bad we couldnt do it together, Com. Gerlach said. IT COULD be that public resistance that kills the joint venture anyway, with Myron t, newly-name- d director of field operations for the state cor- rections department, indicating there are communities who really d) save-prolon- HES READY to market" a health styles program that includes weight reduction and stress management, among other facets, in the public schools, work sites and through physician referrals. e A questionnaire asks such questions as physical activity level; regularity of taking medication; drinking habits; weight, blood pressure and cholesterol level. It also asks respondents to evaluate their overall physical health and life satisfaction. two-pag- 25-ye- ar 1957-83- QUESTIONS about sleep, strength of social ties with family and friends and average hours of sleep are queried and how often youve bc- - one-fift- h s. i want (a state facility) for whatever reason. dont want to tell a We com- we want a facility here, he emphasized, noting the legislature allocated only enough funds for one resource center or related correctional facility. Top priority now is being placed on relocating munity the 90-da- housed y diagnostic center in the old St. Marks Hos- pital on Salt Lake Citys north 3rd West, he continued. That doesnt leave enough for a resource center this year and a contractor cant be secured without total funding. Mar-chan- (heart-relate- DAVIS Healthstyle is set up to help combat such problems as heart attacks, still the number one cause of death in Davis County and Utah, notes Brad Neiger, health educator with the Davis County Health Department. study of Duptont Co. Referring to a , Health Director Enemployees, from rico Leopardi indicated improvements in lifestyle have resulted in declining risks. In that study the more educated tended to change to a greater degree, he told the health board, with salaried employees falling 38 percent in heart attack incidence vs. about for hourly wage-worker- m PHYSICIANS and others there counseled employees in better eating habits, blood pressure treatment, smoking cessation and exercise, Emphasizing rates still remain very high he said there is a need to extend and intensify" education-correctio- n programs. A three percent annual decline in coronary problems has surfaced, he said, ; Iding a desire to educate all segments of the population" to that end. A lot is said lately about the artificial heart g and its potential to lives, Mr. Neimake but can such steps said, prevention ger unnecessary. TOM BUSSELBERG Editor Reflex-Journ- IT WOULDVE saved the Davis County taxpayers a tremendous amount of money, the commissioner said, with a bill of $15 million now being eyed-n- ot countcosts through stafing long-terfing, especially. WERE NOT stopping our procedures, we still want to proceed, Mr. Marchant emphasized, indicating funds could be awarded by the 1986 Legislature that wouldnt be available until that July. A special appropriation could make funds available immediately based on part legislative intent approving two resource centers, he added. There are some real benefits for both the state and counties, Mr. Marchant stressed, noting further, We want to avoid communities fighting each other over jail placement. Some strong feelings have already been raised in Davis County in that vein, however. SHERIFF Brant Johnson could not be reached for comment but has expressed concern something must be done as soon as possible to relieve a jail. As near-capacit- come in a violent or potentially violent argument over the past year, among other things. A tobacco usage survey has been taken of all junior and senior high school students, Mr. Neiger told the board, with results expected by next month. Citing the case of what he admitted was probably a class with tobacco use, the health educator said of 15 students, nine reported chewing tobacco in the last 24 hours. higher-than-norm- al I TAUGHT all of her class a presentation about chewing tobacco. A few 7th graders came up afterwards almost in tears knowing they were hooked. And while that rate isnt as high as elsewhere, perhaps, he said its prevalent among youngsters. Kids are going to the stores and just buying it, he said of the chewing tobacco. "I will work with the schools on a prevention program when we get the results from the survey, Mr. Neiger explained. THOSE educated in more healthy lifestyle practices are able to cut their health costs, he continued, indicating about 70 percent are related to smoking. But education isnt enough: Whether they change depends on them, he stressed. He cited the case of a man who said he was y County Attorney Loren Martin said, the county could face legal action because of facilities. Although it was planned to meet all specifications when expanded several years ago, stipulations keep changing, he emphasized. te Everything from cell square footage to required out for cell facilities are now spelled out by national standards. Its not whether its going to be built, he said referring to a new jail. Its got to be built. The present facility just isnt ade- quate. MR. GERLACH said he was to meet with the Sheriff this week and also was to discuss the issue with the mayor council of governments, to whom he would propose setting up a task force. addicted to smoking and didnt plan on quitting. An showing a shadow in th chest providing a suggestion of a problem iding the man to say he would stop smoking. y, . COUNTY COM. Harry Gerlach, a health board member, said as the federal cigarette taxes are taken off the state could pick that up for education. Our young people need to be helped. he called TV the greatest impact to change lifestyles for good or bad. One board member noted a real sanitation problem in a high school hes familiar with due to tobacco spitting in the hallways and restrooms. SMOKING cessation efforts an , dinated with the American Cance arent directly included in the D lifestyles program, Mr. Neiger s;. Calling even the printout avails health risk appraisal "a wonderful al, educational tool, Dr. Leopardi , physicians urge patient participation. It s not to receive the $2 per person revenue but we feel it has a lot of advantages for those participating, he added. THOSE interested in more information about the healthy lifestyles program may contact Mr. Neiger by calling or , ,J 451-334- 0 451-333- 7. |