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Show nr m 7, &Frrr-MBr- R SLC? Government Transition Told D m NtK tWnty TOM HI UY ION mr M (H4 Is) two years later, wuh lN commissioners mmg gv a legislature, wotkiftg as aciurdiftaimg Cooru.il. It apparently w oiled great, he sa.J. although as IN world became mme com- Ulfcq iliiuf MM -iw u to City tM.fi) FiUMf 1 m 1 f8! t) (4lrlJ(l Mcs,Ma)i ltd IMuHixay, V)f tlMY 0tf Sapud of a!) l$ U U!if. H i wd irthk( Mg Icfflfi in mint mffei la Ha? IH H 4k M'talUd fiinieftaAji, hng ing wha l tfsg W t4f Lune in Tn)iin, t miming fox itmaili m 0 i it.AgCx iiiipltfhslHsJ id SJl 1 alg C lf gJXcfTimrflt in the pul lur Km. he re lognred he IfamlJifiulnin ( ium M tommuitun faim of ruk IIM plex, especially (allowing VS mVh. JAt Ciarn, NLC KLuh. and latmer Me IH in; m ma)ar ad ajipknc iMih fixe pilots" la she Olid s wrote clandestine kucrs la reorganize ihc city ,nscfnmem, he Mid lhal did rejie Ihc ainunpherc. Ihc Ifchn; at something Ns in; la he done with city fovern-nte- of TODAY, ONLY a handful major cities, tuih at Portland, Ore and iltluM, Mist., Still follow that lufm, with no Cities tn Utah Will uniimg it, Mr. At explained, Ve c.vuld set pdn.y at Id a m.nd itd N scuttled by dor 5 p m,, be taid, recalling numerous times when commissioners at a body would approve a measure and then turn around individually and fight tt. n. ITS set up now, the council sets policy with the mayor acting in an advisory It Brought the downfall. afrole, apart from the council, in one (is c approval soicr a ter a non e otmg role. He has the margin. ol IN 6fo) car old power of vetoan option hcs commixuon form of used only once over a parking snilh government replaced lot variance ordinance-b- ul Mayor Wilson at the helm and can be overridden by a s seven conns ilmcmhers, each five votes, or majority, t, clecicd from a district similar to legislative rules. er two-third- pre-une- TRACING the history hind formation of commission be- governments that spread throughout the country, he said the hurricane disaster that hit Galveston, Tex. in 1911, similar to (he recent upheaval, brought five businessmen together who each had expertise in different problem areas, such as water, and their attempts at rebuilding a city were synthesized into a form As mayor, he also has the power to manage city departments, which meant bringing together the various departments that formerly were split between the five commissioners. Thai first year he called himself a super commissioner" and never wants to live through that again. Mayor Wilson said, noting that now the I6dcpartmcnt hcadsmect with him as a cabinet. of government. IN 1981, At Haines was Salt Lake adopted that form Go. Commission Sets Timetables Bv MARK K)1 HERINGHAM FARMINGTON attitude of protest, In an Davis County Commissioners approved a timetable for setting up the controversial vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I&M) program last week. THE PROGRAM is required by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency which could cut off millions of dollars in road funds for the state if Salt Lake and Davis Counties don't comply with their demands. In a written statement read before the program timetable was approved, Commissioner Harry Gerlach expressed the council's reluctance to participate in the program. SERIOUSLY contemno in protest when this I&M proposal appeared before us, he said. "I also believe, however, in I plated to vote honoring and sustaining state legislative law; even though it was created under duress. Com. Gerlach maintains that the EPA's national regulations and the computer model used to measure ozone levels are based on "faulty research and advice. HE REFERRED to a former computer study that indicated 50 percent of the hydrocarbons in the area came from industry, fuel handling and other commercial entities. retii wuh the mayor, People have recourse t" Complex wanted next to brooder pulley maiteri, be explained, admitting to bring I a public politician-n- ot neighborhood homeowner! about a ID ttory apartment he added, noting or thould act at an aibit- - through me, a may i Journal, principal Jerry said while a few prob-lem- s surfaced, the program rfers quality education," schools. It's a good way to take care of g and still proJl'ST THE mention of that to most student make them vide good education if there turn purple a they envision were no adJitiomd factors to into account. perspiration dripping down take their face in during a ALL INDICATIONS boring dissertation from some hoarse teacher who' been we've had to date are that no going strong since last Sep- review is necessary for chiltember. dren. Teachers can pick up Of course, that's hardly right where they left IT. what anyone ha in mind, not But a number of parents the least of which is Salt Lake voiced complaints about scheCity School Board Pres. duling for summer vacations, Wayne Evans, whos prop- for example, and the principal osed another look at year-roun- d said further that some paschool, giving many rents who work have indicated thoughtfully-researche- d it's difficult to keep children reasons behind it. (His propos-a- l occupied during three-wee- k is outlined in another story breaks in the winter." in this issue.) SOME TEACHERS there schools are apparently really like it while certainly an option and are others have opposite feelings. being utilized in some districts This reporter briefly discussed around the country, notably the issue with a teacher at the the Denver, Colo., area and school, recently and she said it close to home in Preston. Ida. appeared parents and students The Idaho district, holding had adjusted fairly well. The schools on what's calthe distinction of operating the state's largest elementary led a "45-15- " plan that is, students attend for nine weeks school, turned to last foil as a means to handle and then have three weeks off the overcrowding, accentu- throughout the year. That ated when voters defeated a means several weeks vacation building bond election. during every season, summer and winter alike. ON AUG. 30, voters had another chance to decide if the LN THAT district, at least, authority should be given fora teachers so far havent rebuildings bond sale, and this ceived extra pay for working time, only 60 percent of a relonger although the option was quired 66 percent voted in given teachers to transfer, and favor, defeating it again. 1 1 of 18 new teachers hired in Quoting from an article in the small district were the Aug. 251 Logan Herald assigned to the elementary TOM BUSMIJI RG . Nurtll lotiiof By Year-roun- Wad-dou- mid-Jul- YEAR-ROUN- year-roun- Year-roun- low-sala- ry attracting ty problems while teachers into the public schools, Salt Lake City Board of Education Pres. Wayne Evans asserts. REACHING THOSE conclusions in a paper, "The Facts of Life in Utahs Educaschool board tional System, the long-tim- e member outlines eight premisses supportd schools. ing He says in his conclusion: Keeping our schools open year round will make it possi b!e to pay our good teachers better, attract mors able individuals to the teaching profession anf improve the quality of education in Utah. high-quali- year-roun- COMMISSION Chairman lf schools would answer d crowding and violation). Using ozone as a barometer is faulty, he said. Geologically speaking, the begin until April 1st. EPAs computer model also didnt take into consideration THE COMMISSION mainall the natural hydrocarbons tains that to meet even the later coming from the Great Salt deadline will depend on the Lake and the wetlands area. availability of adequate upTHE EPA considers an area front funding help from the in violation of the Clean Air EPA. A proposed budget for Act if the minimum air quality the program calls for over standards are exceeded more $60,000 (about one-hathe than once in a years time. needed revenue) to be contriAccording to Davis County buted from the federal agency Environmental Health Direcby Oct. 1. tor Richard Harvey, David County has reportedly exceeded the standards three times this year. In order to remove the violation status and reach attainment, Davis County must now go for three years straight By TOM BUSSELBERG without exceeding the standards. FARMINGTON Both COMMENTING ON the reDavis County hospitals have Gerlach Com. quirements, said the minimum standards expressed at least preliminary interest in assuming a are too low for the Davis Counlome health care program. with the I&M "Even area. ty could we go programs in place, THOSE SENIOR citizens 20 years without reaching and others receiving care He said. he attainment, under the currently-provide- d added that the county had nevon Aging service Council er been in violation for more neednt it wont be proworry time. a at hour than one Health vided, Nursing DireccomAnother reason for the Dolieen Jewett emphator missions disappointment with sized, Tuesday morning, in a with deals mandate the EPAs homei, THINK it's the mayor jemt, tuvh along si deterioration South west hd-h- oiihe CiiyiVunty budding, school. The teacher Interviewed said she wasn't aware of why some ol her colleagues had left. While she is tingle and real ies the can possibly afford to work for no extra pay, she improve excellence and make greater u of exiting fax limes and limited tax dult.tr. SAWNUS WIRE raised ax I but major hope for have been some hat dashed m Davis, at lead, as the didnet raised the problem some faced a potential $25 million a others are having, especially if year air conditioning bill not now incurred because district they formerly held down summer jobs. Bui she did echo her schools arent air conditioned. principal's comment that the Il l figured it would cod SJ million a year extra lo pay for h traditional review after the extra energy costs. break Isnt necessary, Some felt academically, stunow. YEAR-ROUNschools dents could be benefited, and were implemented in several at least one student proved as Denver districts also faced much at the seminar, but overall test scores failed to produce with overcrowding years ago as massive new subdiv- such dramatic results. It's also isions were created, almost feared the "bed" leacheri overnight in some cases. Some would get fixed into one track have continued while others benefiting only those few stuare no longer operating on that dents, as well. schedule. IN THE Salt Lake District, Public Informameanwhile. And while dozens of school tion Officer Rob Wakefield have the implemented systems said "at this time when the program, its still a vast minoris strongly encouraging public ity when compared with the that we look at ways lo imthousands of school districts prove education, we as educaacross the country. tors have to answer that. year-roun- three-mont- 10-1- 5 THIS REPORTER attended d g schools a seminar held in Orem two summers ago. Educators, parents and students involved in the year-roun- d program shared their ideas. Some districts around the state were seriously considerday-lon- year-roun- options, those such as Davis, Jordan and Alpine facing continued heavy growth. In the Davis District, at least, the issue has been put on the "back burner while other means are studied to help ing year-roun- d "At least it's definitely he commented. Tm not sure if its Because they perceive pruhlrms or because its different. 1 think part of it is because parents are ued to that summer vacation lime." A Salt Lake School District Commission on Lxeellcnce is exploring the possibility along wuh a lot of others, Mr, Wakefield taid funher. emphasizing Mr. Evans' proposal was his alone "something he's been concerned about for a long lime." "I dont think anyone (in the district) would say theyre opposed lo it. BOTH SALT Lake and Davis districts have received legislative funds for ex- perimental productivity programs aimed at stretching dollars while striving to provide better educational opportunities. In Salt Lake, $46,000 was received and is being used in the Bryant Intermediate School Productivity Incentive Model where teachers voluntarily work longer hours, teaching seven periods a day vs. six, consolidating departmental staffs while participating teachers are compensated for extra lime, Developed by a committee worth looking into, he said d further rcfcnring to schools, "A Gallup Poll recently said the public doesnt d believe theyre ready for schools. In our district that was evidenced even more year-roun- at the school, the program proposes to "take the quality people we now have and assist them in their work by providing added compensation, better equipment and facilities and more effective backup sys- year-roun- strongly when Parkview School actually wanted, asked to try They surveyed their public and came out overwhelmingly against year-roun- tems. LN DAVIS, a similar productivity program is being formu- year-roun- lated I THINK society tends to be slow in any kind of change," to enhance student while effecting a opportunities savings in cost." It will have selected secondary teachers working an extended contract Eat no reduction in the teacher hut and operation cost when considering nupilteacher ratio. Itll mean further Use of classrooms and laboratories, for example. Public Information Officer Bonnie Dunance explains. Teachers will give up their preparation time on a paid bus, doing that instead on their "own lime" when students aren't present, she explains. For every five senior high and six Junior high teachers on the program it would mean one less teacher and teacher station needed, although she emphasizes no one has been or will he fired lo implement the program, ITLL BE tried on a "limited basis during the current school year at North Davis Junior High in Clearfield, Bountiful, Vicwmont and Woods Cross high schools, involving mathematics and science teachers, Mrs. Durance says, adding plans call for ex- pansion lo all secondary schools in 1984-'8While the year-roun- d idea should be raised again as food for thought, in my opinion, no one should be loo hasty in jumping on its bandwagon. Lets continue aiming at ways to improve the educational package wherever possible, but step lightly before making an expensive, revolutionary change that may be regretted by many later. ALONG THOSE same lines he says furth- er that would allow use of school buildings 5 weeks a year, for 255 days, or 40 percent 1 t Schools: Problem Solver d By TOM BUSSELBERG Sunset News self-funde- State legislation requires that the I&M program be in place by Jan. 1st. The Davis County timetable, however, doesnt call for the program to d Year-Roun- governments to govern and make decisions based on truth and fact, he said. Although Com. Gerlach is definitely opposed to the program, his written statement did list some positive aspects of the situation. He said the county run program would provide local control of present and future I&M events, 2) a meaningd and cost effecful, tive program and 3) a reduction in carbon monoxide levels ("even though we are not in said. y in a positive tense, of course, lime I am one It should be thg art ol bringing together public consensus, ' referring to the Greek foots of (he world pot). tics, "of the people, HE SAID Salt lake City ha made many stride!, luvh as budding a downtown praised by many, but still has profo Board Pres. Says... THE DAVIS and Salt Lake County programs are a typical example of how federal money infiltrates, infects and dilutes the ability of state and local Ruckleshaus (the national EPA Director) had no choice but to impose sanctions, he d over-crowdin- the political aspects of the program. Com. Gerlach earlier commented that the EPA should have no right to withhold road funds from the county since county residents contributed their fare share into those funds through the five cent per gallon gasoline tax. Glen Saunders agreed that the I&M program will do little to improve the countys air quality, but blamed Congress, not the EPA, for failing to update and modify the Clean Air Act. tingle-laffoi- Tide to dunk ufa poh'bian Pm Not Coimmced Yean?" Round Schools Are Answer Sunset New them for emergencies, such as sprinkler repair or to carry necessary equipment, should keep them, n was decided. AS sponsibility hto ulk those ilungt over, to t tn tooth with legislator ah. out policy" and work out rotor if argument! develop ever, say, a fight between In Toms Opinion Cities, ONE PAY ihc commission ritxrni ntafr(ttineil frm, ALT ItOt Oil the change mcl, deciding 2?8 cars being 1)44 formed "on ihc heel of driven home each night by city s it gate a to sis in whixh he employees was loo many, a real drain on rei)in pul must) sigmlixante causing sources. Only (hose needing stivi same of IN commission pie-hci- (he city day by day ha been vested w tom although total re- W af II, many began 10 question ihe ability f suit) a group ta ettfkiive!y operate im. hid- buxiBrtxmgfi 1st sis) lsi brought from Orem to act at thief administratis tFner, situation thal bat worked Put my welt, N laid, noting hum (4 the puw er to operate day by day bat been tested w fam although final responwM- - TEACHERS COULD teach the regular 180 days or any number of additional modules, as desired and would be paid depend ing on modules worked, he writed. Since there will be no traditional year with its traditional get started period and its traditional wind down period, morethe time students spend in time will be productive, Mr. Evans says further. AFTER A period of attrition, the numby as many as 23 percent. This will allow the districts to be more selective in the teachers hired, the Salt Lake businessman writes. Along those lines, he theorizes if no additional money were pumped into the schools, starting salaries could go from the current ber of teachers needed may be reduced $13,633 to $16,769 and the average teachers pay from $19,627 to $24,141; It follows, then, that a higher standard of person will be attracted to the $24,000 vs. $19,600 salary. more than currently used. With students FRINGE BENEFITS also could be reattending school the same 180 days per duced as part of total costs due to a smaller year, we will immediately obtain 40 percent teacher force. In addition, the cost of buildmore school building capacity and save ing schools would be greatly reduced much of the cost of new buildings, Mr. with saved dollars going to pay teachers Evans continues. more. Noting that if all students had Christmas Added to that, the long, hot summer week off and teachers worked 16 of 17 with masses of students in the community three-wee- k modules during each year, without enough to do and too much time to teachers would work 225 days a year or get in trouble will no longer exist. more than currently while nearly similar a pay increase. receiving e ASKING AT the end of his papHE OUTLINES 14 supportive points for er if it can work, Mr. Evans writes: d schools noting if stuschools are already working in quite a going to year-roun-d dents attended 12 of 17 modules, theyd go few districts around the country. Some of to class the same 180 days a year. But if their them are already on three-wee- k modular vacations could be broken from one three programs and they work just fine. vacamonth block into four, three-wee- k He blames tradition of students working tions theyd have greater opportunity fora variety of experience during all seasons of on the farm for keeping the month school program going, while the year. communities that have become accusIt might complicate babysitting but would reduce problems with long summer vacatomed to the year-roun- d school have earned to embrace it. tions and keeping kids occupied. one-four- th five-pag- Year-roun- ADMITTING AIR conditioning would be needed in most schools, Mr. Evans terms that cost very small as compared to the additional schools which we would otherwise have to build. He admits that public opinion-paren- ts, students, teachers, administrators-wou- ld have to be molded to make such a program acceptable, but he adds, this can be done. PRIOR TO presenting his arguments d schools, Mr. Evans favoring outlines the high value Utahns place on education, quoting figures that more Utahns over age 24 have completed high school except for Alaska, that the state is second only to Massachusetts in percentage of students year-roun- receiving special education for handicapped while public school revenue is second only to Alaska as a percentage of personal in- come. Calling Utahs educational task horrendous in his second premise, Mr. Evans notes largest percentage of school-age- d at just under 24 percent, of any state, a larger percentage in public schools than any other state-- at more than 98 percent and anticipation the states children aged school-age- d population will grow by more in the next seven years. than UTAHS EDUCATORS are asked to do a lot for a little, he says further, quoting one-four- th ratios--a- t 24.79 per the higher teacher vs. 1 to 19 nationally, more students in average daily attendance ler teacher and a 40th ranking in dollars spent per student in public schools, at $1,772. Mr. Evans asserts that Utahs school teachers do not make reasonable wages for e employment, noting average elementary education salary offered to University of Utah graduates were $13,532 or the second lowest salary of the 30 academic areas, with recreation and leisure lowest. pupil-teach- full-tim- HE SAYS that while some teachers like in 10 have three months off, nearly four other jobs with 70 percent of those in order to stay in the teaching pro- year-roun- d, fession. We do not get reasonable use of our teachers or our school buildings, he writes further, noting teachers average only 182 days of work vs. 235 for most e Schools are used 182 days a year for regular educational activities vs. 260 days for most business offices and more than 300days for many commercial operations. INSISTING UTAH cannot afford this inefficient use of its educational facilities, Mr. Evans notes its estimated to cost $426 million to build, replace and repair school buildings for public schools in the next five years based on current patterns. That is happening as Utah ranks growing in percentage population growth. We need to attract and keep a higher level of teacher than we are now receiving from the colleges of education, Mr. Evans continues, noting the average ACT scores for those entering education was clearly in the lower half of all taking the tests in Utah and lagred behind most other academic areas. full-tim- fifth-faste- st ON TOP OF that, he notes a significant number of our best teachers are leaving education to take higher paying jobs in business and industry. His eighth premise states that, while some attempts will be made to raise the amount of money available for education in the state, it is my opinion that neither the legislators nor the people of Utah will be willing to put up significantly more money for education in Utah in the forseeable future. . SEE A column outlining d schools, including some d information with opinions by News Editor Tom Busselberg, also appearing in this issue. year-roun- recently-receive- Hospitals List Interest In Home Health 1 report to the county board of others are treated for only a short time after being released health. from hospitalization, for After news reports were circulated last month outlining the health departments conLakeview Hospital Admcerns about continuing the service or seeking inistrator Lindel Carriger and other providers, she said much Humana Davis North Hospiinterest has been generated tals William C. Rees, associate and indicated someone will executive director, indicated interest in possibly picking offer the service. up the ball and providing the SHE INDICATED further service although both added in preliminonly a small core of clients they were only of poson a service the developing ary stages are receiving basis while most sible program plans. long-term WHILE THE Lakeview board of directors has already discussed the matter and given "positive support to pursuing further details Mr. Rees said his board has not yet discussed the issue. The program, which provides a variety of regular health services to clients in their homes as part of an effort to minimize medical costs while also giving the client a chance to live at home vs. receiving nursing home orhospi- - a talization, where possible, is indicative of more "outpatient care programs, Mr. Carriger noted. USING HIS hospital as an example he said the level of surgery, where a patient visits the hospital for only a matter of hours vs. staying at least one night after receiving surgery, has grown from 5 percent of surgery to at least double. As noted last month when the issue was first raised, Mrs. 10-1- Jewett said changes in govern- - $105,000 or so budgeted could be transferred if another d home health care ser- cy picks up the service, she vices provided in the region emphasized. have wrought greater competiCounty Com. Harry Gertion and difficulty for the coun- lach emphasized the ty to provide services at health department cancounty concosts. equivalent tract with anyone for the service and noted that while a SHE SAID some action willing participant is ready should be taken soon because to go in south dethe budget must be prepared tails have to becounty more worked out in for the coming year, running north county, with the health from Jan. 1 by state law for board asking for more definite county agencies, although the information possibly leading to action at its Oct. 4 meeting. and in' H ri & r & 3 no "tt r!, .y! |