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Show V A 2 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, August 6, 1987 Letters Districts Must Do Homework On Year-Roun- d Education It's time for Utah school officials to do their homework. By legislative mandate, schools are here to stay. There is some debate, however, as to whether the manand whether it date is truly was the best alternative in all situations. In any event it is clear that in Utah's two largest school districts - Jordan and Granite - there are areas where programming is not merely a good solution, it is the only practical solution. Both districts are moving ahead with imprograms at plementing year-rounelementary schools. The next logical step year-roun- cost-effectiv- d d be middle schools and junior high schools. Where does that leave the high schools? There's a definite difference of opinion in the two districts on that subject. Some Granite School District officials are quick to point out to studies that indicate programs at high schools are less than ideal. At this time. Granite District is better off pursuing busing to utilize physical plants on the east side that are operating under capacity. But Granite District is in the unique position of having to balance the problem of underpopulated schools in one area and a burgeoning population in another. Jordan District, on the other hand, produces documentation that year-rounhigh schools have met with much success in other states. It's hard to imagine that Jordan District will have any alternative to such implementation, since enrollment projections show a need for as many as 10 new high schools. It doesn't take a high school diploma to figure out that this would cost more money than the district can generate. will d year-roun- Editorial d e year-roun- Politicians Too Attached To Parties cross-the-dis-tri- d What the patrons of both districts deserve an honest evaluation of the year-rounprogram, coupled with all alternatives being laid on the table so that school boards can make an informed decision that the public fully understands. Any decision must be sound from a fiscal standpoint as well as educationally. Coloring the presentation to best suit the district needs instead of simply presenting the facts is not fair to the school board or to the public. The public also has a responsibility to recognize that there is indeed a crisis. It is never easy to change tradition and September to June schooling is a very traditional. However, it is not fair for Utah taxpayers to foot the bill for an abundance of new buildings if there are other alternatives. And we believe there are. A few years ago Granite patrons on the west side balked at busing to those empty classrooms on the east side. Now 1,500 students from Jordan School District are coming into Granite schools and for the most part the students and their parents seem happy with the solution. The districts cooperated in working out funding, busing and other aspects of a problem that once looked insurmountable. The problems now facing school boards are serious and they are long term. There are many differences of opinion as to what plan will work to the best interests of both student and taxpayer and school boards would do well to listen to patron input. But once a decision is reached it is in the best interest of students, parents and administrators to make it work. is d Cable TV Company Goofed; Appears Sloppy Operation ll' Three weeks ago salesmen came to the condominum complex where I reside; 'Their purpose to solicit subscribers for cable TV. Since management had been trying to get TCI to get the complex hooked up since last December we were happy to see that cable had finally arrived. I was assured by the salesman that the installation would take place the morning of Aug. 3 in the AM and that everything as go, so he left with a check for the first months usage and a five dollar connection fee. Aug. 3 arrived and so did an installer who promptly advised me that the building wasnt wired for cable and therefore he couldnt install it. Armed with this information I immediately contacted TCI and spoke to someone in customer service who referred me to a supervisor named Sandy who apologized all over the place, but didnt have the necessary clout to answer my very simple questions which began with Why do you have salesmen selling a service and collecting deposit checks from people when you cant provide the service as promisedi I asked to speak to someone in authority and she was reluctant to give me anyone elses name. I finally managed to find out that up the ladder of TCI are two gentlemen, Dick Friedman and Dan Sutton. According to Sandra, Friedman doesnt deal with the public very much since he is in operations and repeated calls to Sutton from the complex managers and me were fruitless. He was either out to lunch, orjust not in. After working on this for a few hours I discovered that TCIs salesmen are subcontracted as are the people who lay the cable and install it. This means the TCI only directly takes your money every month, supplies the signal to the units and, when you call, generally keeps you on hold. While Sandy tried, TCIs customer service is hardly a service to its customers. I suggest that should a cable TV salesman come to your door to offer you the wonders of cable that the first thing you do is call TCI at and, should you get through, ask if you are connected to receive cable. Do not surrender any checks or cash unless the answer 292-225- 3 As I Dear Ms. Bartmess: Regarding your column which ran Thursday, July 30, 1 say, Hear, hear! Politicians need to be less attached to their parties and more loyal to ethical concepts such as right and wrong. The only thing the party system has ever been useful for is in setting agendas (i.e. should reducing the deficit take priority over needed social programs). Political parties were never intended to influence the degree of outrage one has over a fellow public servants unethical, if not illegal, actions. As for Oliver North, Id love to have him in my corner during a brawl, or if needs be, leading me on the battlefield. He should be reminded, however, that his job was to uphold and defend the Constitution, not carry out administration policies regardless of law. His errors in judgement went well beyond accepting the security system for his home. Someone needs to explain to Colonel North that Truth, Justice and the American Way are not mutually exclusive ideas. Oh where is Superman when we need him. Mark Fotheringham Betty Condie Skirted The Issue To The Editor, Betty condie, past president of the Utah Education Association teachers union, recently tried to change the subject of a letter I wrote saying the the union spends a good deal of money on political matters without the direct permission of its members. I heard her say on Channel 2s Take Two program that no union dues were spent on political activites without the permission of the members. Rebutting that statement, I quoted a U.S. District Court judgement in Michigan that found that of the dues going to the NEA (about $70 per teacher in Utah) over 97 percent was n activities, including political and spent on ideological activities. In Michigan over 96 percent of the dues going to the state union were spent on other than union business. Mrs. Condies reply referred only to Political Action Committee money and to candidates. If the union is to be fair and honest with the voters of Utah it ought to tell us the exact amounts in dollars and in kind service that it spends on political action within the state. It could begin with the political work of the 14 or so e directors, the time and expenses of the state union office in its political activities and the cost of the command post that the union sets up at the capitol during each legislative session. Ms. Condie is right on one point. Union members do know where the PAC money is going, but unfortunately the public doesnt get the full picture. Union money non-unio- Uni-Serv- See It school board elections is not spent on local and state well over 50 percent of reported These boards spend our state taxes and we dont even know what the union You can dumps into various candidate's campaigns. bet it is a lot. It seems to me that rather than trying to avoid the issue of union political involvement by hedging on answers and changing questions, Mrs. Condie and the come out in the open with present union officers should of the unions expenditures on disclosure complete If they did, Ill bet a lot of people would be surprised. On second thought, maybe they wouldnt. D. Lynn Crook Issue Not Celebrated To the Editor- It was on July 31, 1986, one year ago, when Utahs closed the doors of its Dept, of Financial Institutions and froze the savings Guarantee Corp. Loan Industrial of over 18,000 citizens who had deposited in the states thrift and loan associations. With almost no exception, the editors of our states in newspapers immediately responded by expressing should state the that the opinion their editorial pages return these savings, not only from a moral standpoint but from the mere fact that the ILGC had guaranteed protection to all depositors as well. We have these editorials in our files and they are to heartwarming to read and we are very grateful our editors for having expressed themselves on our behalf. What has happened during the past year is public knowledge. Suffice it to say that what could have been remedied in a comparatively economical way - by the state living up to the promises it had made - has now developed into a situation that could eventually cost Utahs taxpayers millions of dollars in litigation and extended legal fees. No citizen of Utah wants to bring suit against his own state but there has been no alternative. Every attempt to alleviate the dilemma that had been created by the action of the DFI has been met with a refusal of dialogue - and no cooperation. Many of our legislators are and have been prepared to act on our behalf, in which case the law suits would be withdrawn and costs would no longer rise as they have during these months. We believe in the free press and its ability to convey truths when other factions refuse to accept them. We call upon our news media once again to recognize Utahs day of infamy, July 31, 1986 and what has followed and to express itself anew. What Utah Holiday magazine, in its April 1986 issue, called The Biggest should not go by Confidence Game in the World unremembered. That first anniversary is upon us. Right now no one wants to celebrate. Sincerely, Steering Committee Concerned Western Heritage Depositors is yes. I also suggest that TCI get its collective act together and if the firm is to continue using subcontracted salesmen that they be trained as to what is and isnt available. In this case, blatant misrepresentation rears its head. While TCI has offered to refund all monies paid by the residents (many of whom arranged to take their time off from work to be there for the installation) their attitude is cavalier, the operation appears sloppy and perhaps management should be in, more than out, and in touch with the public they are supposed to serve. -- Mark Cartwright writes Hollywood Hotline column. Mark Cartwright the Green Sheets The Green Sheet welcomes contributions to both to the Editor and As I See It." Letters should be confined to a length of 250 words or less and not contain libelous comments. They must be signed, but the writers name will be withheld for adequate Letters cause. He welcome lengthier correspondence for possible use as As I See It commentaries. Primary consideration will be given to those submitted by people with expertise in the topic about which they write. A brief description of that expertise should accompany the submission. All submissions are subject to editing for space and clarity. They may be addressed to: The Green Sheet, P.O. Box 7187, Murray, Utah 84107. QQc A SWEEP IN TIME CAN SAVE MINE." WIIFV MY I INVENTED stove ( made a mistake. I should have said, A sweep in time can save mine. But instead I said, A stitch in time can save nine. knew a What a silly mistake. chimney fire from a dirty stove can be fatal. And thats a lot more important than a ripped seam. So you make sure you have your chimney swept in time. Don't put off And remember, until tomorrow what you can do KraiiKun 1 Find!fij) A estop Is A ftraly END OF SUMMER Wr. With Physician Finder, you can now get information on hundreds of doctors from LDS, Cottonwood, Alta View, and Wasatch Canyons hospitals with with one quick phone call. Our free computerized network groups doctors by specialty, location, availability, and even by the types of insurance accepted. So no matter what kind of doctor youre looking for, call us today. BEDDING BLOW OUT S DOOR r? - CRASHER ITALIAN 5 PC. 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