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Show T t uAiD r I fy " ir Mickey, Donald Are In Town, 2 B-- PRESS ASSOC. UTAH 467 School Spending Stays Tight by Ralph H. Goff Green Sheet Staff Writer SALT LAKE. The final bell has rung and the 47th session of the Utah legislature is now history. In a flurry of action last week, state lawmakers have set the path for the coming year and paved the way for Utahs growth and development. First of two parts other things, in the waning hours of the session a $2.89 billion spending plan was Among approved for the state. But the legislature also passed nonfiscal measures which will impact the state. Since Utah has the highest percentage of school age children in the nation, this series will focus on the legislative session from the point of view of those which these laws will affect. Loren Burton, who was named superintendent of the Granite School District when Dr. John Reed Call retired earlier this year, analyzed some of the legislation passed, as well as the legislative process itself. "I guess you could say this was my maiden voyage on the legislative sea," Burton said. "Even though I was somewhat frustrated and overwhelmed from time to time,' my experience was exhilarating. I am more convinced than ever before that our democratic process of checks and balances - though slow and tedious at times - is absolutely the best system." Burton explained that 175 bills -- -- which could affect schools were introduced into this session of the legislature, of which 64 passed and 111 failed. Those bills ranged from licensing amendments for to child sexual cosmotologists abuse and a host of areas in between. The basic school aid formula, the weighted pupil unit (WPU), remained unchanged, Burton noted. In addition, the legislature appropriated half the money expected to be needed to meet the growth in Utahs school-ag- e population. About has been $500,000 earmarked for students "at risk," while a similar amount has been deducted from the "special needs" category, he explained. A summer vocational agriculture program -which has not been funded prior - will receive to this time $500,000, with $300,000 going to an excellerated learning program, and $614,000 for textbooks and -- supplies. Since the kindergarten population statewide is expected to be down from the previous year because fewer kindergarten-ag- e v children have been. counted by state officials, only $1.7 million has been earmarked for that program. The legislature, he explained, is allowing school districts to retain 20 percent of the savings which will be accrued from the early retirement of employees, he said. In Granites case, the total amount saved is anticipated to approach $4.8 million, of which 80 percent must be returned to the state by June. Among other bills affecting schools were: SB243, which provides for a pilot program that would allow some school districts to spend minimum school funds on a block - THREE-WA- Y COLLISION . . . Tyier Dow of Taylorsville collides with two Layton defenders, one of which, NGal Steverson, gets a hand on the basketball In frenzied action from 4A semi-finaon Thurslead day. Layton's speed and tough press paced the Lancers to a in the second half, before Taylorsville battled back to give the eventual champs a real scare. grant basis - ls nt Wo A .fiJUAUJc i! 1LWM o SB219, which provides Continued on page 3 E. SO. 300 Super Tuesday Calls T-Residents To Polls B by Ralph H. Goff Green Sheet Staff Writer TAYLORSVILLE. "Super Tuesday" may not mean much to Utahns in general, but to residents of the Taylorsville-Bennio- n area the ballots cast that day could have a profound impact on their future. While voters in the southern part of the nation will be casting ballots for their choice for president March 8, Taylorsville-Bennio- n voters will be making their voice heard over the question of incorporation. While no organized opposition to the incorporation proposal has surfaced, former state representative Paul Hiskey is lets get the running a facts straight" campaign. While not opposing the incorporation per se, he points out that statistics being utilized by promoters may paint a picture that is a bit too one-ma- n rosy. Hiskey claims that estimates of taxes currently paid for municipal services have been inflated, while anticipated revenues have also been resulting in what he claims would be a $1 million shortfall rather than a $700,000 surplus. "I dont think anyone was trying to deceive anybody in the (feasibility) study," he said. "The numbers are all there, but some people have misinterpreted them. The way I see it, the new city would have to raise taxes to pay for itself." voter Hiskey also expects turnout to be low for Tuesdays election. have 18,000 registered voters in the area, and well be lucky if we have 1,800 turn out. This election will probably be determined by about 80 people," he contended. Those living south of the West Valley City line, west of Murray and the Jordan River, north of West Jordan and east of 4000 West could find themselves living in Utahs newest city when they wake up Wednesday morning ... Or (if the vote is against incorporation) that portion of unincorporated Salt Lake County "We municipal government of the new city (if incorporation is approved) will be determined by the voters Tuesday at the same time as the incorporation question is voted upon. Basically two options exist an elected City Council with an elected Mayor or a City CouncilCity Manager structure. Under the former option, an elected Mayor would oversee the operations of the new city while under the latter, a professional City Manager would be employed by the city, under the direct supervision of elected could be divided up between existing municipalities, merged into a "suburban community" or be forced to incorporate at some later date, depending on the whim of the legislature. The County Commission has determined that the number of the inhabitants living within the proposed city boundaries to be about 38,800, which would make the new municipality a third class city under state law. Estimates would rank Taylorsville-Bennio- - day-to-da- n as the sixth largest city in the state if the incorporation vote is in the affirmative. For the purpose of this special election, the voting districts in the to be proposed territory incorporated have been consolidated into ten districts as listed below. Qualified voters residing in these voting districts should vote in the following places: y officials. Both forms of government are currently in operation in the Salt Lake Valley, and both apparently function well. The choice of which type of government - or whether to "have is a city government at all entirely in the hands of the voters. -- - - Arcadia elementary school, 3451 W. 4850 South voting districts 3219, 3221, 3222, 3223, 3250 and 3252 Benmon elementary school, 5775 Sierra Grande Dnve voting districts 3242, 3243 and 3245 Benmon junior high school, 6055 So. 2700 West, voting distncts 3244, 3260 and 3264 Calvin Smith elementary school, 2150 W. 6200 South: voting distncts 3246, 3262, 3266 and portions of 3268 and 3404 (outside the West Jordan city limits those inside West Jordan do not vote) Eisenhower junior high school, 4351 So. Redwood Road voting distncts 3242 3216, 3217, 3218 and 3226 Fox Hills elementary school, 3775 W 6020 South: voting districts 3240, 3241 and portions of 3265 (east of 40th West those west of 40th West do not vote) Majestic Meadows Club House, voting districts 3234, 3236 and 3238 Taylorsville elementary school, 2010 W 4230 South: voting districts 3210 3214, 3220,3230 and 3232 Taylorsville high school, 5225 So Redwood Road voting distnct 3248 Vista elementary school, 4925 So 2200 West voting distncts 3224, 3225 3227 and 3228 - City Will Easily - Meet Deadline WEST VALLEY. It looks like West Valley City will easily beat the June 1 deadline for land purchase around Hercules, an essential ingredient in the citys annexation of the Bacchus East area. Both City Manager John and City Attorney Paul Newman Morris predict that the city will have sale of about $10 million in bonds ready for City Council approval by late March. If the bonds are not sold by June 1, the land around Hercules would remain unincorporated, according to an agreement signed by the city and Salt Lake County in December. The expected approval of the of bond and acceptance Polling places will be open annexation are final steps in a between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. process which was began in Tuesday, March 8. earnest last fall when "the Elections of candidates foi governors plan" was announced municipal office, in the event the for keeping Hercules in Utah. The is City of Taylorsville-Benniocompany had threatened to pull incorporated, will be held on Nov. out many of its local operations unless problems of residential 8, 1988 in conjunction with the encroachment in the overpresidential election. Determination of the form of pressure zone were resolved. - t n A New Utah Law Enables Adopted Children To Locate Their Birth Parent When The Adoptee Reaches The Age Of 21 It isnt easy for this teenager to make the decision to give up her baby. It brings a pain more severe MURRAY. Tears fall from her than the delivery itself. She may swollen eyes like raindrops from never be rid of that nagging the lip of a wilted rose. question, "Have I done the right She is a young unwed mother tiling?" One consoling factor is a letter and she sits on the edge of her has written to her baby son, she final hospital bed signing papers which will give permission for her which he will read when he is older. The letter explains why it is infant son to be adopted. impossible for her to marry the next to sits mother own Her childs father. She explains that her long her, stroking daughters hair. The older womans eyes also the reason she is giving the baby are dim with tears, not the first up for adoption is to provide a stable, loving home for the d darling. Another comfort for a young mother such as this might be the new law in Utah which can help an adopted child locate his birth parents when he reaches the age of 21. He can register with the department of health and vital statistics, and then if his birth parents also register, arrangements can be made for them to meet. Adopted persons, like everyone else, have a psychological need for roots, to feel that they are connected with their genealogical history. If adoptive parents realize this, then the childs natural curiosity will not be Claire threatening, ' explains Berman in his book Raising an by Helen Glissmeyer Green Sheet Staff Writer parents ask: "Does this mean we have failed as parents? Are we now to lose our chid after all? Sandy Dreis, executive director of Childrens Service Society of Utah, says, "Adoptive parents need to realize that love does not goawaywhenyouloveanother.lt is like When you light another candle, it does not make the first one go out. It just makes dark-haire- . Adopted Child. "For some adoptive parents, the prospect of reunion brings on an these past months, me for words. All of emotional crisis," according to of The jht ones and the Arthur Sorosky, have been said Adoption Triangle He says old fears are brought back and things brighter." She adds that to be jealous of biological parents of your child is the same as being jealous of your spouses parents. Dreis says that at her agency, a pregnant girl can choose a family from the files (without knowing their name or where they live) and then she can have some sense of what kind of life her baby is going to have. The day after the couple takes the baby home, the agency allows the birth mother (and sometimes the father) to meet the adoptive parents in the societys office. No identification is exchanged. The couple can show the birth mother the picture of their family. The can talk about extended families and traditions. For six months after an adoption, the agency supervises the placement. Then if all is satisfactory they go to the court with the family to testify and the court grants the adoption. This does not mean that the problems are all over for the parents and their child. There probably will be different types of problems than might occur in raising a biological child. Even more difficulties come when a family adopts - 'V- - .I SNUGGLES ... Michael Kaateler, orlgnlally from Samoa, cuddles closely with hie adopted mom Emma Lou. "Michael's been with ue ainee he was nine weeks old," Mrs. Kaateler said. have one child from Brazil, three from Colombia, one each from El Salvador, Korea and Mexico. takes and It patience understanding. It takes time for the relationship to grow. Perhaps the children have not had anyone whom they could trust before. Children from other countries have difficulty adjusting to our culture and food. For example Korean children have never slept on a bed. They are used to sleeping on a mat on the floor. New foods and new ways of living have to be introduced slowly, she has found. Mrs. Platt says it is important to teach them to be proud of their heritage and take advantage of every opportunity to learn about their native Her country. organization sponsors culture camps every summer at Red Cliff camp above Huntsville .where kids can learn about their own ethnic traditions. In adoptions, experts agree that both adults and children have to work at the relationship. Parents, being adults, probably work the hardest. But there is one word that pulls them all through. Love. Note: For information about the organization Families Involved in Adoption, write P.O. Box 746 Centerville, Utah. For help in locating a birth parent or child, write ALMA (Adoptees Liberty a special needs child. Elaine Platt, who is president of a support organization called "Families Involved in Adoption' says raising her seven adopted children along with her four biological children has not been easy but it has been rewarding. She and her husband David 4 . - Movement Assn.) P. O. Box 154, Washington Bridge Station , New York, N.Y. 10017; or International Soundex Registry, P.O. Box 2513, Carson City, Nev. 89701. i |