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Show 2 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, Oct. 27, 1988 OUR READERS WRITE Outraged At GSD Tactics I am outraged at the obvious disregard for "taxpayers desires" to become part of an existing city by Granite School District. Granite district is "bullying" its way around in the media apparently because GSD doesnt want any change in its power structure. GSD is trying to "hold us captives" in our effort to stabilize our families quality of life both civicly and financially. In my opinion any school district which thinks it has that much power over taxpayer desires in civic matters, is a very dangerous threat to my civic freedom. How dare GSD threaten us in this manner? Doug Bates, Utah State Board of Education, explained to us that current law provides for both involved school districts to sit down together and work out a reasonable solution for our kids. Is it too much to ask GSD to participate in such a meeting? I have a letter dated 41488 from Murray School District stating that Murray District would consider working with "the former school district to explore possible cooperative plans which include having the students continue their education in the former . ASI SEE IT Swenson. Oneil refused to write a letter confirming GSD will or will not work with Murray District to help satisfy our kids. This conversation ended with the blunt statement, "You folks got the Special Permit Policy and that should tell your people something about our feelings!" I think the State Board of Education and the public needs to know that our effort has tried to communicate directly with Granite and were mostly ignored. This isnt right. We now publicly request itemized accounting, plus any appropriate explanations, of the bond debt total. We also request to be informed of dates, times and places that negotiations between Granite and Murray districts will take place to discuss our kids futures. Mr. Swenson has suggested that GSD may have to close a school due to our annexation. Granite has approximately 70,000 kids in bulging classroom sizes. Our total kids 2 equal 665. May I suggest school district." GSD to refuses offer However, us any such good Granite ask how many kids would like to stay at intentions. As a matter of fact, GSD hardly calls us Granite district schools, then make appropriate back at all! On I spoke with Dr. Burton, changes to balance population. Mr. Swenson sounds Granite District Superintendent, about how our kids paranoid. Tell us you dont want to lose our areas could be handled between the two districts. He money. But close a school -- - no way. The legislature should take a close look over these didnt answer my question, but did send me a dated copy of the GSD "Special Permit Policy." Since that proceedings also. There is no need to consolidate time Ive personally called for Dr. Burton as follows: school districts in reaction to annexation. The law '519, 10:15 a.m. - unavailable he didnt call me provides to "work it out." However, if the bigger back; 817, 9:48 a.m. -- - unavailable he didnt call school district in the area is allowed to intimidate back; 99, 9:15 a.m. hes out - he didnt call back; and bully the taxpaying voters, as has been 99, noon unavailable he didnt call back; 912, indicated in our little effort, I predict the rest of the 2:45 p.m. Darrill Johnson at GSD called me back people in this valley who do not wish to finance new instead of Burton. He advised me "that GSD doesnt cities, but choose annexation instead, will become give block permits. But that they did give them to increasingly aware of the "big school district bully" Jordan School District. And GSD did give block and demand intervention. City boundaries and school district boundaries permit to a school within Granite boundaries as s well." I can only suspect its at least "possible" for in this valley. There is only one reason I GSD to consider past practices with Murray District can see for Granite School District to become as visible and vocal about our annexation; I called Gary Swenson too.; 913, 11:28 a.m. "Too much at stake," Gary Swenson; you bet it is. unavailable he didnt call back. I was even given his home number to leave him a message. I called Too much at stake for my tax dollars and my family he didnt call back; 915, 8:45 a.m. -- - Mr. Oneil, security. Deputy Superintendent GSD, called back for Mrs. Edna Raulston K-1- Status Quo Is Unacceptable But Initiatives Go Too Far I'm getting weary of being lumped with "those teachers and politicians." Many of those who favor the tax initiatives would have you believe two things. That educators and politicians are all dirty bounders and that they and those who work alongside them are the only ones who oppose the initiatives. Actually, theyd also have you believe that everyone in the media is pretty rotten, too. I am reasonably sure that should Initiative B (the only one that is actually a rollback ) pass, life in Utah would continue without too much disruption. I really dont buy all of the facts and figures being brandished about as to how many jobs would accurate. I just dont buy the Everything is not rosy. Our tax charge that the foundation has be lost in the public sector. does need some work, "sold out." system I personally might even gain a there is some trimming to be to A were little if Initiative pass. Someone once said there is done. I believe in a democratic Im single, in a middle tax no form of government and as bad as free lunch. bracket, own a home and am it seems sometimes, thats what be not to young enough overly Thats weve got. We elect people to correct. But absolutely concerned about needing to tap we have to determine when we go represent us. There are ways we into the states Medicaid fund. can be involved. Sometimes we Yet. I dont have any kids in into that voting booth what we simply have to trust them, school. Or anywhere else for that want to give up. If I truly believed it was just the dessert, Id because we just cant agree with matter. ( probably be inclined to do it. Id each other on what should be even throw in the vegetables. done. If enough of us dont like So why dont I favor the tax I think we might be But the way they do things, we can rid initiatives? tampering with the meat and ourselves of them. If we fail to do that, then we must accept the Because I subscribe to the belief potatoes. We might be bringing into a position we dont consequences. that they would indeed have a ourselves want to be in in terms of user I think the outcome of the Nov. major negative impact on our 8 vote is simply too close to call. school system public and higher fees, more hidden taxes and a will that system Every vote is critcal. If the ed. I received my schooling in school deteriorate to the detriment of initiatives pass, well all have to schools state. another in public that is good about make the best of it, but if they My higher education came at a everything Utah. should fail lets hope that those I school an institution private I dont think its worth the risk. responsible for representing us dont believe I could afford to still get the message, because attend at todays prices. theres one there. It seems pretty By the same token, I hope I believe that a our government leaders are clear that status quo is society benefits us all, single, unacceptable. listening. old and married, young. Although the Utah Education Assn, gets slapped with the blame for the 1987 tax increase, the fact You Child: remains that teachers have seen virtually no pay hikes for three years. Supplies and textbooks are tragically lacking. Many teachers spend their own money on by JIM CAMPBELL classroom needs.' Utah Education Association President Class size is embarrassingly high. To those of you who say Most teachers will tell you that story are green dinosaurs. "Harumph, I was in a class with divorce of a students can The very first sentence in this parents to 40 kids," you need go inside cause severe difficulties in the book is: schools what see and were todays emotional youngsters "Divorce takes stability place between asking our teachers to deal with. and school, performance. mothers and fathers. You are not Students today do not have the With divorces far more common to blame if your parents get respect for their elders (parents or that they were a generation divorced." ago, social Our we had. teachers) is there anything parents can do It goes on to tell the little problems (single parent families, to lessen the pain for their readers the kinds of feelings they children? working mothers, drugs, etc.) when their may experience have an impact on kids. Add to Yes, there are books on the are divorcing, how to deal parents books that tell parents that the demands on the system. subject with them, what happens to kids The things I learned in high what kinds of reactions to expect after their parents divorce, and school are being taught in middle from the children, how the kids know it isnt fair to pit lets schools and even elementary children may feel, things that one parent against the other. schools. may be said to them, and The School Library Journal, in approaches that may be taken to on For many years I sat in city deal with the youngsters the commenting book, confusion. predicted that it would become a budget hearings. One such book is entitled real 'security blanket for those The relatively few dollars I pay "Dinosaurs Divorce, A Guide for young readers in need. to Murray City each year sure Changing Families:" by Laurene Actually, its much more than that. It, or some other book on the buys a lot of things Id hate to do Krasny Brown and Marc Brown. how watched Its brief, written so that young subject, can spare children a lot of without. Ive are readers easily understand what mental anguish and loss of drive carefully those dollars in school when both divorcing budgeted and I dont think the its saying, illustrated in cartoon people who do it are a 'bunch of form, and the characters in this parents read it. pigs feeding at the public trough." The extra taxes we pay on gasoline buy new roads and fix the old ones. You need only drive the freeway at 7:30 a.m. to know that we need to do something about transportation. The aged and infirmed need assistance more than I need the $159 dollars the Utah Foundation says I might save on my taxes. Long experience in this business has taught me that the Utah Foundation is very careful with UTAH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH its research and its figures are' - - well-od.cat- and Your Success in School award-winnin- g . Mum - - - - - -- cris-cros- self-servin- g. Volunteer Board Speaks As unpaid volunteer members of the Citizens Advisory Board of the Salt Lake Detention Center, we have interest in both our young people and our community. We feel a responsibility to inform the public about the likely impact of the proposed tax limitation initiatives on the juvenile justice system and particularly on the Salt Lake Detention Centqr, to whom we provide advice and direction. w hair cut, a free meal or a free movie ticket. Certainly this is cause for great alarm simply because it happens nowhere else in the state. Certainly not to Mr. Washburn. Lastly Mr. Driggs at least goes out on a limb and paraphrases chapter and verse as to what and why there is a state board of education. Because of Mr. Riggs firm support however, it makes me wonder what his vested interest is in the state board of education. So Mr. Riggs, in which state category job position do you fit? .. "T None of these people have or will offer a better method to reduce overbearing excessive taxes. None of the people will come forward with anything better than the status quo. They are content to continue raising taxes and little else. I suggest Mr. Washburn, Mr. Riggs and Mr. Nelson spend more time coming up with better ideas to improve Utahs economy than running into the .ground somebody, who unlike yourselves, is interested in this states progressive not recessive, future. Vote for A, B, C and Merrill Cook. . Services provided by the Salt Lake Detention Center and similar youth correction agencies exemplify the values and philosophies of our citizens toward youth. The Detention Center is a secure facility that provides short term detention of and ensures community juvenile offenders protection pending court adjudication. For detained youth, the center also provides a positive environment consisting of activities and guidance that teach socially acceptable behavior and strengthen the capacity of youth to deal with their problems. Like most human service agencies, the center has experienced budget cuts over several years. Efficiently operated, the center extensively uses volunteer services to provide quality care. Despite the tax initiative proponents claims to the contrary, there is simply no "fat" to be cut from the facilitys budget. The services provided by the Detention Center are of an nature; youth are either detained or not. Therefore, should the proposed tax initiatives be approved by the voters, the necessary cuts would curtail the centers capacity. Two wings would be closed, cutting the available beds from the current 56 to 31 and eliminating at least 15 staff. That would result in either dangerous overcrowding and potential liability problems or limiting admissions and creating a public safety risk. Either option would negatively impact young people by diminishing the quality of care provided. We believe that the service of detention centers benefit all citizens, and we encourage voters to become informed of related consequences of the initiatives. Our intent is to inform voters, not to scare them, although we confess we are scared about the destructive impacts on services to our community should the initiatives pass. r anti-initiati- Kent Klein Taylorsville Where Were They? As a private citizen I have been heavily involved as a volunteer in the operation of the Murray schools. On my own time I have attended school board meetings for over three years and have volunteered countless hours every day for the public schools. I have made my voice heard through the proper channels by phoning or writing my elected representatives. I have been present where possible at budget hearings and served on planning committees. To the tax initiative supports I ask "Where were you when it counted the most?" There is some intense irony to this situation. Many of the tax initiative supports have not had any involvement in government. I would be willing to wager that most have never set foot in a school budget hearing or taken the time to assist in the classroom. I would be willing to wager that most have never called their legislator and may not even know who their representative is. And yet they are the first to criticize and tell Dean Hepworth, Ph.D., Chairperson leaders and workers how to budget and run their programs. Salt Lake Detention Center In three years of attending school board meetings, Citizens Advisory Board I have not seen nor heard one individual give a concrete presentation on programs to eliminate or Members: Sister M. Joan Allem, large areas of waste that could be cut. Instead, I have seen many needs and concerns of individuals Phyllis White W. Dean Belnap that need to be addresse- d- textbook shortages, the Bob Prince gifted, the handicapped, drug prevention, suicide, Ross Van Vranken library needs, AIDS education, counseling, computer Richard Winters literac- y- even beautifying our schools. Jeanne DePaulis The legislative process, whether it be at the local Betty Gaines-Jone- s or state level, is a unique process that takes time to Lynn Kenley become informed, evaluate individual needs, and Jim Jensen weigh the ability to provide for services. Our elected Irene Fisher representatives have that heavy responsibility. These decisions are built on a highly complex set of details and funding mechanisms. Is This process is in place with more than ample time for citizen input. The tax initiatives completely letters to the bypass this process with a quick fix approach to Typical of recent editor are Mr. George Washburn, Wesley Nelson government spending with no responsibility and Norman Riggs, who collectively show that attached to signing your name or checking a box. Citizens should not be fooled or tricked into such an ignorance is bliss. solution without realizing all choices have Does Mr. Nelson really expect the populace to easy believe his statement that Mr. Crenshaw pens his consequences. own "hate mail"? The only "shame" here is that Mr. After all is said and done and the vote is Nelson feels slander can accomplish more than it be for or against-- 1 can almost guarantee truth. that the same people will be involved, the same Conversely, Mr. Washburn apparently has stepped people will make the decisions of what services to inside Mr. Crenshaws mind, picked it apart and cut or provide, and the same people will criticize now can accurately inform the public as to what he others for making decision they were too busy to be found out during his time out of his mind and into informed about Mr. Crenshaws. Additionally, Mr. Washburn goes on to accuse Mr. Maiy Ann Kirk Crenshaw of the dastardly deed of getting a free Murray hard-workin- g Ignorance Bliss? anti-initiati- taken-whet- her |