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Show UTAH 467 ViLaSMiip Vilyilt1 GRANITE PARK. "What weve experienced thus far re ft great deal of positive reinforcement value from the citizenship credit program," Wendall Sullivan told members of the Granite Board of Education here Tuesday. The program, which is being tested on a trial basis at both Kearns and Skyline high schools, requires students to earn citizenship credit along with academic course work credit in order to receive a high school diploma. ' Sullivan, who was principal at Taylorsville high .when the board was asked to implement the program but has since been promoted to the district office, joined principals from the two schools involved to assess the program at the end of its first term of operation. ' Principals from all eight high schools in the district asked the board last March to implement tne program. At that time, four goals of the citizenship credit program were outlined: - To emphasize each students responsibilities fop attendance and punctuality and the effect high standards have on the school, home and community; To, help each student realize the importance of his or her behavior to upgrade standards at the -- . - school; To help students become more aware of his or her responsibilities to self, peers, school, family ftnd country; and To reduce of problems " inappropriate behavior, tardiness, and vandalism. As the program has been implemented at the two pilot schools, inappropriate classroom behavior including obvious disrespect for school , - authority or staff members, repeated use of vulgarity or profanity, direct and willful disobedience of school rules and- policies, possession or use of a substance, possession or use or tobacc fighting, theft or destruction of property have resulted in students receiving poor citizenship marks. Attendance, tardiness and truancy have also been taken into consideration in issuing citizenship grades. If a student receives a "IT (unsatisfactory citizenship mark), he or she will need to make up the credit lost by receiving such a mark, Sullivan explained. Failure to achieve the required citizenship credits could result in disciplinary action including withholding of the certificate of high school graduation. - led - . Students at the two schools may earn credit through a variety of programs and an appeals process has been established to review marks which students feel were given them unfairly. "It was a wise of the board to choose both an east side and a west side school to pilot the program," Kearns high principal Richard Haacke said. "Even though we at Kearns have a different experience with the program than those' at Skyline, there is a positive feeling about it from PRESS ASSOC. E. T OAI W lha i 300 SO. auc.' UT 84111 all concerned." "The new policy makes a statement that decent behavior is expected in our society, which has major ramifications relating to the world of work and careers," Skyline principal David Richards . pointed out. ' Haacke pointed out that although Kearns has a high "mobility" of students and reaches about 39 .turnover of the student body each year, the citizenship program seems to be slowing down the "dropout" rate. "At this time last year we had 142 more students drop out than enroll," he explained. "This year, with the citizenship credit program in place, weve only had 57 more drop than enroll. That probably represents 95 students that weve been able to keep in school. Both principals also presented statistics demonstrating a higher percentage of attendance between the first terms of 1987 and 1988. Average daily absences for the first semester of 1987 at Skyline, Richards pointed out, were 299 out of 1,450 students. After implementing the citizenship credit program, absences for the first semester of 1988 have dropped to 216 out of 1,530. "There has also been a dramatic drop in tardiness," he noted. "Some teachers report declines in tardiness of 75." Haacke presented similar figures for Kearns high students. Using selected dates, he compared absences during the two terms. The first Monday of the deer hunting season in 1987, for example, showed 832 absences out of 1,730 students, or 48 of the student body, he noted. In 1988, though, absences on that same day dropped to 550 out of 1,851, or only 29.8. Haacke also pointed out that Kearns has a "high mobility" of students, with about a 39 turnover in the student population each year. But the citizenship credit program, he said, may be having an impact on the dropout rate by keeping students in class. Last year at this time, he noted, there were 142 more students dropped than enrolled at Kearns. This year with the citizenship credit program in place, only 57 more have dropped out than enrolled, for a difference of 95 students. "To me, thats 95 students we have kept in school," Haacke said. Both principals said the program has resulted in a higher percentage in attendance and "both the staff and the students seem pleased with the program," Richards added. Richards also pointed out that assistant principals were spending far less time in the halls enforcing tardiness and were thus able to devote more time to dealing with students who are in trouble at school. "This program is very positive and very direct," he explained. "The teacher disclosure statements let the students know where we stand, what is expected of them, and where their limits are so there are no surprises." Continued on page 3 o ti ti Mill OO by Lorelei Chernyshov Green Sheet Staff Writer WEST VALLEY. Firemen here are paying a portion of their paychecks to a retirement fund and dont think it is fair because other public employees are not required to pay into their retirement funds. Not only that, other public employees receive more retire- ment benefits than the firemen receive. .. "You have a tough decision to make, said Fire Chief Gerald W. Maughan to the City Council Thursday night. "Its a gray area because both sides can justify their position." The firemen are on one side and the other city employees are on the other. The state requires government and city employees to contribute a percentage of money to a retirement fund. The firemen must pay 25.96 percent of their wages every year to the fund. The city employees must pay 9.65 Its Business As Usual For Magna Council MAGNA TAKE THAT, YOU CAD! ... Penelope Toop (Julie Eves) and Corporal Clive (Scott Crawford) arent really quarreling (or are they?) as they reinact a scene during rehearsal for Cyprus highs production of "See How They Run. The play opens tonight (Thursday) and will also be intimate-theatstyle on the performed Friday and Saturdy evening in er CHS stage. CHS Is Staging Comedy MAGNA. The rollicking comedy They Run will open tonight (Thursday) and play tomorrow and Saturday at Cyprus high, beginning at 8 p.m. The play is under the direction of Susan McMurray. See How tale of mistaken identity, the play will feature Julie Grundvig as Ida the maid; Toni Bird, Miss Skillon; Danny Grondahl, The Rev. Lionel Toop; Julie Eves, Penelope Toop; Scott A hilarious WV Intruder; Sharron Bamson, the Bishop of Lax; John Lubbers, the Reverend Arthur Humphrey; Chris Sanders, the sergeant. The production will be played as intimate theater with limited on-sta- seating. Tickets are priced at $3, general admission with a student "date night" For $2. scheduled Friday, information call the school, 0. Police Department Issues Warning WEST VALLEY. Police Chief Dennis J. Nordfelt is reminding citizens here about the abandoned statute During the winter months it is vehicle difficult for snow plows to clear the roads while vehicles are left on the street for an extended length of time. A vehicle is presumed to be abandoned if it is left unattended for a period in excess of 24 hours. The' statute also states "any police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle has been abandoned may remove the vehicle, at the expense of the owner, tc the nearest state impound yard." Chief Nordfeli, suggests that individuals who leave vehicles parked on the sheet for long periods of time, to start parking them on their property. During the winter months the following time limitation ordinance (22-6-- 1 1C) will also be enforced: No parking between 2 and 6 a.m. November through March. Chief Nordfelt stated that the traffic division of the West Valley Police Dept, will be enforcing these ordinances throughout the winter. commission- - fund. 'Die city employees pay nothing because their requirement was only 9.65 percent to begin with. The remaining 9.75 percent the city deposits in an additional retirement fund for city employees through Mutual of New York. In 1982 the city was paying 100 percent of the employees required contribution. Since 1986, the firemen felt they have been short-change- d. ask for is for the city to pay the 5.96 percent that we now have to pay out of our pocket," said Fire Captain Terry Hansen. "We be to want just compensated." to the firemens According figures, about $37,000 is needed to pay the 5.96 percent for the remaining six months in the fiscal year. For the city to produce the money, it would have to come out of the street maintenance fund. "The street maintenance money that would be used for the proposed increase in retirement should be used to keep roads clear from snow and ice - $37,000 fills a lot of potholes and puts salt where we need it," said Virginia for city Duke, a spokesman employees. However, the firemen say they would like to have the same benefits as all other city employees. In 1986 the firemen "All we -- 25 c T t WV "I1 I n"i 1 Firemen were given a raise to offset the loss in retirement benefits. The average raise was 4.62 fund in Mutual of New York. The retired employee may take out the entire sum or maintain the percent but they lost 3.61 percent fund or withdraw portions or just to retirement contribution. So live off the interest, which would they only gained one percent and be over $1700 a month. also received a 2.5 percent merit With the Mutual of New York pay raise a total of 3.5 percent, fund and the retirement pay from a spokesman said. the Utah State Retirement The city employees received a system, a city employee ends up two for making about $1,000 more a increase percent retirement benefits plus a five month than when he or she was a total of working, explained Hansen. percent merit raise seven percent. A fireman who retires after 30 "After I die and my wife dies our years receives 70 percent of bis children will be left with nothing paycheck which works out to be from retirement," said Hansen. about $1100 dollars a month. But A city employee who makes a fireman had to pay into his or $1606 a month and retires in 30 her own retirement fund about years receives 60 percent of those $34,000 out of their own pocket. wages, which is $964 a month. In Plus no alternate retirement fund addition he is entitled to $249,000 is stashed away to be collected as from the alternate retirement Continued on page 4 - - Tailings Issue Prompts Action By Area Council MAGNA The Area Council here has made a decision to jump into the middle of the issue of potential health problems caused by tailings and dust being generated by Kennecott Copper, a problem that the council says a recent survey it conducted shows some 84 percent of Magna residents are concerned about and believe are a health hazard. The council has voted to form a committee to look further into the potential health problems caused by the tailings and dust, possibly being assisted by or assisting the State Dept, of Health to conduct a health survey to determine to what extent Magna residents have already been affected. The council at its monthly meeting Thursday was presented with EPA recommendations residents could take to avoid excessive contact with the dust or tailings. The report was given by council member Marlene Nor-cros- Laura Jo McDermaid, president, told the group that contrary to what was stated in The Green Sheet concerning the MCC suing Magna Area Council over a name change, there never was and there is not now any intention to sue. "We simply asked them to cease and desist using the name that is so deceptively similar to Magna Community Council, which is registered with the state." McDermaid produced a sheaf of documents from former Commissioner Dave Watson, the councils lawyer, other county agencies and John Hiskey that stated both would have equal groups representation. A memo from Hiskey, dated Aug. 18, 1987, stated that "although the Magna Area Council was formally recognized, it did not preclude other groups from existence in already participating in county govern- ment." Lovely Weather For A Sleighride Together OH, YOU SLEIGH ME ... Its Just bear-l- y Into December and seasonal decorations are begin- ning to pop up everywhere. Yuletlde shoppers throughout the valley are greeted with holiday dls- - s. According to Norcross, the EPA by the State Division of Environmental Health to evaluate the health risks associated with the tailings. Continued on page 3 was asked th 'We are within our rights to expect the county commission to keep its word," McDermaid said. "I dont know why it should back out of it now. "I have talked to a member of the planning commission, who stated there has been no Continued on page 3 4WW A Green Sheet process." Crowford, Corporal Clive Winton. Duane Morrey, the Also, 250-860- A though er Mike Stewart announced last week that the Magna Area Council would be the one officially recognized by the commission from this area, the Magna Community Council is doing business as usual. In a lengthy session Thursday the agenda included election of officers and an discussion concerning Stewarts action which the council termed' "was against ' the democratic percent into the retirement fund, as required by the state. The council voted in 1986 to pay 20 percent of all the employees retirement payments firemen, city employees and policemen. The firemen have to pay the remaining 5.96 percent out of their paychecks to the retirement Copy W ;rjv Benefit Plan Disgruntles Single plays of all types as the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season gets under way. Shoppers are boing reminded that as of today (Thursday), there are only 17 more shopping days left until Christmas. |