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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS School ItS back to school time for senior volunteers Churning through education reform By M. Royce Van Tassell Executive Director Education Excellence Utah Twenty years ago, the Department of Education's landmark report, A Nation at Risk, trans- ' requiring students to become proficient in key standards before they can graduate. For observers of education - re- form nationally, Governor Leavitts Performance Plus formed education reform into looks quite familiar. In the latJsuch a campaign staple that ter half of the 1990s, states teachers refer to them as TYNT: across the country adopted statethis years new thing. Governor wide education standards. These Leavitt has embraced many rigorous standards, they said, TYNTs. Despite the fanfare, would stop schools from moving Utah schools continue to to the next grade students who had not mastered that grades underperform. In his inaugural State of the material. State address, Governor Leavitt Theres no question that announced the Centennial Utahs C standards grade Schools program. Not unlike his from the Thomas B. Fordham current call for competency Foundation could use improve- based education, the Centennial ment,but even those states program was supposed ing an A California, Ala-t- o measure educational success bama, Texas, North Carolina not by the amount of time spent and South Carolina all find in the classroom, but on whether themselves in need of improve-studenlearn the skills they ment. If the history of the stan-nee- d for productive lives. In a dards movement is any indica-sig- n of his commitment to one tion, Governor Leavitt is bark-o- f the most important initiatives ing up the wrong tree with Per-o- f my administration, he dedi- - formance Plus. h rated Clearly, Governor Leavitt has ofoneperantof his education budget to the pro- - taken pains to improve eam-Scho- ol ts one-tent- Utahs gram. In 1996 a legislative audit showed that the Centennial Schools strategic planning, site- basedmanagement and account- ability translated into bowling leagues and quilt making. Two years later Governor Leavitt made it the foundation for his new Schools for the 21st Century program. Although this schools. Unfortunately, he has repeatedly overlooked and opposed the most successful reform mechanism of the past decade: fair educational choice. Study after study has shown that when parents can choose where their child goes to school, unimpeded by the financial burden of paying edu- cation taxes and private program included charter school tuition, their children schools, wary legislators were perform better in school! From tighter with the purse strings, Florida to Milwaukee, and from allocating only $1.3 million for Pennsylvania to Colorado, where As the new school year starts with an unexpected 2.8 increase in the number of students enrolled in Washington County, it isnt surprising to find that many schools in the St. George area, as well as those in the five county d region, are seeking the help of senior men and women through the Five County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and the Five County Foster Grandparent Program. I get calls all the time from principals and teachers, states Nola Durant, FGP Coordinator at the Volunteer Center ofWash-ingto- n County. LeGrand Forsyth enjoys a happy moment with second grade students at The greatest need is for tutors Panorama Elementary School in St. George. - someone to put their arm Durant states applicants will around a childs shoulders and sist victims of natural disasters, be in and serve communities their offer them support in their required to have abackground struggle to learn. It is especially myriad other ways. Volunteers check, but dont need an back- acute for special education and may receive reimbursement for ground in education to become a limited-Englis- h volunteer. In fact, many RSVP proficient stu- - meals and transportation. The Foster Grandparent Pro- - volunteers have told me they dents who need help catching up and staying up with academ- - gram provides a way for those hadnt been in a schoolroom since - 60 and over, and with limited they went to school, she notes. ics and social skills! Schools also need volunteers to volunteers incomes, to serve as extended According Durant, served nearly 8,000 hours to area family members to children and in libraries and media centers, schools last year, performing such youth with exceptional needs, as well as in front offices. RSVP tasks as mentoring, tutoring and Foster Grandparents help chil- - and Foster Grandparents may to area Head general administrative help. That dren who have been abused or also classrooms; Youth Crisis Start neglected, mentortroubledteene reach out the agrs and young mothers and Centers; or work,ng for or children with for care infants and assistance. youth with premature community A lot of older people are see- children with physical disabili- disabilities, Those interested in becoming" ing volunteering at a school as a ties. Foster Grandparents re- for school their volunteers may contact rewarding experience for their ceive $2.65 an hour meal well limited as Volunteer as Center of Kane also the service, community: but, theyre 'M and reimbursement. 0f fun as well, County at mileage finding jt Durantsaid. School is just get- The four little Ross children would like to invite ting underway this year, and Come help already we are getting calls from you to attend an Open House in honor us those involved last year, of James and Joyce Ross. they can come back, because they found it was a deour parents lightful way to spend their time. Besides PTA volunteers, Wedding Anniversary RSVP and Foster Grandparents WHAT: An Open House represent a big percentage of WHEN: September 5, 2003, 9 p.m. each school systems volunteer WHERE: 4th Ward LDS Church House force. RSVP, one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation, WHO: Everyone is invited! engages people 55 and over in a diverse range of volunteer activities. Beside tutoring and BacIi-to-Scho- ol volunteers in schools, mentoring able-bodie- - J ce-on-on- 644-369- won-deringwh- en chil-the- chil-turin- too high). The Schools for the United Drugs SPECIALS 21st Century Program has morphed into publicly funded after school programs. Rather than making sure the 21st Century Schools program lives up to its billing, Governor Leavitt has moved on yet again, this time to Specials good through August 27, 2003. LDR Allergy Relief, CLARITIN, - $3 5 ct. 20 ct. - $14 $13 ALAVERT, 24 ct. competency based education. years as Having had LOR Pseudoephedrine, 24 ct. - 990 governor to think about it, Governor Leavitt is now convinced From uptown to small town, there's always one about less that we need to worry Good Neighbor in common. Its your Drug Store! how long a student has been in the classroom, and more about what they know and can do. AcYour Local Pharmacy to Performance Plus, cording 57 West Center Kanab (435) 644-241- 8 Utah needs to raise the bar by U mm eft 4 celebrate 7-- Cash? Come in and see us! Meed Small Consumer Loans - No Car Titles No Prior Credit - No Checking Account Needed WHEN YOU NEED IT! $1 00 TO $600 IS -- - 15 Minute Loan Service -- us KANAB UNITED DRUG Phone Apps Welcome i Call 435 - 644 - 3890 Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ' 4 Wj 87 A West Center (Old Camp Nostalgia Building) - I I 6. 50th the program. parents have a fair choice, their Five years later, local school children have a chance, districts are thumbing their nose ' Governor Leavitt has done at the program; Alpine School many things for this state, but y District recently announced that he has repeatedly failed our will reject any application dren. Perhaps it is time that we for a charter school. The State hold him to the same standard g Board of Education is manufac- - he now proposes for our requirements for charter dren. Perhaps he should be schools beyond what the Legis- - judged less on seat time, and may organize neighborhood watch programs, renovate lature has authorized. (Ironi- - more on competency, homes, teach adults to read, as- cally, last month they rejected the Ravenwood charter application because the standards were LEGENDS 10-pl- 15 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20, 2003 a r t r v r |