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Show FIFTY CENTS DAVIS COUNTY T QJ&fi-"- -' 307w:oosoo5 nr tr s L.C. ur VOL 103 NUMBER 39 n VO1-fall August 8, 1995 Controversial, nosey school test revised Questions about religion, sex, crime removed Melinda Williams Staff Writer FARMINGTON Students privacy will be protected under a policy approved by the Davis Board of Education Tuesday, but one board member still questioned a controversial test which asks students personal questions. Among questions educators The Family Education Rights and Privacy Policy approved by the board, requires written consent from parents or guardians to administer any psychological or psychiatric examination, including a test the Challenge test administered to sixth graders, used to determine which students may need help, academic or otherwise. Board Member Kathi Dalton said she believes the test provides schools with some stuff they really dont need to know. I think they could do it more gracefully, she said. She admitted, however, the worst they find offensive, said even may not ask students under the d policy are those related though the test has been revised, she believes some questions still infringe on students rights. Some of the complaints the just-passe- to political affiliation, mental or psychological problems, sexual behavior, orientation or attitudes, illegal, anti-socia- district has had concern the parental permission clause. The test has been administered each year since 1991 to sixth graders. Parents were required to sign a consent form the first two years, then the consent requirement was dropped to allow students to complete it at home. But many l, or demeaning behavior, critical appraisals of family members, religious affiliation, legally recognized privileged information or income except where required by law. Dalton, who didnt realize that under the new policy, the district has to have parental permission to administer the test or that students dont have to answer questions stuff that everybodys complaining about is gone. parents were not happy their youngsters were taking such a test The district renewed the clause and reviewed the entire test. Assistant Superintendent Nancy Fleming said Davis is the only Utah school district which revised some questions, to make them as neutral as we can. Dalton said she works with a number of F and D grade students. Shes not sure in those cases the test will do what its supposed to do. She asked if it wasnt a waste to ask the same questions phrased differently several times and questioned if students would be honest with their answers. Do you without their knowledge or think if a student feels blah about school theyll be honest?, she permission. asked. Fleming responded Yes, I do. Fred Brown, curriculum V supervisor for the district said The test is just one piece of a predictability profile. One piece j. alone hasnt any validity, he said. But the composite picture can help parents and teachers detect problems at an early age, before the youngster moves on in school. Its not just someone asking personal questions. Our counselors tell us its very reliable, he said, adding, If it helps a kid be successful on the front end rather than the back end, its a success. And Superintendent Richard Kendell said, Theres a whole lot of folks out there who need help with their grades. He said the test would help those kids enjoy school and catch any problems while youngsters are making the transition between elementary and secondary schools. Parents are encouraged to be with their children as they take the UMHba. test. If I ' v faf -- A T Its designed to provide parents maximum involvement, said Board President Dan Eastman. And Board Member Dixie Hill added she had a great experience doing it with her child. She said if parents or children found any 's- 3t 3 c:r.:D to ott: cgsli see 'j & t'.i Csmeron Taylor, Layton, did what they could to take a break from die heat at Pinevtew Reservoir . L. jhct temperatures over the weekend meant tots of people were doing whatever they could to keep cod, from ' with a cold drink. . 3 te Sitting in front of an - TEST Melinda Williams Staff Writer When you FARMINGTON received your property tax notice' last week, was there an increase in taxes due? Many Davis County residents, especially those living in older homes were shocked taxes on their homes had risen. They didnt understand the State Legislature mandated county assessors adjust property values up to todays market levels. Many who didnt understand what was going on called the Davis County Auditors Office looking for an answer. The most frequently asked question we get is, why did the value of my property increase, said Fawn Jensen, a property tax technician in the countys auditor PfcsJcf-iiici- ! office. When we explain to them what has happened, 98 percent are happy, Jensen said. The County Assessors Office figures taxes on 50 to 60 percent of homes in the county went up, but if, and how much a familys taxes went up depends on the area the home is in and the value of improvements made since the property was last assessed. Davis County Assessor Willard Gardner said homeowners in the south portion of the county were hit harder than those in the north, because of the factors used. In some cases values more than doubled. For most residents though, taxes didnt go up as much as the value of the house increased because the 1995 Legislature cut the state tax rate by one-thir- d, raised the msyfo retired fa fco ivdvcio FARMINGTON Pmwaof Davis School District student who wish to have student fees waived may be asked to answer questions concerning assets. general rule, if identified family assets have a value in excess of $5,000, application for waiver could be denied." A family could still apply and the application approval to a fee waiver ttZse t test which will help administrators as unexpected medical expenses or job loss. Assistant Superintendent Steve The Board of Education could he granted due to Tuesday gave preliminary extenuating circumstances, such determine the eligibility of families applying for waivers. The application has. been developed by &e hee and seat to aU tzlool districts. Each district may use teem or not, as they see fit - Applicants who qualify for free school lunch through Department of Human Services certification, receipt of food stamps or Aid to Families With Dc;;rJlint Children payments don't have to complete the form as they automatically qualify. The policy states that As a said the Ronnenkamp will be used mainly questionnaire in those extenuating circumstance cases, where "because of a certain situation, they ought to have a waiver. He said it should help principals determine eligibility. Board President Dan Eastman said the district has seen an escalation of fee waiver requests within the past three years. "Either the economic situation in Utah is worse than we thought,-o- r they didnt understand it was as good as it is, he said. exemption on primary residential property from 32 to 45 percent and prohibited local taxing entities from raising taxes without the approval of voters. Knowing it could have been worse probably didnt make those homeowners whose taxes were raised hundreds of dollars feel better. Those hit the hardest were people in homes built before 1949, which have not been reassessed for years. Some folks who bought homes for $4,000 or $5,000 cant understand why their home is suddenly worth $75,000, said Gardner. Also hit hard were young families who purchased 90 year-ol- d homes, he said. Making that tax payment can be made less difficult for some through an equal payment plan, but it wont help until next years taxes. Under that plan, homeowners pay an equal amount each month for nine months and the balance is due in the lOh month. For senior citizens on fixed incomes, Jensen said the state offers a Circuit Breaker Program for those 65 or older and widows or widowers whose total income is no more than $18,875. Payments are based on a sliding scale. If property taxes are not paid by see Kelly Phipps has been selected to represent Davis County in the Miss UtahUSA Pageant that will be held at the Salt Lake Community Colleges Grand Theater on Saturday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m. Phipps, 18, graduated from Davis High with high honors. She plans on attending college in the fall and has received an academic scholarship from her first choice college. Phipps was chosen Top Speaker at a prestigious debate camp at American University in Washington, She was a member of her high school drama club and was active in D.- C. the school plays and productions. Kelly was Davis Highs Debate President and was the first student to receive a letter in debate. She also earned an academic letter. Kelly was a speech and drama Sterling Scholar finalist this year. Kelly is the daughter of Steve and Mane Phipps in Farmington. Her grandparents are Harold and Shirley Moss, formerly of Bountiful and Joen E. Phipps, Bountiful. Kelly has a brother Logan attending Davis High this fall and a sister Andrea who is attending Farmington Jr. High. pg.A2 Grill fire guts home A fire that BOUNTIFUL a gas grill caused started in Tax hikes surprise homeowners Phipps will compete for UtahUSA queen title extensive damage to a Bountiful home Saturday evening and brought a warning from the Bountiful City Fire Department for owners of gas grills to check valves and hoses regularly. Bountiful City firefighters were called to the W. Gene Pugmire home, 882 E. Millbrook Way, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The first crews arrived four minutes later to find flames at the back and inside the structure. Within two minutes, two more trucks arrived and had the fire knocked down within 15 minutes, according to Capt. Bob Stell, spokesman for the department. He said the hose to the barbeques propane tanks either disconnected or had a leak. As the tanks grew hotter, the safety valve kicked in, but couldnt handle the rising heat. Fire fighters say the tank became like a blow torch. Reports the tanks had ruptures are inaccurate, Stell said. The homeowners tried to fight the fire with two home fire extinguishers, but the fire moved rapidly, igniting trees next to the house and burning the side of the house. Built in an open style, see FIRE" pg. A2 TAXES" pg. A2 New UDOT traffic signal shock to city Susan Tanner Holmes Contributing Writer When does FARMINGTON local government lose control over what goes on within the bounds of its own city? That is a question Farmington City is again faced with. Recently the state located a youth detention center within the citys limits after considerable citizen and city council protest. Now the state is putting a stop light and possible sight impaired beeper at the intersection of State Street and Main Street. The Farmington City Council has asked for public input on the proposals, but to date the Utah Department of Transportation is not listening to any of the concerns or suggestions. Paul and Martha Hess live on the comer of State Street and Main and are concerned. We hope that you will take into consideration how noisy and disruptive such beepers are. We thought such beepers were used only on big city intersections. Jan Campbell asked the council 24-ho- many sight disabled people are in the area. Councilman Elliott said there were only sight impaired individuals within a half mile of the new how there Gary five signal. It is unfortunate that Farmington has grown to a point of apparently needing a traffic light downtown. We had no indication prior to the contractor actually showing up and tearing out curb and gutter, that a traffic light was going to be installed. We still question whether a traffic light is warranted at this intersection, said Hess. Hess suggested the installation a rotary instead of traffic lights to reduce cost and make the intersection more attractive as well of as safer. We suggested this to UDOT, said Elliott even listen. and they wouldnt I can see us going to the intersection at 11 p.m. at night Hot enough for you? when everyone in Farmington has It was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk Saturday as record breaking temperatures scorched the area. Meterologists have forecast hot temperatures peaking at 95 degrees on Friday. rolled up their sidewalks, and having to wait for the red light to change, said one concerned resident. v |