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Show ( ..JS!V.'XSW. , y 0, DAVIS COUNTY FIFTY CENTS I UTAH STATE PRESS ASSOC 307 V 200 S 5005 S liSSu I C. UT Vol. 103 Number 1 f 1 45 September 29, 199S 3 f One small shovel, giant leap for PARC clients Melinda Williams staff writer Community Development Block Grant for $750,000 to be added to the $1.4 million PARC has raised through the years. Four clients, donning hard hats helped break the ground with golden shovels and dignitaries took their turn manning a backhoe. But before the official groundbreaking, clients, their families and local dignitaries heard from those most involved in the project. PARCs Executive Director Bob Daniels likened the groundbreaking to Cal Ripkin breaking Lou Gerhigs record for consecutive baseball games played and to the Berlin Wall falling, in that all are very important days in history. He said the new facility should take PARC into the 21st century. Davis School District CLEARFIELD Youd have thought it was a holiday! Clients of the Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation Center streamed out of the facility, 434 S. Main, Tuesday morning chatting among themselves, their eyes shining as they walked across the vacant lot to the east to attend a groundbreaking the reason for the celebration. Hey Scooter! How ya doing, yells one young woman to one of young male clients, across the field. And from another young woman to one of the visitors at the groundbreaking, I saw you at church on Sunday! The center, known as PARC, trains and employees Davis County residents with disabilities. It contracts with the likes of Hill Air Force Base and other government and private entities to produce usable products. It not only produces necessary items, but provides employment for those with disabilities, many of whom wouldnt find employment elsewhere. About 500 people go through the program annually and at any given time about 360 people are working at the center. PARC also employprovides community-base- d ment where people with disabilities are employed by businesses throughout die county with a job coach to ensure their success. PARC participants have worked at businesses as varied as hospitals, grocery stores and fast food chains. The center is located in a school building, but it has outgrown its usefulness and because it is a two-stostructure, it is often - ry Observant teacher credited with saving sick childs life noticed Phillip fidgeting a lot right after school started in July. He couldnt handle his arms and legs. she They moved continuously, said. As time went on he began having more problems with his work. Irwin g condifigured it wasnt an tion or his previous teachers would have noticed it. She became concerned that his work was suffering and called in others, including the school nurse, to observe him. At first they thought he was suffering from some form of muscular dystrophy or another neurological disorder. Phillips father said, As far as I knew, I had a perfectly healthy child. Then Irwin called, suggesting Phillip see the family physician. It was after Irwins call that the elder Beynon began to notice the symptoms, progressively Superintendent Richard Kendell, who serves on PARCs community board said Theres probably not more than two or three (people in Davis County) out of 100 who have heard of PARC, but for those involved, its the center of their world. What an important asset to our community, he said. County Commissioner Gayle Stephenson said he expected 40 or 50 people at the groundbreaking. Instead, there was closer to 100. The fact youre here gives recognition to this event. Neldon Clearfield Mayor Hamblin spoke of the team effort that made the new building a reality. He praised the council of governments for approving the multi-yethe first time such a block grant has been ever given approval. grant ar Penalize students whose parents won't get involved at school? Melinda Williams staff writer become involved in other ways. But ir the of the task force said that wasnt the intent. Howard Stevenson, said the intent was to look at how to motivate parents to be involved in their childrens education especially the parents of the 5 percent of the kids causing 95 percent of the problems. He added, It only takes one or two disruptive students to take a classroom hostage. Stevenson said the task forces solution is not to expel the kids, but to provide an alternative, either in a different classroom or a different school setting. In Utah, too often the teacher is asked to shoulder the burden alone, Stephenson said. He said the task force is trying to come up with the necessary tools for teachers to handle the situation. He said often the parents of the most disruptive students are the least likely to be involved and he laments the attitude I pay my taxes, so dont see PARENTS pg. 2 co-cha- A legislative task force wants more parents involved in their youngsters education, and is considering penalizing students whose parents arent involved, especially disruptive students. But others, including a Davis County legislator, say parents cant be forced to be involved in their youngsters education through legislation. The task force is examining various ideas, some of which may be turned into bills considered in the next legislative session, to get parents involved and make that involvement easier. Among the task forces recommendation is an idea which would allow schools to exclude students whose parents wont be involved or whose children misbehave. On the face of it, it appears the bill would penalize even good students if their parents dont attend conferences or parent-teacher eight-memb- er worseni- ng. When Phillip got in to the doctor, the physician noticed a strange sound in Phillips heart. Concerned, he sent the family to Primary see TEACHER pg. 2 LDS Conference planned this weekend Members of the LDS First Presidency, indudmg President Gordon 8. Hinckley, will General Conference of the church, beginning preside over the 165th Saturday in the Tabemade on Temple Square. Sessions will be at 1 0 a m. and 2 p.m. Semi-annu- |