| OCR Text |
Show PAGE 4 THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1990 J An Education Update Till by Marcy This article comes at a bad time. I should have postponed It until November, after election day. As It Is, Im faced with the task of convincing people to vote for the two-m- ill levy Increase In November, while at the same time asking them to question, scrutinize more carefully, and get Involved In the decision-makiprocess of our school board. It may seem as though these two pleas are at odds with each other, but In fact the motivation behind both Is the same, the citizens of Grand County have a responsibility to see that we offer the children of Grand County the best possible education we can. By voting for the 2 mill levy and by becoming Involved In school board activities we exercise our power to Improve the quality of education In Grand County. Last April the Grand County School Board voted to Implement the two mill levy to schools by the Utah State Legislature In January 1990. On November 6 the granted two mill levy will be on the ballot for public approval. Here Is an opportunity for proposed every citizen to take positive action for Grand County schools. The money generated by this levy must be used specifically for class size reduction. This had been mandated by the Legislature. For Grand County the additional revenue would mean hiring three or possibly four new teachers, relieving large class loads where the pressure Is the greatest, In the 3rd and 5th grades for sure with additional help In Kindergarten, 4th, and 6th as well. How much will It cost you? Homeowners of a $50,000 home will realize a tax of Increase $12 per year. Thats less than $1.25 per month, not a bad price for drectly affecting the quality of education for Grand County children. Why support another tax Increase? This levy deserves your support because It Is a distinct tax designated to generate money for one excellent purpose. If the two mills are approved the district will hire teachers Immediately, for the beginning of the next semester. Did you realize that Utah has the highest class size averages In the country? Did you realize that Grand County has one of the highest class size averages In the State of Utah? By approving the levy you will be supporting Utah teachers who have stated for the past several year that class size reduction Is their number one priority. Teachers know they can do a better Job with more reasonable class sizes. Each child will have more opportunities for Individual attention. You will be voting for Grand County kids. You will be saying, It's unacceptable for Utah to have the highest class sizes In the nation, for our An Investment In our children Is an Investment In our future. children to be second-rat- e. A second, ongoing opportunity for all the citizens of Grand County to affect the decision that are made concerning our schools Is by attending monthly school Grand County School Board meetings. I have attended these meetings for the past six months. I will continue to attend. I find that my Input, Ideas and opinions are always allowed and that board members are more than willing to answer my questions. My presence at the school board meetings has been and enlightening and sometimes frightening experience. I have learned much about the way our school district Is operated, but I have also come face to face with some of the shortcomings of our school system. School board members are elected officials and as such are accountable to their constituency. Citizen participation at meetings helps see that this occurs. Its time we all assessed how well we understand workings of our school district and how the school board makes Its decisions. That has been my Intent as I attended the school board meetings. I must also admit that I would like to Influence the board In areas where It will most Impact my own schoolage child. This Is only natural and right Every parent must be their child's advocate. There are many positive things happening In Grand County schools. Its too bad we dont hear more about them around town or In the media. There are also many problems In our schools that most of us don't hear about either. Citizens, parents In particular, could be better Informed about the happenings In our schools. When armed with accurate Information and the facts as opposed to hearsay, we can make educated, responsible comments, questions, and requests of our school board. I have concerns about our schools, and I am trying to see that my opinions are heard and my questions answered. One of the most Important Jobs the school board has Is the allocation of funds In the dlstricL In other words, each year how Is the money In our school district spent? The bottom line Is always money, whether talking about personnel, programs, textbooks and supplies, or making necessary Improvements. Grand County Schools are In a desperate financial situation. There Is simply not enough money to run the school dlstricL It Is the ng te board's responsibility to balance and prioritize needs before carefully allocating those dollars to various projects and programs. This Is my understanding of how the district monies are allocated. The principals and their faculties make a list of their most pressing needs In order of priority and give It to the Superintendent The board also has a list of what they deem as necessities. The Together with the treasurer, they then proceed to prioritze and allocate funds. treasurer prepares the final budget statements to be approved by the board. These board meetings are often tedious and lengthy, but this Is a time when citizens have the opportunity to witness their tax dollar at work and to raise questions about how and why It's being spent the way It Is. One thing that most people do not understand Is that In Utah each school district has several fund categories where money Is deposited, and can only be used for specific purposes. The two largest categories are the Maintenance and Operation Category and the Capital Outlay Category. The first takes care to the day to day workings and needs of the schools, Including personnel salaries, employee benefits, utilities, and other expenses Incurred In the routine operation of the schools. The Capital Outlay Category Is reserved strictly for maintenance other than day to day upkeep and capital Improvements. It Is used to make physical Improvements to buildings and grounds In the district, to purchase buses and other vehicles, to purchase Instructional equipment, to purchase land, or to build a new school. Ten percent of the basic school levy each year goes Into the Capital Outlay Category, earmarked specifically for textbooks, supplies, and media materials. Typically the money from these two categories cannot be used for purposes other than their original designations. The funds are not Interchangeable. Summer Is usually the time when many of the capital Improvements take place In the schools. Many projects were completed this summer. The schools all have had various repairs taken care of, some new construction, and new paint Major Improvements to the district Included Installation of an Intercom at Red rock, new roofs on the 5th grade wing at HMK and on the Kindergarten wing at Redrock, painting the walls and refurbishing the floors of the gyms at the middle school and hlghschool, the (Minting of Star Hall, a new (Muting lot at Redrock, and upgrading the football field and elementary school playgrounds. Some of these projects have generated criticism and misunderstanding. One example of this Is the contrast between the work done at Redrock School and that done at the High Elementary School. WW DARN THE TORPEDOS, FULL SPEED AHEAD (utah version) |
