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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley news Volume XIV Issue XVI June 1, 2007 Announcements Obituaries (Cont. from page 7) coached the youth of the community for many seasons. In addition to coaching and teaching, Glenn taught driver education for 44 years and will be remembered for not having one accident. Glenn also served as a board member for the Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division. Glenn was a member of the Plain City Lions Club, serving two terms as President. Glenn also served as President of the Plain City Irrigation Company. He also served as the Vice President of the Weber County Farm Bureau and in March of 2007, received the Weber County Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award. Glenn was also instrumental in the establishment of the FFA scholarship program for Fremont and Weber High Schools. Mom and Dad were honored as Grand Marshall’s in 2006 for Plain City’s Independence Day celebration. Dad enjoyed many fun camping trips with his children and grandchildren, teaching them the art of Dutch oven cooking, hiking, fishing, and hunting. Annual trips were taken down the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River at Mack’s Inn near Yellowstone Park. Dad loved working with the Boy Scouts and always loved taking the boys on pack trips into the High Uintah’s. Dad was a loving and devoted husband and father. Glenn was a member of the Poplar Ward in the Farr West Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Glenn served as High Priest Group Leader, Stake Sunday School Board, and Scoutmaster. Glenn enjoyed serving with his eternal companion as LDS Church Service Missionaries on Temple Square. Glenn and Diane served in this calling for seven years. The good memories we have will be cherished forever. Countless stories will be retold around campfires and other quiet moments. His presence on this earth will be greatly missed. We have peace knowing that Glenn is continuing his work and preparing for the great day when our family will be reunited for the eternities. Glenn is survived by his wife, Diane, his four children: Wendy [Wes] Butler, Sheila [Mark] Saunders, Ryan, and Rick [Anne]. Dad is survived by 16 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and one grandchild. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 26, 2007 at the Plain City LDS Stake Center, 4575 W. 2125 N., Plain City, Utah. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the LDS Church Humanitarian Services at 50 E. North Temple, 7th Floor, Salt Lake City, 84150. Monte Cristo Pass Open for the Summer The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) advises motorists that the Weber/ Rich County Monte Cristo Pass (S.R. 39) is now open to motorists for the summer season. The Monte Cristo Pass runs between Huntsville and Woodruff from milepost 37 in Weber County to milepost 68 in Rich County. Heavy snowfall on this pass exceeds UDOT’s capacity to clear and maintain it for travel during the winter months. The road will remain open through fall 2007. Why School Choice is Good for Utah The academic effects of school choice have been extensively researched, and the findings are clearly positive. Researchers from Princeton, Harvard, the University of Wisconsin, and Indiana University all found that school choice significantly improved student achievement (Math, science and language arts – national sample comparisons: 1996-97 & 2001-02). Not only do those students attending a private school of their choice improve, but the public schools facing competition also have raised test scores. On the basis of a 2001 study, Harvard researcher Caroline Hoxby reported in her article School Choice and School Competition: Evidence from the States that, “. . . public schools more exposed to voucher competition had test score gains over a three-year period that outpaced other public schools by 10 percentile points in math, 9 points in language, 16 points in science and 8 points in social studies.” Part of increased achievement comes Deceased as schools improve, and part of it comes Elmer C. Muirbrook: 91, died May 12, as parents, with more incentives and more choices, become more involved. School 2007. Milton Gardner Widdison: 90, died May choice encourages parents to be more involved, and empowered parents become 12, 2007. Arthur Dale Jackson: 84, died May 14, more invested in the education of their child--both financially and in other ways. 2007. A child’s private education is only subsidized—not fully paid for--by the school voucher program. No single school or system can meet every need of every student. School choice Baseball, Soccer, Football, Lacrosse, & all other team sports participants, provides parents with a wider range of Eden Park is now scheduling the fields for these sports schools from which to choose, including traditional public schools, charter schools, & all practice times for the summer season. and private schools. Dollars that follow Please call Eden Park Sports Chairman Dave Beckert at children flow to the best schools, providing 745-0523 to reserve Eden Park fields. real incentives for all schools to improve. According to a 2003 Wirthlin Worldwide poll, 62% of Utah parents with children currently enrolled in public school would consider a private school if it were available within a 10-mile radius of their current residence and cost no more than $1,100— the approximate difference between proposed scholarship amounts and average private school tuition in Utah. It is well known that Utah ranks last in the nation in per student spending because the state has a high ratio of children to – PUBLIC NOTICE – adults. The Utah Tax Payers Association estimates that it would take a 25% tax increase for Utah to pass Idaho, the next state up on the list in spending, and an 80% percent tax hike to reach the national average (How Utah Compares FY2004 Taxes and Fees, Utah Tax Payers Association). From the same association we learn that Utah’s state/local tax and fee burden is already the fourth highest in the nation. Increasing the burden would cripple Utah’s economy, which, ironically, would reduce tax revenues targeted for education. Conversely, school choice would increase per student funding without raising taxes. The school voucher program would actually save money, leaving public schools with more dollars to educate each child by increasing per student spending and overall education investment. In FY2005, the state of Utah spent about $6,309 per student. According to the school choice model, for every student who chooses a school outside the public school system, about $2,500 would be left in the public school system for the students who remain. A Utah State University study estimated that this arrangement would potentially save the state more than $1 billion over 13 years. That money could be used to increase public spending and help fund the education of the 150,000 new students projected to enter Utah’s schools in the next decade. School choice would help ease the burden of the enrollment boom by bringing private investment into the education system. By shifting some of the growth and cost to the private sector, the entire system will be better able to handle more students. All school choice proposals that have been made in Utah would require some monetary participation by the parents. This not only increases parents’ commitment but increases our total investment in education. In summary, parents utilizing choice will make all schools better. Empowered parents making choices based on what is best for their own child will motivate all schools—public and private—to improve. Note: Information taken from the brochure “Why School Choice is Good for Utah,” written by Parents for Choice in Education, <www.choiceineducation.org> Swimming Lessons For more information, call Kathy Allen at 745-2709. |
