| Show 'cW7?7?"10:111m Lehi Free Press New Utah! - Wednesday December 6 2000 - Page 2 OPINION Conversation shortens field trip walk More schools are needed The Alpine Board of Education is about to propose a bond election that could reach a g $200 million to mind-bogglin- meet the needs of the school district This bold plan will include the construction of up to eight new elementary schools and two junior high schools over the next five years The new schools will be crucial if the district is going to meet the educational needs of local children Regardless of the need however this bond is going to be a tough sell No one can deny that more schools especially elementary schools will be needed over the next I' years When Snow Springs Elementary opened this year in west Lehi it did so at full capacity By next year nine trailers will be needed at the fast-growi- school In fact the district estimates that school enrollment will increase by 8000 to 10000 students over the next five to eight years The problem facing the district with this particular bond is that the needs are not spread geographically throughout the district but are instead focused in the north where the growth is Previous bond issues by the district have offered something for everyone But growth in the district has moved north as cities like Orem Lindon Pleasant Grove and American Fork have neared school — that's the maximum number of homes that can be built in the existing city build-o- ut boundaries However that's not the case 14 cities like Lehi which has tremendous growth potential and Eagle Mountain which is the second largest city in Utah in terms of land size and to a lesser degree Highland and Alpine by The problem is exacerbated the fact that much of the It was cold Snow clouds hung over the town I was questioning my sanity as I begun to walk with a horde of third graders away from their school towards the high school They looked friendly enough My daughter was holding my hand and looked so proud and growth in Lehi Saratoga Spriags and Eagle Mountain has catered to young families home owners The and first-tim- e consequence of this explosive growth is evident in the Alpine School District's projections which show that of the eight proposed elementary schools to be built over the next five years six of them would be built in the Lehi and Eagle Mountain areas The other two would be built in the Lone Peak area All of this is in addition to the increased use of productivity programs and numerous trailers to be located at various pleased that her mother was there So I knew changing my mind and going home to central heating was not an option We were on a field trip and walking to see a dress rehearsal of "The - Secret Garden'1 Lovely a garden musical ith Father Winter threatening me I hate the cold It started to lightly MOW A young girl with wide blue eyes and bouncy blonde hair jabbered away pointed to an older home and informed us there were killer bees nestingjust above the second floor window in the rafters The people living there couldn't open the window or they would die she told us It didn't seem to trouble her that it was snowing out and killer bees haven't learned to cope with freezing temperatures This seemed to get the conversation really rolling and with a dimpled smile a young boy quipped you may live to tell about it if your sister is driving the car and she crosses the tracks when she is supposed to I can just - schools Other funds will go towards building a new Altematiire Learning Center to replace the current center which will be vacated when the district's lease with Utah Valley State College expires in 2003 and for improvements to numerous schools throughout the district The problem here is that there is not much of substance offered to the district's Orem patrons who admittedly won't have the same needs over the next five years as the patrons in the north Still these Orem residents will still make up a considerable block of voters in the - imagine I noticed my daughter who no proposed bond election — enough to make or break it This proposed bond is vital to the future of the Alpine School I would love to meet the person who said this is the Most wonderful time of the year" It's only wonderful if you think that being really busy is really wonderful I don't share that senti- ment Look at this week — an office party a church party a symphony concert I should attend a choir concert I have to attend because rm in the concert a Madrigal dinner at the high school I should attend because my daughter is in the choir a Christmas play I am attending as a reviewe — whew You count the activities: Include a Monday night when I have to work late because well because I always work late on Mondays and there isn't much time personal time is there Oh and I almost forgot Sharon and I celebrate our anniversary this week too Then we have to finish trimming the tree write the annual Christmas letter buy presents for 12 kids and five grandkids not to mention presents for each other which must be purchased on the " Let the basketball games begin I don't know about the rest of you but I'm positively salivating about the basketball season thats just beginning At every level from city leagues for kids to our pro representatives in Salt Lake City thees promise and great excitement in the air on the local hoops scene The Jazz have gotten off to a terrific start with help from the bold moves that have assembled an intriguing group of players It remains to be seen what the outcome is going to be but you can be sure they're going to be a treat to watch no matter what BYU is fielding one of its strongest teams in years and Steve Cleveland will keep pushing them along Even though he's complaining that Utah is efT a bit nt the start you can bet that Rick Majerus will find a way to get the most out of whatever he's got to work with Down the street at UVSC and at other junior colleges around the West many of our former high school stars will be lending their talents to new teams I'm not sure about the others yet but I guarantee Jeff Reinert's Wolverines will be worth a look Right here at home it's my privilege to oversee the primary coverage of the boys and girls teams at our four local high schools The only squad I haven't seen in action (at least in practice) yet is the boys at Lehi — and that's only because I've been following them around the state while they were still wearing helmets and pads What I've gotten a look at so far has been impressive Without exception every one of these teams shows the potential for tn c!rt4 Beky Beaton Off the Beatón path' - success with playing styles that will be fun to be around A lot of this year's Lehi seniors I had the opportunity to watch last year and I'm confident that they'll come right along as well In every case the basketball teams contain some of each school's finest acknowledged athletes this may be even more true this season than at any time since I've been here All our squads are blessed with swift savvy players Some are already known to belong among the state's elite others will make a name for themselves this year Every player will nevertheless need to depend on the contributions of every teammate to bring each group the success they're capable of achieving That's part of what makes school sports enjoyable mental fan-pleasi- high-profi- sly wig a recipe for insan4 Not to mention putting up the Christmas lights Yes I was hoping you wouldn't mention that I keep hoping Sharon won't mention that It's not that I have anything against hanging lights except it is cold and miserable work which A great community theater production in Lehi was canceled Tuesday night because of the teacher walk-ou- t The children had prepared for three months and though the production had nothing to do with the schools wasn't being directed by school teachers and wasn't being funded by education funds (in fact was being used as a fund raiser to help the high school drama program) the fact that it was being put on in a public school building left the show a hapless victim of the strike emotional and other factors best prep basketball that's going to be played in Utah this season right here in our own local gyms Hope I'll see you there Let the games begin I can hardly wait opmentsi' longer was holding my hand loaned out her mittens to a girlfriend who in turn loaned them to a boy who wore them as though they were a prize Later he would loan the girlfriend his coot It still means something even in elementary school if a boy lets a girl wear his coat Although they told me they weren't sure exactly what it meant they seemed very pleased that they were doing so As the blocks went by the cockversation helped the time pass quickly and we were soon escorted to our seats in the Lehi High School auditorium The children enjoyed the musical Their favorite parts were when Mary found the garden key they weren't too sure when the ghosts were ghosts but they liked them too and they skipped and sang 'Mary Mary Quite Contrary' all the way back to the classroom (it gets old after the first block) The Lehi High School drama department deserves applause for their beautifully done musical production of 'The Secret Garden This was a first class show and if you missed it too bad The students I have met have been excited to be a part of an drama festival Invitations to this prestigious festival are coveted It will be a shame if the major ity of their own community does not support them in their efforts to reach their fund raising goals so they can attend The BYU Young Ambassadors were here last week to show their support to raise funds and help these exceptional Lehi students so they will be able to go to the festival You still have one more chance to catch the Pioneer Players before the holidays See them on stage next Monday and Tuesday Dec 1112 when they will feature "A Christmas Radio Show: It's a Wonderful Life You won't want to miss it Afterwards it will be before they until s share their talents for a them hired of course you've Christmas party The children and I enjoyed the warm message of the musical and the joy these teens shared with their young guests Howeveor children do not consider it "coor to give a standing ovation Your daughter and friends instantly will have the strength of a football tackle to pull you down and plop you in your seat as quickly as possible to avoid any further embarrassment This column will just have to do - mid-Janua- ry again-Unles- - activity some of my neighbors participate in I have no clue how they do that I know how Dana did it but J don't think it is fair or affordable Dana Sharon's oldest son recently moved into a pricey neighborhood in Salt Lake and experienced intense pressure to create a quality home lighting display for the holidays But Dana who is a lot smarter than I am found a company that will decorate your home for a price It wasn't cheap butDanS"ended up with the classiest lightiqg dis play in the neighborhood— When his neighbors compliment the display and ask Dana how he did it he just smiles' But that approach is way out of my league I prefer the simple approach The simpler the better And that's why sometime between now and next week I will get out the lights get out the ladder and string our lights in a simple expression of holiday spirit You won't gasp in wonder when you pass our home like you will with some of those in the neighborhood But my wife will be happy and because of that so will light-hangin- - ra- n Ar - ' moo :"114 i The' Cditolls Column must be carried out on the top steps of a step ladder an activity that triggers my natural fear of heights and floods my system with adrenaline that leave and emotionally the end of the process But there just hasn't been time I usually do this on the weekend after 'Thanksgiving but this year was different I had to go skiing that Saturday (It was great) And I can't remember what Friday was hie but I'm sure it was busy This weekend we spent most of Saturday getting ready for Christmas in other ways and before I realized it the day had been frittered away with no lights hung Now I face another week of frenetic act1v1t3r with no chance for light hanging until at least next Saturday — and if it snows between now and then that looks like a pretty good ski day too I don't know how some folks do it I'm not talking about major light hanging here just one string along the roof line I don't even attempt the extravagant type of adrsf g - Or maybe we will even go for the simpler approach and just leave the lights in the box for this season With everything else that is going on this time of year that might be pretty wonderful 'Job action' teaches by bad example le don't lend themselves to predictable outcomes so it's a new day every game Obviously I'm not suggesting there will be a state title for every one of these teams they compete against each other so that's not going to happen I am however saying that you're all going to have the opportunity tc see some of the New Deve Ts the season to be way to busy District Alternative proposals include using many trailers at various schools but trailers cannot provide a permanent solution for this growing district The growth will be permanent The challenge will be to convince enough of the voters throughout the district that it is worth their tax dollars to invest in the youth of the Alpine School District — and then to encourage voters with a vested interest in these new schools to participate in the election and vote in favor of this critical " bond exceptional team It is this team that ham been the first high school drama department in Utah to be invited to the Scottish high school 40i4f4 jJuIiéEtdi Love Not e to be viewed as part of the solution rather than the problem I know no one intended to make it appear the students are a problem but that's what our kids are "hearing" as a result of the actions they see These students are gob to be the ones deciding how to allocate our Social Security revenues just a little less than community and a lot more like we don't have much control over what's happening around us When schools are closed locked-ou- t' more than just schooling gets affected and that's something students see something students learn outside the feeling classroom If by our actions we teach children today that adultecan stamp their feet and get what they want without regard to the needs of others then come tomorrow they aren't going to care a whole lot No school no production They're going to be the ones fund- - about the needs of either their All the rhetoric says one thing big our needs with their tax dol- senior citizens or their children but the action seems to be saying lars The better the education they On the other hand teach them something else and I can't help be receive today the better lives for today that they are of value and a little concerned about the hid- not only them but all the rest of worth that adult problems can be den messages that are assaulting us solved inmature adult ways and our children Teachers need supplies Better tomorrow they will be the ones : We need to solve the education pay is vital We do need a long seeing the solutions before the : problem in the state in such a solution for the fmancial problems problems even arise They will be manner that it isn't destroying our schools face However the the ones the world a betthe esteem of the students We manner in which those things are ter place making need to be careful about the hidThere are ways to solve the being demanded is leaving a den messages yelling at them ter taste problems without at the Our students bring with them When schools are closed by ones we're trying to make thinp the future of our state They need union action it leaves community better for S - Lehi Free Press New Utah! 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