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Show pul ne ee i Te Wasatch Canyon Reporter, 22 March - 4 April 1995-Page 5 T ~ School’s in...in Alta? by Ross Courtney But classes for young children entail more equipment, storage space and -wear-and-tear on the build- ing. The Forest Service and the diocese must decide if “community center” means “school.” When the structure was build, Wieringa kept the possibility of s school in mind. with a roomful of desks and : j separate men’s and women’s restrooms - a requirement for public schools. ~ However, Wieringa says the Forest Service and the diocese still have “legitimate questions” whether a school falls within the intended use spelled out in the permit. For example, “What do you do at Ti For instance, he pushed for a computers on the weekend?” The community must also decide whether the school will be private or public. A public school would receive financial support from tax dollars. But a private school would allow freedom to schedule around the specialized Se of Alta. Angela efniiubs through children’s book ing against the ‘Collinson a colorful while leanlap of her says. “Somebody has to be here.” | Four other families in LITTLE COTTONWOOD father Jim, a 14-year veteran CANYON with quandary, which is why a the Snowbird Ski Patrol. She is four years old half a year away from kindergarten. No matter how she is asked if she is excited, her answer is a shy nod. “She really wants to go to school with other kinds,” her mother Debbie says. “She wants to be other kids.” The Collinson live in Snowbird employee apart- have the same group of canyon residents — are taking preliminary steps toward establishing an elementary school oe in Alta. Onno Wieringa, General Manager of Alta Ski Lifts, is — one of the most active school advocates. His four-year-old daughter Siri will also enter kindergarten next year. Like Jim Collinson, he is con- are home school. commute every day or move. None of them are very good choices.” elementary. A local school, he hopes, would give the Colllinsons and other families another choice. So far, the project lacks solid action because many pragmatic questions have yet to be answered. For exam‘ple: Where will the school be located? How many grades should it include? Should it be public or private? Wieringa and the Alta community have picked the Our Lady of the Snows chapel as the classroom. But unfortunately, it is not only up to them. The Catholic vinced a school is necessary to keep experienced people wish may prompt them to - living in the canyon where - diocese funded most of the their expertise is needed. move, taking Jim Collinson building and holds the per“It takes some knowlaway from potential emer-_ mit allowing its use. edgeable people to make this gencies his is trained to han_ Wieringa plans to meet place work and some of dle. with the Bishop of the dio“Rescues become more _ them have to live here,” he cese this month to discuss difficult when patrollers ” says. the idea. “Right now our choices drive from the valley,” he ments across the street from the Cliff Lodge. Angela’s Alta residents pay nearly Community Center...and school? 70-percent of their property taxes to the Jordan School After the original chapel was destroyed in = an avalanche, a community action committee when it signed the permit, Connie Trlanasihh sought help from the diocese in rebuilding it last year. The Catholic organization agreed that Alta could use the facility asa community center issued by the US Service. District. But no Alta children Forest et: a member of the committee and director of public relations for Alta Ski Lifts says the “community center” con- Kestaurant > Above ,if i @ * Superb Mountain Views WOK Southwestern Cuisine Relaxed, InformalAtmosphere cept is still forming. “We’re still picking up on the idea of this building as a community center,” Aside from chapel services, the facility has only been used for yoga classes, meetings and a dance hosted by a few canyon employees. Marshall hopes to add activities such as art exhibits. \Fine drink Ee ood and Alta since J 968. DinnerEveuEoening 6-10pm | as mre foe BUG: rT Our Lady of the Snows: Place of Worship, |
