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Show Garfield County School Board Meeting Report By Laura Adams Board members present for the Feb. 1 1 Garfield County School Board Meeting at Bryce Valley High School included Earl Roe, Cindy Stewart, Marc McLemore, Gladys LeFevre and Bart Palmer. Seated at the head table with them were Supt. Myron Cottam and Business Administrator D'Lynn Poll. The next meeting will be Thursday, Mar. 18 at 6 p.m. at Panguitch High School. A working meeting at ' 5 p.m. which is open to the public will precede the regular board meeting. meet-ing. Cindy Stewart opened the Feb. 1 1 meeting with a request to find a member of the business community to take Eric Packer's place on the Southwest Utah Technological College Board. Roe responded that they would consider possibilities and present pres-ent names at the next board meeting. Gayle Pollock, Tropic, who had earlier asked for his name to appear on the agenda, spoke to the board in behalf of a group of concerned parents. He recommended recom-mended better communication strategies between the school district, school administrators and the front line educators. "To summarize," he said," we ask for improved communications, greater accountability., utilization utiliza-tion of all educational assets available and greater support for our educators. We are also here to plainly state that cuts to, or consolidation consolida-tion of, our critical grade levels, are not an option. "Our message is intended not to point fingers or assign blame. It is intended to make the board and the district aware that we want to be a part of the solution. Our presence here will formally serve notice that the proverbial 'sleeping giant has been awakened"! awak-ened"! Allow each of us to be a force for positive change. The (See SCHOOL on page 3A) Garfield School Board From Front Page alternative to inaction is one that no one will benefit from." Supt. Cottam responded to Pollock saying, "Thank you". Earl Slack, principal at Bryce Valley High School followed with a report citing the successful success-ful administration of the Basic Skills Competency Test to the sophomore class. The exam is part of the "No Child Left Behind Act" which all students, beginning with the Class of 2006, will be required to pass in order to receive a high school diploma. During the superintendent's report that followed, it was revealed that Garfield County School District is leading the state in developing Instructional Focus classes to help students with the Basic Skills test. The superintendent also shared that Escalante Middle School teacher Clint Stevens had been named Utah's "Outstanding Science Teacher". Stevens shared his plaque and , was congratulated for his success suc-cess was and awarded a gift certificate cer-tificate by the local school board. During the Board Business segment of the meeting, Panguitch High School Guidance Counselor Gary Bennett explained the several programs he has been working on during the school year among which were included Guidance Curriculum, Individual Planning (SEOP's), and Family Services and Systems Support. Bennett said he had taken students on a field trip to visit Snow College and had implemented the program pro-gram "Choices" for college-bound college-bound students. His evaluation takes place in April and he asked the board for a letter of support. The board agreed to provide a letter. Bennett also noted that the ongoing EDNET Program is progressing, successfully ,at Panguitch High School and has moved from a $30,000 deficit to only a $7000 deficit. Graduation dates were discussed dis-cussed by the board and a determination deter-mination made of which board members would attend which ceremony. Escalante High School will graduate its seniors on May 27, and Panguitch High School and Bryce Valley High Schools on May 28. |