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Show I en O'Ciock Whistle by David Fleisher Switch ... A tremendous change took place last week in Park City. Y'ou probably didn't hear about it because it was never publicized in the press. The main reason it was not covered was because of the incredible nature of the change. To put it bluntly, the majority of people would not have believed it, so nothing was written. Here's what happened: The sewer board members and the school board members changed places. That's right. Members of the sewer board are now meeting in the Board of Education office while those on the school board meet next to a sewer on the outskirts of town. Furthermore, the sewer people talk about school policies and the school people talk about sewers. Why in the world would such an incredible change take place? Was it a sensible thing to do? More importantly, will Park City benefit from this remarkable transformation? These are all valid questions, so you shouldn't feel stupid or guilty if you have asked them yourself. The idea originated during a gondola ride to the top of the mountain. Board members from the sewer and the school piled into a gondola and conducted a closed meeting all the way to the top. They chose a gondola, knowing no one would be able to leave during the meeting, considering the altitude. After the gondola ride, they all scrambled out, shook hands, and went their separate ways. Unfortunately, I don't know what transpired at the meeting, (it was closed); however, I am certain of one thing: they decided to do each other's job. I have received one plausible explanation: First, both boards have a lot of very important decisions to make in the very near future. So, they decided to switch places just in case something went wrong, and they could blame it on someone else. Specifically, the sewer board (after all its members are serving legally) have to decide whether to have a regional sewer plant for Park City and the district. School board members, on the other hand, may have to decide whether to accept Superintendent Goodworth's recommendation that the principal of Marsac, John Elwell, should be fired. These are not joyous times in Park City, and both the sewer and school boards know it. Can you blame them for wanting to change places and talk about something else for a little while? I don't. In fact, I would encourage a vacation now and then. God knows they deserve it. I have also received a convincing piece of criticism concerning this role changing among the respective board members. And that is this: Why would a board member, any board member, want to take a vacation on someone else's board? 1 mean, school people don't know as much about sewers as sewer people, and vice versa. They would spend their vacations taking crash courses. Decisions will be made soon. Let's hope the board members have - a change of heart and go back to where they belong. It's common knowledge: schools are schools and sewers are sewers. As I walked slowly up Main Street, thinking of all the crucicial changes which may' occur in Park City in the near future. I heard the Ten O'Clock Whistle. |