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Show concern in all grades was enhancing the educational environment envi-ronment so that it becomes more stimulating which would in turn instil more desire and motivation among Park City students. "I know I'm being idealistic, and not everybody shares my views," Nancy McComb said, but added "You don't want to aim at mediocrity. You want to aim at the ideal." Superintendent Goodworth said he would show the report to the 5 school board members for their persual and recommendations. recommenda-tions. Goodworth also said he would possibly show the task force's final report to state educators next year when the district is examined for accreditation. accredita-tion. Finally, Nancy McComb said of academics in Park City: '"I think it's improving, but it has a long way to go." Academic Task Force Finishes School Study istic in the present boundaries in which I am offering." As one example, Dozier said he does not have the staff or money to extend the foreign language program at the high school. The task force recommended teaching foreign languages in lower grades. At the present time, Spanish is the only foreign language offered at Park City High School. The task force also suggested that at least 2 foreign languages be taught for 4 years in high school. Nancy McComb said she thought discipline at Park City High School had improved but that the range of the cirriculum program has not improved as much as it could. One of the first priorities, she added, is to firmly establish a solid English program. pro-gram. The morale in the schools is good, Mrs. McComb said. "I think everybody is pulling together more," she said. Another area covered by the task force related to creating a more integrated curriculum within with-in the school system so that students advance more smoothly from one grade to another, as well as more awareness by teachers of what is being taught in other schools in the district. Besides offering a college oriented curriculum program, the academic task force also recommended recom-mended a vocational program for those students whose goals are directed toward specific careers or jobs. High school students should be encouraged to take at least 5 solid subjects and be given from 5 to 15 hours of homework weekly, the report recommended. The report goes on to suggest that students expand their reading over the summer and include selections from fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and the "long" novel. One of the major areas of Following 8 exhaustive months of study and revision, an educational task force concluded that schools in Park City have made some academic improvements improve-ments but that the district still needs a lot of work, especially in the area of curriculum and course offerings. The final report of the task force was presented to members of Park City School Community Council by Chairman Nancy McComb Wednesday, November 2 in the multi-purpose room at the high school. Mrs. McComb said the task-force task-force met 8 times and spoke with many educators and parents in Park City. She added that every high school and many lower grade schools in Salt Lake were contacted in order to obtain a broader understanding of their academic environments and curriculum curri-culum offerings. The task force itself is made up of school, student and parent representatives representa-tives and include PTSA President Chris Zaba, teachers Laurie Tisch and Jana Cole, and former high school student Vicki Wallin. There were basically 3 areas the task force focused on: discipline, enhancing student motivation to learn, and hiring more well-qualified teachers. Nancy McComb added the group paid quite a bit of attention to expanding course offerings, especially es-pecially at the high school. Mrs. McComb told the Record the academic evaluation report was revised in several areas during last week's school community com-munity council meeting and that she felt somewhat dissapointed not to have the findings and conclusions agreed upon and adopted by the members of the council. Superintendent Richard Good-worth Good-worth said he found a number of "good things" in the report and that it could be used as "a model to build toward." He agreed with the task force that curriculum needed expanding. Dr. Good-worth Good-worth added that discipline could be strengthened also in the schools. The Superintendent pointed out 2 main questions surfaced as a result of work done by the task force: number of course offerings and how affective affect-ive teachers have been in the i district. The report turned out to be idealistic, Goodworth said, but added that this is what he "hoped it would be." Dr. Goodworth said he would recommend the report be sent to faculty and principals for further examination. "It (task force report) is another tool to help us," Superintendent Goodworth said. Park City High School Principal, Princi-pal, Jack Dozier, said he found "some good features" in the final report but added it was "unreal- I I J t , s . ; : fy- . it' y f - 1 tew v X -. 1 r j . f - - - i f ' ' ' 1 Academic Ta-.v Force Chairman Nancy McComb |