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Show Superintendent Cox seeks input from regional PTA ' ' Alpine School Superintendent Clark Cox asked the Region Nine PTA Council to make suggestions regarding the proposed upcoming leeway vole. He said his concerns were what the mill levy should be that they ask for in the leeway vote and where the money should be spent within the district. He explained that he will be discussing these two questions with . various groups in order to get suggestions from interested persons. per-sons. The superintendent said that five mills would raise the property tax on the average $65,000 home about $45, or nine dollars per mill. This would bring in over $2 million to the school district. If the leeway passed, the district would get the bulk of the money next year. He noted that Alpine is one of the very few disticts in the state that does not already have a voted leeway. The Region board declined to make any recommendation until its next meeting on March 28. Council presidents were asked to discuss the subject with their local unit presidents and report back. The Region officials felt that three to five mills were the best to ask for. Some of the suggestions for use of the money were to lower class load, buy textbooks, maintenance of buildings, teachers aids, paper supplies, teacher salaries, special programs such as art, music and language. The board members said they would like to know where the money for the administrators goes and what they do to earn it. The Region's Spring Training session will be held May 6. The board members suggested that subjects for this session include PTA finances and fundraising, commission com-mission programs, public relations and current and critical issues. Those who should plan to attend this training session include the incoming PTA presidents, president-elects, and principals. Helen Hatch, region president, reported that 44,291 volunteer hours had been donated to Alpine School District schools by PTA workers since June. In the superintendent's meeting with the local PTA presidents, he reported that final approval of plans had been made for the new Lehi Junior High School and bids would probably be awarded the first part of May. The school is expected to cost about $7.3 million. Bids for the new elementary school in Orem are to come in the latter part of March, he said. He also told the group that a suggestion had been made to the school board to have the Orchard Elementary School go into an extended year. The board is to take action on this suggestion in March. The superintendent also noted that the Alpine graduation requirements differed from the state requirements in the area of fine arts and foreign language. He said they were asking for a waiver from the State Board of Education to keep the local requirements. Dr. Cox said that the board would change the method of selecting teachers to go to the new junior high school in Orem. Teachers will be given the opportunity to volunteer to change schools. He explained that a controversy arose at the last board meeting over the way the teachers were being chosen to go to the new school. A local unit president asked Dr, Cox how the school district could get rid of a bad teacher. He said that parents should submit complaints in writing and specifics must be given. He stated that teachers have appeal rights and the district must be able to produce proof in order to get rid of a teacher. He added that it has been done and in recent weeks the district has been able to let some problem teachers go. Another question was raised regarding retaliation by a teacher when a child's parents have complained. com-plained. Should this occur, Dr. Cox said that parents should give a' written report immediately to the principal or to the principal's supervisor. |