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Show MS Parents Talk ; School Excellence By MARK FOTHERINGHAM BOUNTIFUL -- Ever since the National Commission on Excellence in Education published pub-lished its "Nation at Risk" report, re-port, parents, teachers and administrators have been scrambling to find ways of improving im-proving educational systems and standards. EVEN THOUGH test scores in Davis County are well above national averages, the zeal to improve is as strong here as anywhere. In order to facilitate a coordinated attack on educational educa-tional problems, Parent Coordinating Coor-dinating Councils have been used recently to come up with new ideas and suggestions for improvements. One such council met at Bountiful High School last week for a brainstorming session. ses-sion. About 50 percent parents, pa-rents, educators and even a few students showed up to discuss dis-cuss the current needs and goals of local public education. BEFORE THE "Nation at Risk" study was published, such councils were attended by only about ten people, at the most according to council official Tippy Milne. The council used the brainstorming brain-storming session last week to formulate a list of both current assets and recommendations for improvement for the Davis School District. The same process pro-cess was then applied specifically specific-ally to Bountiful High School. ON THE POSITIVE side, the council praised the school district for their support of Advanced Placement and computer literacy programs as well as district-wide music programs such as the Davis Cup. The most oft repeated asset of the school district was their prudent use of a tight budget. The council also approved of the variety of opportunities given to students by the district. dis-trict. THE LIST of recommended improvements was about thrvj times as long as the assets list and included everything from an in-depth study on the possibility possi-bility of year-round school to banning junk food vending machines. The council voted on the recommendations re-commendations and established estab-lished the top four priorities as (1) merit pay for teachers, 0 accepting major extra j curricular activities for credit. (3) the need for more electa , and (4) Establishing stricter parameters for teacher selec ' tion and hiring. OTHER HIGH scoring rt ; commendations included it f hiring of part-time teach specialists, greater support i a full seven period day, the fe 4 mation of an equitable ati consistent attendance polio. and inservice programs fo: j teachers and administrators. One of the more innovatht ideas, though it did not score ' too highly, was for the form; i tion of specialized high schools. Under this concepts . areas where schools were far jt ly close together (such a j Woods Cross and Boun v one school could be design ', as a college preparation schoe. f while the other could be geared more towards vocational edi-cation edi-cation for those who did iks 1 with to pursue higher edu , tion. ' THE LISTS of the top asset: and priorities will be combi k with those of other coordina: ing councils and sent to thedfr trict for review. |