The Emery County School Board welcomed and congratulated Larry Davis as the incoming superintendent at its meeting last week by stating that he was well respected by students and teachers alike.
Announcement was made that two teachers have received the Apples for Teacher Award previously in their respective classrooms. They are Pamela Hunt who teaches first grade at Book Cliff Elementary and Justin Thorney, agriculture education teacher at Emery High. This is a change in format for these awards and now will be made in the teacher’s classroom.
Green River High Principal Kayce Fluckey presented a plan for block scheduling to the board for its consideration. She listed some reasons for this request. With limited student numbers curriculum is also limited and students are opting out early because their requirements are met. Another reason was the growth in the Hispanic population at their school and their ELL numbers are increasing. There is also the hope that the new schedule could improve the emphasis placed on education. This type of scheduling would increase the number of requirements but also offer more choices to the students. She reported that teachers seem supportive and also realizes that their load would also increase. The board will take a look at this and suggested that Davis spend some time in Green River with Fluckey considering this proposal.
The following personnel were approved for hiring: Tiffany Hansen, cheer coach at Canyon View Junior High; Angelina Behling, cheer coach at San Rafael Junior High; and Jeff Winget as English teacher at Emery High. The following individuals have presented the board with letters of retirement: Kerry Olsen, custodian at Emery High; Lisa Behling, first grade teacher at Ferron Elementary. Leslie Larsen has written a letter of resignation. These were accepted by the board.
The board also approved the plans presented by the various schools for the use of their Trust Lands Funds and participation in the Sharp Survey. This survey happens every other year and is for the purpose of assessing student health and risk prevention. It will be conducted in grades 9-12 in the spring of 2017. The District Audit Committee (DIE) needs to be assembled as an independent source for district finances. The report must be sent to the state. It should be composed of a couple of board members and three people from the community.
Business Administrator Jared Black said that the initial draft of the budget for next year is about ready for review. A public hearing will be held in June. They are also reviewing insurance for employees. Employees are completing the capital outlay reports, smaller ones are done and larger ones are planned for the summer.
Superintendent Kirk Sitterud read letters of recognition sent to all teachers in the district as it is teacher appreciation week and also to the child nutrition personnel as it is also National School Lunch Hero day on Friday, May 6.
He also told of the award that Melissa Anderson received from The Huntsman Awards for Education and commended her for this achievement.
Principal Garth Johnson then thanked the board for its support for Huntington Elementary and expressed his pleasure in working with the staff at his school. He stated he appreciated the child-like attitudes of forgiving found in his staff. He also commented that there are always surprises as a principal.