By Julie Johansen
Faculty and staff from Canyon View Middle School (CVMS) approached the Emery School Board during its March meeting on Wednesday evening at Cleveland Elementary requesting the board to look at the additional time they spend in instructional hours each day, week and quarter. They reported that, on average, CVMS spends 16.25 more hours each quarter than any other school in the district. Secondary schools are required to put in 990 instructional hours each year, but Kellie Worwood, faculty member and representative, stated that CVMS puts in well over 1,100.
The faculty group discussed ideas for compensation and requested that the school board look at these options. Superintendent Larry Davis replied that this has been the situation for many years and it is essentially the result of busing schedules. Many of the board remarked they were unaware of the equality and would take the matter into consideration.
Supt. Davis then reported that the district has received several calls of concern about school closure days with the storms in the past weeks. He said that a committee, including the transportation department, Emery County Sheriff Greg Funk, maintenance and administration are very concerned with safety but desire to hold school whenever possible so that makeup days are not necessary.
Davis continued to report about a forced school closure at Huntington Elementary when water mains broke in the city. Emery School District Elementary Supervisor Ralph Worthen reported that it was handled very well using the parent-link communication. This system called parents to the school, who had to come sign out their students. They decided to use this rather than call for buses so that some younger students were not delivered home to empty houses. He stated that it was a good training when it was not an emergency and everyone had a chance to learn.
Supervisor Worthen also reported that three students represented Emery District at the regional spelling bee in Moab. Those students were Jackson Woodson, Jackson Durrant and Bryndlie Stevens.
Next, the following names for hiring approval were presented to the board: Gary Bennett, assistant softball coach at Emery High; Angela Fox, Cory Cook and Cynthia Pyan, teaching assistants at Huntington Elementary; Alan McArthur, custodian at Huntington Elementary; Jennifer Dansie, bus aide; and Shelby Bagley, drill team coach at Emery High.
Kevin Reynolds, boys’ golf coach at Emery High, requested paid assistant coaches for boys’ golf, girls’ golf and tennis. He was especially concerned about the girls’ golf.
Principal Jerel Lofley welcomed the board to Cleveland Elementary and spoke about programs at the school. He remarked that chess and checker tournaments were underway at the present time. He praised the school’s Star Reading program, which helps with specific reading skills one half hour twice per week. Lofley also announced that he expects 30 to 35 new kindergarten students to be registered on March 21 for the next school year.
Supt. Davis reported about bills at the legislature that could affect the district, including HB 118, which is an incentive for doing well on testing has passed both the House and the Senate and is waiting the governor’s signature. HB 168, dealing with installing seat belts on school buses, failed mainly because of the big expense to districts. HB 198, which would do away with grading for schools, had support from Utah School Board and the State Superintendent’s Association. Davis also spoke about HB 149, which would provide employee bonuses but would require guidelines by the administrations.
