Oct. 17, 2006

• 2006-07 Five-Star Winners
        The Board of Education announced the winners of its 2006-07 Five-Star Award Employee Recognition Program. The program honors outstanding employees for the exceptional contributions they make to the District, their schools or their departments. The awards are given annually to 10 loyal and dedicated employees who further the Board’s vision to “provide a quality education for all students.” In addition, two schools are honored for outstanding public relations.  This year’s winners receive $2,500 and will be honored at a recognition banquet Nov. 3.
        The 2006-07 Five-Star Award winners include:
• Year-round Elementary Teacher:  Timothy Strebel, South Jordan Elementary
  
• Traditional Elementary Teacher:  Naomi Damron, Quail Hollow Elementary
  
• Middle School Teacher:  Eva Belliston, Crescent View Middle
  
• High School Teacher:  Kim Searle, Copper Hills High (Jordan District’s 2007 Teacher of the Year)
  
• Certificated At-Large:  Eunice Chen, occupational therapist, Jordan Resource Center
  
• Classified Employees:  Jim Belmont, graphics technician for Printing Services; Joyce Guenon, Native American Outreach for Alternative Language Services; Michelle Nelson, administrative secretary for Auxiliary Services; and Shane Smith, head custodian for Brookwood Elementary
  
• Administrator:  Sharon Okumura, principal at Canyon View Elementary
  
• School Public Relations:  Midvale Middle and the Jordan Applied Technology Center, West Jordan Campus

Trespass Policy Revised
      The Board approved revisions to District policy DA158—School Trespass in an effort to minimize disruptions in schools, outline authority of local school administrators and specify the legal basis for the policy.

Cranberry Hill Boundary
      School boundaries for the Cranberry Hill subdivision in Draper will remain the same for the 2007-08 school year. 

• Patron Comments
• Holly Ogden, Julie Dredge, Heidi Owen, Julie Wiggins, Laurie Seppi and Cindy Warner, all parents from the Cranberry Hill subdivision in Draper, asked the Board to oppose the recommendation that would send them to Crescent Elementary starting in 2007-08.  The parents said the boundary change would divide their subdivision not unify it.  They also indicated they prefer a school with a traditional schedule and want their boundaries to remain the same.  Some expressed concern over their children having to cross 11400 South.  Mrs. Seppi presented the Board with a petition containing 176 signatures of parents who oppose changing their school boundaries.
  
• John McNeill, a teacher at West Hills Middle, expressed frustration about lack of technical support in schools.  In addition to teaching, he also provides technical support for his school.  He feels school technology specialists are overworked and that the demands of providing technical support takes priority over his teaching. He asked the Board to consider budgeting more for additional technology specialists and technical support for schools.
  
• Wendy Thurman, a parent from West Hills Middle who lives in the Jordan Landing/Dixie Valley subdivision, asked the Board not to move their subdivision to West Jordan High.  She said the boundary committee strongly supports moving students from Elk Ridge Middle to West Jordan High.  She feels her neighborhood is being singled out unfairly.

• Board Comments
• Sherril Taylor expressed his opposition to RDAs, EDAs and CDAs.  In light of the recent controversy surrounding the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium and Sandy City, he opposes any type of proposal that lines the pockets of wealthy individuals or corporations.  He urged patrons to keep their awareness high on this issue.
  
• Randy Brinkerhoff encouraged patrons to attend the PTA’s Meet the Candidates Nights and become active participants in the election process.
  
• Ellen Wallace thanked parents for attending the meeting and expressing their concerns.  She also reported on her attendance at the National Federation of Urban Suburban School Districts (NFUSSD) Conference in Greenville, S.C.
  
• Peggy Jo Kennett reported on safety concerns she had as she walked to school with students at Oquirrh and Columbia Elementary Schools. She also enjoyed attending the NFUSSD Conference and being a panelist at the PTA legislative conference.  Mrs. Kennett expressed appreciation to the District’s PTA and for the time and support it provides schools.

Celebrating Hillcrest High
      Principal Sue Malone reported Hillcrest High is celebrating 45 years of education excellence this year.  Hillcrest High was selected as one of 24 model schools by the International Center for Leadership in Education and is working closely with the Successful Practices Network to improve all aspects of student learning and engagement.  Hillcrest is also part of the State Scholars Initiative and was cited in Newsweek as one of the top 1,000 schools in the United States. 

Closed, Study Sessions           
      The Board met in closed session prior to the regular meeting to discuss property, potential litigation, personnel and deployment of security personnel.  During study session, the Board discussed student overnight travel, boundaries for the new elementary school in Riverton and boundary changes for West Jordan and Copper Hills High Schools. 

– Melinda R. Colton, Reporting

Board of Education
Peggy Jo Kennett, President
Ellen S. Wallace, Vice President
Randy S. Brinkerhoff, Member
J. Dale Christensen, Ed.D., Member
Ann C. Forbush, Member
Lynette Phillips, Member
Sherril H. Taylor, Member

Barry L. Newbold, Ed.D., Superintendent
D. Burke Jolley, Deputy Superintendent for Business Services

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