Feb. 26, 2008

• Appointments, Transfers
        The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments and transfers which become effective March 31:
  
• Jan Tanner, currently principal at Quail Hollow Elementary School, transferred as principal to Eastlake Elementary School.
  
• Karen Thomson, currently principal at Willow Canyon Elementary School, transferred as principal to Falcon Ridge Elementary School.
  
• Marilyn Williams, currently a grant writing specialist, appointed as principal to Quail Hollow Elementary School.
  
• Todd Theobald, currently an assistant principal at Midas Creek and Mountain Shadows Elementary Schools, appointed as principal to Willow Canyon Elementary School.
  
• Teri Mattson, currently a teacher specialist, appointed as the gifted and talented consultant. She replaces Jodi Stewart-Browning who is retiring.
  

Student Appeal
      The Board upheld the recommendation of the District Appeals Committee concerning a student appeal.

• Patron Comments
• Pat Cassady asked the Board to consider moving patron comments to the beginning of its meetings so the public can comment on items of business prior to a vote. He also suggested staff make presentations the Board has already seen to the audience and allow patrons to speak more often than every three months.
  
• Jennefer Free, a parent of students who attend Crescent View Middle and Oak Hollow Elementary Schools, supports Oak Hollow moving to a traditional calendar. Having children on both traditional and year-round schedules creates inconvenience and inconsistency for her family. She said it is difficult to manage quality family time together. Mrs. Free said having children on the same schedule also unifies a community.
  
• Susan Riley, a second-grade teacher at Lone Peak Elementary school, encouraged the Board to leave Lone Peak on a three-track year-round schedule. She has taught at the school since it opened and has taught on both calendars. She feels strongly that students on a year-round calendar get a better education. She believes a year-round schedule is more conducive to learning. She also expressed concern for the 173 Lone Peak students attending other schools now. She anticipates they will return to Lone Peak if it changes to a traditional calendar which will create overcrowding.
  

• Board Comments
• Peggy Jo Kennett noted the Jordan School District and new school district transition teams are meeting regularly, both separately and jointly, to divide the assets and liabilities of the District. She encouraged the public to attend the meetings. Meeting times and locations of transition team meetings can be found on the District Web site at www.jordandistrict.org/division.

Butler Elementary
      Principal Edy McGee reported on Butler Elementary School’s accomplishments of the past year. Butler students continue to do well on the CRT and IOWA tests and are focused on improving their literacy and math skills. The school houses two preschool classes and two orthopedically impaired units. Student mentors help children in these special classrooms. The school provides several enrichment programs to assist with student achievement and recognition.

Closed, Study Sessions
      The Board met in closed session to discuss personnel, property and a student appeal. During study session the Board discussed the Alta K-12 Feeder System calendar.

— Melinda R. Colton, Reporting

Board of Education
J. Dale Christensen, Ed.D., President
Tracy Scott Cowdell, J.D., Vice President
Randy S. Brinkerhoff, Member
Kim Murphy Horiuchi, Member
Peggy Jo Kennett, Member
Sherril H. Taylor, Member
Ellen S. Wallace, Member

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

Past Issues of Memorandum