March 11, 2008

• Alta Area Calendars
  
• Crescent, Lone Peak and Oak Hollow Elementary Schools: After listening to patron comments (below) and receiving public correspondence on this issue, the Board voted 6-1 to retain Crescent, Lone Peak and Oak Hollow Elementary Schools’ three-track schedules for the 2008-09 school year with the provision that the Board study boundaries and track options for the 2009-10 school year in conjunction with the newly elected east-side school board.  Sherril Taylor opposed the motion, stating he believes Lone Peak should move to traditional calendar because that is what the majority of parents want and that is what is best for families.
  
• Willow Springs Elementary School: The Board of Education voted to move Willows Springs Elementary School from a three-track schedule to a four-track schedule for the 2008-09 school year.
  
• Sprucewood Elementary School: The Board voted to retain the boundaries and four-track schedule at Sprucewood Elementary School for the 2008-09 school year.  The Board will also study future boundary changes for Sprucewood.

• Patron Comments
• Becky Johnson, a parent from Lone Peak Elementary School, asked the Board to move the school to a traditional calendar, stating it is cost effective, provides more opportunities for families to be together, and improves attendance.  She suggested the current Board make this decision rather than passing it on to the new east-side school board. 
  
• Karen Burns, a parent from Lone Peak, said she values and trusts the opinions of the teachers who favor year-round schedules.  She worries about overcrowding and does not want to comprise her children’s education.  She asked the Board to do what is best for students, not most convenient for families.
  
• Gina Johnson, a parent from Lone Peak, favors a traditional schedule.  She feels a strong sense of community can be restored by having students on the same calendar.
  
• Mike Johnson, a parent from Lone Peak, said he moved here three months ago and quickly realized how complicated a year-round schedule is for neighborhoods.  Students in one square mile around him attend seven different elementary schools.  He believes students do not have a sense of community since they don’t go to school together and he believes year-round schools damage the unity of neighborhoods.
  
• Jeff Lyon, a parent from Lone Peak, supports a traditional calendar.  He said the community overwhelming supports a traditional schedule and said every year his family evaluates whether or not they should attend another school that operates on a traditional calendar.
  
• Jodi Russell, a parent from Lone Peak, expressed concern about the lack of communication on this issue.  She said parents want to be informed so they can influence the Board’s decisions.  She encouraged the Board to move Lone Peak to a traditional calendar.  
  
• Susan Riley, a teacher at Lone Peak, said teachers know better than anyone their school building and programs and know what does and does not work.   She has taught at Lone Peak the past 22 years and believes a traditional school is not the best educational option for students. 
  
• Alisa Nelson, a parent from Crescent Elementary School, supports a traditional calendar.  She believes students with the least parental support and the most behavior problems get the least-favored track.  She feels a traditional school will make classes more congruent and all children will benefit equally.  She said it is the responsibility of the current school board to fix this now instead of waiting another year for a new board to deal with it. 
  
• Lindsay Moffat, a parent from Lone Peak, favors staying on three tracks.  There are some 200 students attending schools other than Lone Peak.  If any of those students come back, the school will have exceeded its capacity and portables will be necessary.   She suggested the Board let the new school board assess the issue and adopt new boundaries.  She is also concerned too many teachers will leave if the school switches to traditional.
  
• Cathy Spuck, a teacher from Crescent, spoke on behalf of the teachers at the school.  She previously presented a one-track schedule to the Board and encouraged them to study more options and allow the new school board to make the decision. 
  
• Anna Zollinger, a parent from Lone Peak, has had children on both schedules.  Her family prefers a traditional schedule because it allows more quality time together as a family.
  
• Cindy Antonelli, a parent from Lone Peak, said she loves the year-round calendar.  She believes Lone Peak’s enrollment is too high to go traditional.  She said the benefits of year-round far outweigh the negatives.  She values small classes sizes and having her family vacation during off seasons.  She asked the Board to do what is best for children, not what is the most popular with parents.
  
• Gayle Jack, a parent from Lone Peak, said a year-round schedule is difficult for families who have students in middle and high school.  Year-round calendars create disjointed neighborhoods and schools, she aid.  She also worries that students miss programs at the school when they are not on track.
  
• Julie Peck, a parent from Lone Peak, expressed appreciation for the Board’s willingness to hear parents’ concerns.  As a single mother, she said it is almost impossible to find childcare when her children are off track.  She feels a traditional schedule is more conducive to family, neighborhood and community unity. 
  
• Lisa McElaney, a parent from Lone Peak, said Lone Peak is an excellent school with excellent teachers.   She worries about larger class sizes if the school moves to a traditional calendar.  She urged the Board to do what is best for students and teachers.

• Board Comments
• Ellen Wallace announced she will not serve on the new east-side school board.  She is opting out of the automatic appointment to the new board provided during this Legislative session in Senate Bill 71.  Although she has served on the Board for the past 14 years, she feels her service to Jordan School District should end July 1, 2009.  Mrs. Wallace also reported on her attendance at the fund-raising breakfast sponsored by the Jordan Education Foundation.  She encouraged Board members to donate to the foundation. 
  
• Randy Brinkerhoff reported on his attendance at Dr. Seuss birthday celebrations at Daybreak, Midvale and Midas Creek Elementary Schools.  He also attended the girls softball tournaments in St. George that featured Riverton, Bingham and West Jordan High Schools.

Elk Ridge Middle    
      Principal Ray Jenson highlighted the accomplishments of Elk Ridge Middle School, including increased direct-writing assessment and math scores.  Students are involved in schoolwide reading and writing programs.  The school has used its Trust Land funds to develop a computer-assisted math lab.  As the staff continues to collect data from grades, test scores and attendance, it adjusts its programs and teaching styles to meet the needs of its students.

Closed, Study Sessions    
      The Board met in closed session to discuss personnel and property.  During study session the Board discussed a school environment survey, the Transportation Department, and the International Baccalaureate Program.

— 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