Nov. 20, 2007

Financial Report Adopted    
     The Board adopted the District’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007.  Ray Bartholomew from the auditing firm Squire & Company, said the District’s financial statements conform with state and federal accounting principles.

Boundary Approved
     The Board approved boundaries for the new elementary school in West Jordan.  The new boundaries include students from Oakcrest, Hayden Peak, and Mountain Shadows Elementary Schools.  The school is currently under construction at 6100 W. 7000 South and will open for the 2008-09 school year.  The new boundaries are available on the District Web site at www.jordandistrict.org/boundaries/westjordan/proposedelembound.htm.

Secondary Conferences
     Superintendent Barry L. Newbold provided reports showing 67 percent of middle school parents and 44 percent of high school parents attended secondary fall parent-teacher conferences.

Construction Report
     Superintendent Newbold reported construction at the new Valley High, the new West Jordan elementary school, the new Eastlake Elementary School and the rebuild of Heartland Elementary School are all on schedule to open for the 2008-09 school year.

Boundary Proposal
     The Board held a public hearing on proposed boundaries for the new Eastlake Elementary School in South Jordan.  The proposed boundaries include students from Daybreak, Elk Meadows, Monte Vista and Welby Elementary Schools.  Eastlake Elementary School is currently under construction at 4389 W. Isla Daybreak Road (11200 S.) and will open for the 2008-09 school year.  The Board will vote on the recommendations at its Dec. 4 meeting.  The boundary recommendation is available on the District Web site at www.jordandistrict.org/general/boundaries/eastlake.

Gifted-Talented Committee
     Sherry Wasden, deputy superintendent for Instructional Services, and Sally Becker, Ed.D., facilitator of the Gifted and Talented Evaluation Committee, presented recommendations for Gifted/Talented student programs.  The recommendation included the implementation of gifted-learner magnet programs and accelerated-learner curriculum at each community school.

Calendar Committee
     Sherry Devenberg, director of Planning and Student Services, presented recommendations from the calendar committee.  The Board will vote on proposed 2008-09 traditional and year-round calendars at its Dec. 4 meeting.

• Patron Comments
  
• Adele Feoney asked the Board to consider more lunch menus for diabetic students. She urged the Board to make lunch nutrition information accessible online to help diabetic children and their parents determine what is appropriate.
  
• Karen Butterfield expressed concern about the proposed boundary for Eastlake Elementary School.  Parents in her neighborhood are invested in Monte Vista Elementary School and wish to remain.
  
• Amy Jex asked that gifted/talented testing be done in a timely manner so parents have time to choose where to attend school.
  
• Sean Reyes supports the concept of tightening requirements for the current ALPS program.  He urged the Board to implement a differentiated system that meets the unique needs of gifted and accelerated learners.
  
• Diana Schaffer-McDonald discussed the needs of children to be in an environment where peers think like they do.  She shared the difficulty of living with a child whose needs are not being met at school.
  
• Lora Barber supports the Gifted-Talented Committee’s recommendations for revised admittance and testing.  She also supports the “delayed, delayed” implementation option to allow time for accelerated learner programs to develop at local schools.
  
• DeShelle Burton supports the Gifted-Talented Committee’s recommendations.  She feels accelerated learners will do well in regular classrooms with differentiated learning if teachers are trained.
  
• Cindy England expressed concern about changes in the gifted program that may regress students to a lower level of learning.
  
• Shelli Smith asked the Board to carefully consider a decision to send accelerated learning students back to regular schools.  She encouraged tiered testing to find out true placement for students as soon as possible.
  
• Lisa Raty noted the current ALPS program is exceptional. She expressed concern about putting current ALPS students in regular classrooms.
  
• Meredith Llewellyn noted that the recommendation is not to eliminate ALPS, but move it to local schools.  She urged the Board to accept the Gifted-Talented Committee’s recommendations.
  
• Gayle Watts asked the Board to consider eliminating some of the testing because it is stressful for students.  She said children learn differently and need varied programs as was proposed.
  
• Camina Whiteman expressed concern about sending her child to a regular classroom after having been in the ALPS program.
  
• Michael White feels the Gifted-Talented Committee has been insightful and proactive in coming up with recommendations.  He said the current ALPS program does not meet the immediate needs of students.
  
• Rick Black cautioned the Board about sending current ALPS students back to regular classrooms where they will be bored.
  
• Naomi Foreman indicated principals in regular schools may not understand what is acceptable for accelerated students.  If ALPS students are sent to regular schools, there must be accountability and continuity in programs there.
  
• Kerrie Hains Riker recommend the Board accept the Gifted-Talented Committee recommendations on the regular delayed implementation.  She feels implementing these recommendations will take full support of principals, teachers and administrators.
  
• Chad Curtis commended the District for all the education services provided at schools.  He agrees with the Gifted-Talented Committee recommendations.
  
• Sheila Armstrong indicated the ALPS program has been very successful for her family.  She is concerned about upsetting a program that has successfully served thousands of students.
  
• Tami Owen wondered if a new east-side school district would implement the Gifted-Talented Committee recommendations.  She also concerned about students testing into a district program rather than a specific school.
  
• Wendy McKinney asked the Board to consider letting students currently in ALPS who do not test into a gifted-learner program have priority to stay in at the magnet school in a regular classroom.  She also suggested funding opportunities.
  
• Joni Hougaard expressed concern about the difficulty in discerning between accelerated and gifted learners. She suggested combining accelerated and gifted programs both into a magnet rather than a boundary school.
  
• Bob Bruce agreed with the Gifted-Talented Committee recommendation to implement tiered testing to identify accelerated and gifted learners.  He supports the “delayed, delayed” implementation to ensure accelerated-learner programs are in place before students are sent there.
  
• Brandi Kilmer indicated some teachers in regular classes are more prepared to accept accelerated students than others.  She prefers the “delayed, delayed” implementation so school faculty and staff can be trained.
  
• Richard Abbott expressed concern that the needs of students are not being optimally met.  Local schools do not currently have accelerated programs available, he said.
  
• Alicia Riddle expressed appreciation at the way the Gifted-Talented Committee came up with recommendations.  She encouraged the District to identify placement quickly so parents can begin making decisions.
  
• Ginger Cavin urged the Board to consider ways to provide transportation and extra counseling for gifted students.
  
• Lena Coombs questioned whether the District should provide a magnet program for gifted learners.
  
• Jennifer Spinti asked the Board to form a committee to determine how best to meet the needs of accelerated students in boundary schools due to the many options available.  She also encouraged the Board to implement testing that is free and accessible to all. 
  
• Jerry Monsen supports the Gifted-Talented Committee recommendations.  He indicated that gifted students may be as different from accelerated learners as accelerated learners are from mainstream.
  
• Renae Monsen encouraged implementation of a gifted-learner program and urged testing to be done as soon as possible.
  
• Angela Eatough endorsed the Gifted-Talented Committee recommendations as long as accelerated-learner programs are in place at boundary schools.

East Midvale Elementary
     Principal Sally Sansom said despite many challenges the mission of creating a community of learners by providing quality research-based instruction to every student is a daily priority at East Midvale Elementary School. The school has programs directed at increasing parent involvement, enhancing student recognition and developing a schoolwide community.

Closed, Study Sessions
     The Board met in closed session prior to the regular meeting to discuss personnel and property.  During study session, the Board reviewed new district creation laws and discussed future Board meeting agenda items.

— Michael T. Kelley, 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

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