Monthly Archives: September 2013

John Florez: Utah School Boards Get an F Grade (DNews)

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  By John Florez , Deseret News Published: Saturday, Sept. 14 2013 12:00 a.m. MDT If Utah’s local school boards were graded, they would get an F, or at best an incomplete. Some seem to suffer from chronic public absenteeism and don’t do their homework. When the law went in to effect requiring schools be given a grade for their performance, there was an immediate outcry by school administrators, teachers and some parents for its … Continue reading →

Complaint to State Auditor: SLCSD Budget Process (Letter)

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  4 June 2013 [revised]     HAND DELIVERED The Honorable John Dougall Auditor, State of Utah Suite E310, East Office Building Utah State Capitol Complex Salt Lake City, Utah 84114   Re: Salt Lake City School District Dear Mr. Dougall, I am currently serving as a member of the Salt Lake City Board of Education. I am requesting that your office conduct an audit on the financial practices of the Salt Lake City School … Continue reading →

Clara: Educators’ Pessimism Doesn’t Help Students (Tribune)

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Clara: Educators’ pessimism doesn’t help students BY MICHAEL CLARA PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 14, 2013 01:01AM In recent days, many oppositional voices have been raised over Utah’s new school grading system. Mine was not one of them. As a local school board member, one of my statutory responsibilities is to “use progress-based assessments as part of a plan to identify schools, teachers, and students that need remediation and determine the type and amount of federal, state, and … Continue reading →

Three Cheers for Glendale Middle School! Grade: B

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Utah’s House of Representative Angela Romero, Archie Archuleta and I had an awesome meeting with Glendale Middle School’s administration on Wednesday-September 4, 2013. We received an update on the great strides in academic success that the students at Glendale are achieving.    Below is the text of a letter I sent to the Principal:  4 September 2013   Mr. Chris Gesteland, Principal ℅ Glendale Middle School 1430 W. Andrew Avenue Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 Re: Congratulations! Mr. … Continue reading →

District Launches Poorly Written Webpage on School Grading

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  TEXT OF LETTER I SENT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT:  1 September 2013   DELIVERED VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL Mr. McKell Withers, Superintendent Salt Lake City School District 440 East 100 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-1891 Re: School Grades and Accountability Website Dear Dr. Withers, I wanted to expressed my opposition to the current tone and format of the proposed School Grades and Accountability link on the school district’s web site, that you referenced in your … Continue reading →