A Call to Action: Mañana is Now (tribute)

MINMP I celebrated Pioneer Day amongst friends, at Jon and Jen’s 8th Annual 24th of July Celebration. Two of my mentors and Elders of the Hispanic community were there. Although we come from opposite ends of the political spectrum (I am Republican and they are Democrats), only on a couple of occasions have they held that against me. The other 97% of the time they have treated me as a son and have looked out … Continue reading

Race to the Top Grant: Our Students Lost out in 2012 –Why?

061813RTTBM   Audio of School Board Meeting In our June 18, 2013 School Board meeting, department heads were present to share the district’s 2012-13 Accomplishments. One item in particular caught my attention was RACE TO THE TOP grant. About 20 minutes into the meeting I asked why it was listed as an accomplishment if we were not awarded the grant. The attached audio is the portion of the meeting where Christine Marriott with the Assessment Department … Continue reading

The Case of the Disappearing Agenda Item (Audio)

  In the January 22, 2013, School Board meeting the Board President had the Board vote on an issue that was not on the original published agenda. (See snap shot above:yellow highlight). It appears, in order to rectify the fact that the board voted on a non-agenda item, they just added it to the agenda after the meeting was done. It remained that way for about four months. The attached Audio is of the May … Continue reading

Blog Post Sparks Debate About Mandatory Education (Sacramento Bee AP)

  By BRADY McCOMBS Associated Press Published: Thursday, Jul. 18, 2013 – 1:51 pm Last Modified: Thursday, Jul. 18, 2013 – 4:29 pm SALT LAKE CITY — Utah education officials say a state lawmaker’s idea to scrap the state’s compulsory education law would put already-vulnerable students further at risk.Republican state Sen. Aaron Osmond of South Jordan recently floated the idea in a blog posting. He said giving teachers the option of sending students home when they consistently misbehave would … Continue reading

School Board Authority: Abdicated (Audio)

Current School Board policy and state law give authority to the Board of Education to “employ by contract and set salary schedules for the superintendent, business administrator, principals, teachers, and other employees of the district.” Board Policy B1 In our last school board meeting of July 9, 2013, at Snowbird ski resort, I questioned why we were not following that policy. In the audio you will hear the superintendent state that the process has not … Continue reading