Posts
Board Priorities
On Wednesday, January 30, our Board will have our semi-annual retreat (open to the public: see below for agenda more information*). At the retreat we will discuss and prioritize the priorities for the year. This is the main opportunity for the Board to give direction to the District Administration. As your representative, please let me know what you would like to see as the priorities for your school district.
Space Center
We received an update on the Space Center. On February 11, the Space Center will re-open for field trips within the district. Not all of the simulators will be available, but some of them will. The committee is still meeting and discussing long-term options. Of these, three were mentioned.
1) Build the Space Center on property right next to Central Elementary that ASD already owns.
2) Build the Space Center on the "Scow Property" that is near the water tower in PG. (I think we already own this property as well.)
3) Establish the Space Center at Thanksgiving Point. They are very interested in working some sort of deal with us. They are opening a "Museum of Natural Curiosity" with a specific STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) focus, including ecosystems, ancient ruins, climatology, etc. They currently have 4000 sq ft in the Dinosaur Museum that we could use right now. Thanksgiving Point is incentivized to partner with us because it will allow them to qualify for additional grants. Right now, the Space Center costs us about $4.50/student. Thanksgiving Point currently charges $2.60/student and for every 10 students, one teacher gets in free.
Lehi High School
We reviewed plans for rebuilding Lehi High School on the current site (by the Roller Mills). It is proposed that the Board budget $1.3 M from our budget this coming year to pay for an 18-classroom satellite, and $4.5 M for the construction of a 3-story classroom wing of 12 -18 rooms. The permanent classroom wing would be completed by Fall of 2014. After that, it would cost about $40M and roughly 3 years of construction to rebuild the "old" parts of the school in phases, so we can still use the existing facilities as we build new ones. The $40M would require a bond to accomplish, we were advised.
*Board Retreat Information: Priorities for the District
Jan. 30, 2013
Mountainland Applied Technology College, Room 230-N
2301 W. Ashton Blvd.
Lehi, UT
PUBLIC MEETING, but no public comments
8:30 - 9:00 Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 9:30 Past Basket Items Report (Priorities)
9:30 - 10:30 Current Basket Items Conversation/Suggestions
10:30 - 10:45 Break
10:45 - 12:00 Current Basket Items/Rating/Ranking to Prioritize
12:00 - 12:30 Lunch
12:30 - 2:30 Question: "How do we unite and move forward as a Board to make sure these priorities are realized?"
We used to discuss the Code of Conduct. It appears, we will address only the question listed at the end of the agenda. However, that is the "stickiest" point for me in the Code of Conduct.
I welcome your input and your attendance.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
Transparency, New Leadership, Code of Conduct, USBA
Welcome to 2013! For two years, I have had the privilege of serving you on the Alpine School Board. I want to thank you for your trust, your input, and your involvement. I have never believed I had all the answers, but I believe you can help guide us and direct us to become even better than we currently are.
I would like to give you some information on a few things for the start of the New Year and ask for your feedback.
State School Board
As part of my desire to be "information-rich", I plan on keeping you updated on the actions of the State School Board, since they have considerable power and most of us aren't aware of what they even do. (I know I wasn't.) In short, they dictate the minimum standards, graduation requirements, and number of school days/hours required by every public school in the state. They maintain a committee to review/approve educational materials for use in the schools. This year, the State School Board will be addressing standards for Social Studies and Science, as well as working through any new state testing issues in preparation for the new Common Core tests in 2014-15. The State Board holds public board meetings on the first Friday of every month. The meetings are live-streamed on their website: http://www.schools.utah.gov/board/Meetings.aspx The audio of all their meetings, as well as their minutes, are available a few days after the meetings take place. I have found the minutes and the audio to be quite informative.
Code of Conduct
On Jan. 30, the Board will be discussing our Code of Conduct. When I first came onto the Board, I was told the most important thing for me to learn and follow was this Code of Conduct. The Board hasn't formally voted on it, but every year in January, we review it and make changes. At one of the first Utah School Boards Association (USBA) meetings I attended, drawing up a Code of Conduct was discussed and encouraged. One of the board members (not on our board) suggested a Code of Conduct would be important, "since there are now infiltrators among us." I found that comment very insightful. To my knowledge every board member in this state has been elected or appointed consistent with state law. So, the concept of an "infiltrator" is more of an ideological infiltrator and not an actual infiltrator. I want to make sure that our Code of Conduct is consistent with allowing the disparate voices in our community to be heard and represented on the board. I want to make sure you are well-informed and able to see the workings of your School Board. Since you are the ones who are, ultimately, supposed to be in control of public education in this district, I would appreciate your feedback on our Code of Conduct.
New Leadership and Transparency
The above quote comes from a Salt Lake Tribune article about the Utah State School Board's recent Leadership election. They used secret ballots in a Open Public Meeting that may have violated Utah law (the Open Meetings Act). I found it interesting for two reasons, and I'd like to share them with you.
First, on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, our board will also elect new Board Leadership. The President and Vice-President have no more voting authority, but they do set the agendas, preside at the meetings, sign all legal documents, maintain our Code of Conduct (see above) and represent the Board to the media.
Our Alpine School Board Handbook says the "Board President:
Second, the Trib article spends considerable space discussing transparency. Everyone talks about transparency, but it is something you have to constantly emphasize. The article says, "voting by secret ballot can help members vote more freely without fear of hurting fellow board members." While I can appreciate the desire to spare fellow board members hurt feelings, it is important for public officials to conduct as much business out in the open as possible. The more we are in the public view, the greater the opportunity for the public to feel comfortable that things really are what they seem. If there is a tendency to go "behind closed doors", it shuts out the public and creates a level of mistrust, whether justified or not. Every year, each board member must take a class on the Open Meetings Act and be accountable for it. We are responsible for following that law and allowing you into our proceedings. If we truly believe this is "a government of the people, by the people, and for the people", we must not shut "the people" out of the process. I hope the State School Board will redo their vote, despite the potential hurt feelings, to be fully transparent and accountable to the people they serve. I am glad that our board vote will be Open and Transparent, and I invite you to attend.
USBA Convention
Finally, Jan. 10 -12, I will attend the Utah School Boards Association Annual Convention in Salt Lake City. Our membership dues and expenses for the conference are paid for by the taxpayers. For the third year, I will not be staying on-site, but will commute to the conference daily. (Board Policy allows for one in-state conference and one out-of-state conference/year for all board members.) Since this is funded by taxpayer money, I will be reporting on the information received. USBA leadership will be elected at the Convention, and our board will elect a delegate for the purposes of determining positions on upcoming legislation and the overall direction of the USBA. The USBA, along with the Utah Business Administrators' Association and the Utah Superintendents' Association collaborate on education-related bills before the Utah Legislature and vote on whether to support, stay neutral, or oppose legislation. This vote takes place weekly during the legislative session. Only delegates are able to vote; although, any board member may participate in the discussion. I will send you links to the education bills as I receive them. The Legislature meets for 45 days from mid-January till the beginning of March.
AGENDA: Jan. 8, 2013
6:00 pm (NOTE: No Study Session will be held)
ADJOURNMENT
I would like to give you some information on a few things for the start of the New Year and ask for your feedback.
State School Board
As part of my desire to be "information-rich", I plan on keeping you updated on the actions of the State School Board, since they have considerable power and most of us aren't aware of what they even do. (I know I wasn't.) In short, they dictate the minimum standards, graduation requirements, and number of school days/hours required by every public school in the state. They maintain a committee to review/approve educational materials for use in the schools. This year, the State School Board will be addressing standards for Social Studies and Science, as well as working through any new state testing issues in preparation for the new Common Core tests in 2014-15. The State Board holds public board meetings on the first Friday of every month. The meetings are live-streamed on their website: http://www.schools.utah.gov/board/Meetings.aspx The audio of all their meetings, as well as their minutes, are available a few days after the meetings take place. I have found the minutes and the audio to be quite informative.
Code of Conduct
On Jan. 30, the Board will be discussing our Code of Conduct. When I first came onto the Board, I was told the most important thing for me to learn and follow was this Code of Conduct. The Board hasn't formally voted on it, but every year in January, we review it and make changes. At one of the first Utah School Boards Association (USBA) meetings I attended, drawing up a Code of Conduct was discussed and encouraged. One of the board members (not on our board) suggested a Code of Conduct would be important, "since there are now infiltrators among us." I found that comment very insightful. To my knowledge every board member in this state has been elected or appointed consistent with state law. So, the concept of an "infiltrator" is more of an ideological infiltrator and not an actual infiltrator. I want to make sure that our Code of Conduct is consistent with allowing the disparate voices in our community to be heard and represented on the board. I want to make sure you are well-informed and able to see the workings of your School Board. Since you are the ones who are, ultimately, supposed to be in control of public education in this district, I would appreciate your feedback on our Code of Conduct.
New Leadership and Transparency
"You have to be prepared to make those decisions in view of the public ... and while it may be uncomfortable for certain members and maybe it would be easier to do it in a secret session, expediency and comfort are not the prime values served by the Open Meetings Act. Transparency and accountability are." --Salt Lake City Attorney Jeff Hunt
The above quote comes from a Salt Lake Tribune article about the Utah State School Board's recent Leadership election. They used secret ballots in a Open Public Meeting that may have violated Utah law (the Open Meetings Act). I found it interesting for two reasons, and I'd like to share them with you.
First, on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, our board will also elect new Board Leadership. The President and Vice-President have no more voting authority, but they do set the agendas, preside at the meetings, sign all legal documents, maintain our Code of Conduct (see above) and represent the Board to the media.
Our Alpine School Board Handbook says the "Board President:
- Represents the Board of Education
- Facilitates and protects Board processes
- Responsible [sic] for Board professional development
- Understand [sic], support, promote and teach the MVVG [Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals] of the District"
Second, the Trib article spends considerable space discussing transparency. Everyone talks about transparency, but it is something you have to constantly emphasize. The article says, "voting by secret ballot can help members vote more freely without fear of hurting fellow board members." While I can appreciate the desire to spare fellow board members hurt feelings, it is important for public officials to conduct as much business out in the open as possible. The more we are in the public view, the greater the opportunity for the public to feel comfortable that things really are what they seem. If there is a tendency to go "behind closed doors", it shuts out the public and creates a level of mistrust, whether justified or not. Every year, each board member must take a class on the Open Meetings Act and be accountable for it. We are responsible for following that law and allowing you into our proceedings. If we truly believe this is "a government of the people, by the people, and for the people", we must not shut "the people" out of the process. I hope the State School Board will redo their vote, despite the potential hurt feelings, to be fully transparent and accountable to the people they serve. I am glad that our board vote will be Open and Transparent, and I invite you to attend.
USBA Convention
Finally, Jan. 10 -12, I will attend the Utah School Boards Association Annual Convention in Salt Lake City. Our membership dues and expenses for the conference are paid for by the taxpayers. For the third year, I will not be staying on-site, but will commute to the conference daily. (Board Policy allows for one in-state conference and one out-of-state conference/year for all board members.) Since this is funded by taxpayer money, I will be reporting on the information received. USBA leadership will be elected at the Convention, and our board will elect a delegate for the purposes of determining positions on upcoming legislation and the overall direction of the USBA. The USBA, along with the Utah Business Administrators' Association and the Utah Superintendents' Association collaborate on education-related bills before the Utah Legislature and vote on whether to support, stay neutral, or oppose legislation. This vote takes place weekly during the legislative session. Only delegates are able to vote; although, any board member may participate in the discussion. I will send you links to the education bills as I receive them. The Legislature meets for 45 days from mid-January till the beginning of March.
AGENDA: Jan. 8, 2013
6:00 pm (NOTE: No Study Session will be held)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
REVERENCE
OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEWLY-ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS
ELECTION OF BOARD PRESIDENT
ELECTION OF BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
RECOGNITIONS
COMMUNITY COMMENTS
MINUTES
CLAIMS FOR DECEMBER
ROUTINE BUSINESS
1. Budget Report
2. Personnel Reports
3. Alpine Foundation Report
4. Student Releases – BA, BA, MA, HB, JC, SF, MH, JH, JJ, BR, CS, NT, BW
5. Student Expulsion – AW
6. Investment Report
ACTION ITEM
1. Proposed Name for the New Middle School in Eagle Mountain
REPORT
1. Membership Report
BOARD MEMBERS’ AND SUPERINTENDENT’S INFORMATION ITEMS
CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)