Administrative Reports
Mike Fraser, Assistant Superintendent of School Leadership and Improvement Services, gave a report on the Young Parent Program to the board.
Administrators from West Lake Junior High, Valley Junior High, and Granger High School gave a report on ninth grade reconfiguration in the Granger High Network to the board.
Board Meeting
Reverence – Spring Lane Elementary Choir
Recognitions
The board recognized the GAEOP award recipients and Granite Education Foundation’s C.A.R.E. award recipient in commemoration of Administrative Professionals Week, April 21 – 25, 2014.
The board recognized state wrestling and swimming champions from multiple schools.
Purchases
- White multi-purpose copy paper for Warehouse stock, Costco Wholesale, $105,000.00, Inventory Asset Account
- Alignment equipment for Olympus High School, Mohawk Resources, $72,679.02, Career and Technical Education budget
- Mower for Grounds Shop, RMT Equipment, $63,636.00, Grounds Shop Capital Equipment budget
- Fertilizing and weed control for spring 2014 at all sites, Perfection Pest Control, $67,999.50, Maintenance and Operations budget
- Carpet for Kennedy Jr. High, Shaw Contract Group, $86,418.00, Custodial Operation of Building Services budget
- Software support for Information Systems, Quintessential School Systems, $82,570.88, Information Systems, Data Processing, Technical Services budget
Contracts
- Auditing services contract, Squire & Company PC, $370,000.00, Accounting Department Professional Services budget
- Amended-Teacher observation and evaluation software, ObserverTab LLC, $162,567.00, Capital Funds
Consent Items
- Change Order – Removal of cisterns at Olympus High School
- Summer Construction Projects
- GESPA Negotiating Team
- 2014-2015 Daily School Time Schedule
- Human Sexuality Instruction Materials List
Administrative Appointments & Transfers
[table “” not found /]Action Item
The board approved a second reading of the Facility Use, Guidelines and Rules policy as presented by Doug Larson, Director of Policy & Legal Services.
Tonya Dicou says
In your meetings, I would ask that you reconsider how much time off the children have from school. They are not even in school 180 days anymore. It is frustrating that they do not have the same educational opportunities. A week for Spring Break, two and a half weeks for Christmas…it’s ridiculous! Our children will be far behind the others who are in school on a regular basis. They can’t even make a full month of school without having some sort of extended break. They are suppose to be in school full time. I ask that you make that happen!
Granite Schools says
Tonya,
The calendar committee – a group composed of teachers, parents and administrators – drafts calendar options for each school year, which are then taken to patrons and employees for a general vote. You may contact the two administrators who head the committee to provide your input and have more of your questions answered.
Paul Hansen – (385) 646-4535
Gail Howe – (385) 646-4510
Janie Liston says
Our students are in school more now than when we went to school and for a longer period of time. With more stringent curriculum standards and testing requirements the classroom is extremely busy with very little down time. Our students need the small breaks that allows them to be kids. It’s not the amount of time spent in school that counts, it is the quality of learning that happens in that time that does matter.
Jan Wall says
We have really enjoyed having the longer winter and spring breaks this year. We prefer this instead of the looong summer break and tiny hiccup winter and spring breaks. Thank you!
EllenMae Johnson says
The block schedule is not educational advantageous for middle schools that just have the 7th and 8th graders. The schedule at West Lake Middle School had two months this year (December and March) in which the English department had only four days to teach. All other the class times were occupied with mandated testing. ( When is a student supposed to learn the material on which they are being tested?) The science department had 6 days to teach 19 objectives from the district curriculum map (state science core). The students are being robbed of time to learn, yet are expected to increase their scores. When the ninth graders leave the junior high there are no student advantages to having an A/B block schedule. Research shows that the block schedule is a poor schedule for retention of material (even in the high school). However, other things are considered at a high school level. Where is the transition for a Elementary student. They go straight from time for recess to a high school schedule. No transition at all. West Lake’s schedule loses 23 days of instruction just with the schedule and then another 8 to 20 days lost for testing. We emphasis how to test, now how to learn.
Granite Schools says
This scheduled was approved by the board of education at the request of the West Lake school community. You make some excellent points that should be addressed at the school level as should any adjustment or requested change. Thanks for your comment.