Redistricting, Modern School and Disneyland were the main discussions at the most recent South Sanpete School Board meeting that was held at Gunnison Middle School on Oct. 13.
Every ten years, the state legislature looks at all the school districts to make sure that things are aligned and working well. This year, the time had come again to have those discussions.
The main concern by board members was that we are able to stay rural and not be compared to larger districts in the state.
Representative Steve Lund said that it was his goal to make sure that South Sanpete is only compared to the smaller areas.
“If it’s working for you, then our job is easy,” said Lund.
Next on the agenda, Principal Gene King from GVHS was excited to talk about the new Modern Classrooms program available for students this year at the high school.
The program allows students to learn at their pace. Teachers record small video presentations about a subject they are teaching and then put it on the student’s Canvas dashboard. Canvas is a program that students can access their classes through on their personal iPad.
Modern Classroom is personalizing learning for the students. The teachers that participate in the program are more able to effectively serve students at all levels of understanding. They also are able to work with each student more during class.
“Students are allowed to watch and progress on their own,” said Principal King. “It’s helpful for those who miss a day because they are sick or out elk hunting.”
The principal hasn’t been pushing his faculty into doing the modern classrooms, however; he wants this to be teacher-led.
Students who have teachers that are using the program have the decision to be “can- doers”, “must-doers” and “aspire-to-doers,” said Principal King.
Later in the board meeting, the GVHS drill team, who want to go to Disneyland 10 days following their state competition, was looking for permission from the board to get the ball rolling in that direction.
Drill teams in past years have gone before, and they all returned having had great experiences.
Superintendent Ralph Squire said that the dates have been looked at and tried to work around so that they are not missing much school. One proposed schedule had them attending Disneyland on a Sunday, but that was changed as Squire felt more parents would have issues with that than missing an extra day of school.
Grant Hansen, school board president, brought up the concern that this may put too much financial pressure on families and the girls.
Superintendent Squire said that talks about fundraising have been happening and asked, “Where does the district start to draw the line on saying no?”
The FFA students are headed to Nashville in a few weeks, and how can one group be told yes while another is told no? a parent asked.
Board Member Gary Olson said that it is a good experience for the girls that do go and that there are ways that they can earn money and still plenty of time to make that happen.
Olson made the motion that the girls be allowed to go, and the majority voted that GVHS Drill Team will be headed to Disneyland this spring.
