Rich County School District Board Meeting

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  November 19, 2013.  Miss Kennedy took eight juniors to Utah State University to an academic Olympic Decathlon.  This activity includes most of the schools in Northern Utah including the largest ones.

The students took four tests in language arts, math, social studies, and science.  These exams were given in the morning and took four hours to complete.  There was a banquet at noon and in the afternoon they participated in a Star Wars activity.  They were two points below the winners of the Star Wars activity. 

Miss Kennedy indicated that the Juniors represented the school very well.  She wanted to thank the board for allowing these students to go.  Seven of the eight students were at the board meeting to thank the board for the opportunity they had of being able to participate in this activity. 

Matt Squires, Squires CPA Firm, reported on the independent school audit of the June 30 financial records of the Rich County School District.  He noted that he had gone over the financial statements in detail.  They were maintained according to generally accepted auditing standards as well as governmental auditing standards.  The records clearly defined the management responsibilities and auditor’s responsibilities which is a necessary division of financial activities.

The auditor’s opinion was a clean opinion or what is called an unmodified opinion.  Several extra schedules and statements have been included in the report on the various fund balances.  There is also a report on government auditing standards which display internal controls with no issues found.  The report shows the School District is in compliance with all requirements.  Squires had included a letter to management with suggestions for possible ways to improve some of the current practices.

He noted that Brandi Johnson has done an excellent job and should be complimented.  Judy, who is over the school lunch program, was also thanked for her good work.  The Rich School Board thanked Squires for the professional and thorough job that he does.  The audit was accepted by the Board.

The School Board ratified the changes made last month to the hiring policy.

The supervisor over student school transportation, requested that the board approve the purchased of a new bus.  She said the bus would be just like the one purchased last year.  Two seats have been taken off each side so that the bus capacity will be 78 instead of 84 students.  A luggage rack will be included, it is lighted, and it has an electric door instead of an air door.  It does contain cameras and has a two year warranty.

The District has nine busses and all are being used.  One bus in Laketown  is used as a backup.  The Bridgerland bus is the oldest bus in the fleet and has almost 300,000 miles on it.  Because the Board had budgeted for a bus this year, they told Robin to order the new bus.

Robin was asked how the different turnaround was working in picking up students on the northern end of the Garden City route.  The change was made from turning at the Swan Creek Subdivision to the KOA.  She said it was working great and that the parents have been great to cooperate with this change.

Because the District has a four-day school week, a report is required each year by the State.  It was noted that there were a few more absences last year than in prior years.  Board members requested the Superintendent Lamborn  to check if there was a flu epidemic or something similar that could be used to justify absences.  The Superintendent noted that currently there are several cases of pink eye in the kindergarten and said he would keep track of those types of absences.

A report of last year’s test scores earned by the students was shared with the board members.  The students in Rich had higher scores than the state average in all categories.  There was an especially big jump in the ninth grade math scores.  Superintendent Lamborn said this was due to the fact that in the past those students who took accelerated math in the 8^th grade did not take the exam.  Last year, however, all freshmen took the test and those with the stronger background in math accounted for the jump in that score.

The lunch supervisor, reported that there will be  required changes made next year (2014-2015) in the lunch program.  The cost to adults for school lunch will have to change.  Vending machines during the school day has a list of items that can and cannot be included in the machine.  Sack lunches can’t include items that are normally found in vending machines such as chips, packaged cakes, etc.   Judy noted that next year the school lunch program will have to be audited and that those in charge need to be prepared for this activity.

Utah High School Athletic Association (UHSAA) refused Rich School District proposal for the place and handling of basketball tournaments.  This refusal came from the executive committee.  Superintendent Lamborn felt it would be worth the time and effort to present the proposal to the Board of Trustees. It is hoped they will be more willing to listen and vote differently. 

Information was obtained from the Board Members for attendance at the USBA Convention.  At the convention, certain individuals who have served on boards for long periods of time will be honored.  It was determined that Ralph Johnson had been on the board for 12 years, Tammie Calder has served for 16 years and Burdette Weston has been the on the board for 24 years.  A motion was made to provide a $200 gift certificate as a door prize at the Convention.

Bridgerland has been upgrading all of the programs.  Two faculty members in technology were sent to a school to become master teachers.  Because of the additional training that they have received, the students going through their programs will receive recognition nationally—not just state or regional.  Agreements are being made with some universities concerning associate degrees.  This agreement will allow students to use half of their credits from Bridgerland and obtain the other half from a University to have an accredited associate degree.  Bridgerland invited several legislators to tour their facility and show them how money budgeted to the school this last year had been used.  Bridgerland is attempting to try get the programs back to the standards they had prior to the economic downturn when state funding cuts were made.

The December board meeting will be held in Laketown on December 18.  Lunch will be served at 11 a.m. and the meeting will begin at noon.  Legislators have been invited to this meeting.