Monday, October 31, 2016

SGR is Updated on WCSD Growth

TODAY IN ROTARY Kyle Case was presented with his Paul Harris Fellow recognition earned awhile back, but because of his grueling schedule overseeing 11,079 senior athletes participating in the Huntsman World Senior Games (October 3-16) he has been scarce at our club meetings.

TODAY IN ROTARY our newest member – Steve Dunham (Classification:  Development and Marketing) – was inducted by President Collin Davis as our 73rd member, with his sponsor Larry Bergeson doing the honor of presenting him with his Rotary pin.

Larry Bergeson, Superintendent of the Washington County School District, provided an update on the goings-on at the WCSD noting the district has seen a 4.5% increase in enrollment which has necessitated more buildings and more realignments to accommodate student growth particularly in the area around Little Valley and Washington Fields.  The new Crimson High School and Middle School “cone site” have now broken ground and construction is underway for an opening in the fall of 2018.  The construction process of pouring 30 tons of cement then lifting the walls into place with “a very big crane” saves the district about 25% in construction costs.

Legacy Elementary (replacing East Elementary) is the district’s first 2-story elementary school.  It is built on 5.6 acres of ground and will be open to 650 students in February, 2017.   It also includes a high school length indoor gymnasium with a wood floor and will be shared in a partnership with the City of St. George Parks and Recreation Department.

Majestic Hills Elementary, near Staheli Farms, will open next year with one more elementary school already “on the drawing board.”

Schools are currently opening to student populations of between 900-1000 but are designed to accommodate populations of 1150 – 1250 based on growth.

Recent recognitions for the WCSD:

·               Financing education is challenging, but we now have a AAA bond rating (“which is not real common,” states the Superintendent)
·               Vista School is the #1 charter school in the nation
·               Utah’s 8th grade science curriculum is #1 in the nation
·               WCSD is in the Top 5 nationally for commitment to professional learning
·               Our Response Team Intervention program is recognized as one of the best for helping students who are falling behind
WCSD has “more honors classes, more AP classes and more concurrent enrollment students” than any other district in the state

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