Weekly District Update - Sept. 29, 2023
The Uintah School Board on Wednesday voted 5-0 to enter into an agreement with Stout Building Contractors to build the new Central Cove Preschool, which will be located on land owned by Utah State University in Vernal.
The board’s unanimous vote came after 3 hours of discussion about the cost of the project and possible areas for additional savings. The initial estimate for the preschool was $18 million to $22 million. The board budgeted $20 million for the project for Fiscal Year 2024. After soliciting bids from about 9,000 subcontractors – including local companies – Stout informed the district that the guaranteed maximum price for the project is $23.8 million. This amount includes contingency funds which will be returned to the district if they are not used during construction.
During Wednesday’s meeting, representatives from Stout and VCBO Architecture explained that increases in costs for materials and labor are responsible for the higher price tag on the project. They noted that steps have been taken to cut costs, which include scaling the building down by about 9,900 square feet from the preliminary design, reducing the amount of concrete required for the exterior of the building, and using high-quality roofing materials that cost less than those that were originally planned for the project.
After careful review and thorough discussion, board members agreed there are no other measures that can be taken to reduce the cost without jeopardizing the quality of the school building.
The building that houses Central Cove Preschool now does not meet the current or future needs of students and staff. It was constructed in 1940 and was not originally designed for use as a preschool. It has far outlived its expected lifespan and has a host of issues one would expect to find in an 83-year-old building.
The district is required by federal law to provide special education services for children 3 and up, giving them an opportunity to attend school alongside their typically developing peers. Central Cove meets this requirement for the district.
The district has the money in its capital reserves and discretionary funds to cover the cost of the project. It hopes to break ground on the new preschool in October.
Video of Wednesday’s Uintah School Board meeting can be found on the
district’s YouTube channel. And audio recording of the meeting can be found
HERE.
UMS Receives New Bikes, Helmets
Uintah Middle School has received nearly 40 new Specialized bikes and helmets through a Riding for Focus grant secured by UMS physical education teacher Christine Whetton.
Riding for Focus (R4F) is a school-based program that uses cycling as a tool to get kids moving, help increase motivation and focus, and improve student well-being. The program was developed by Outride, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth through cycling.
"The best part of teaching kids how to safely ride a bike is seeing every one of them succeed,” Whetton said. “Even the ones who already know how to ride learn more advanced skills that enhance their experience while riding.”
You can read more about the grant and Whetton’s class at
https://www.uintah.net/news/what_s_new/u_m_s_receives_bikes__helmets_through_grant.
Substitute Teacher Pay Increase
The Uintah School District increased pay for substitute teachers over the summer. Substitute teachers can now make between $90 and $120 per day, depending on their qualifications. There is also a $30 per day incentive for substitute teaching assignments at Eagle View and Lapoint elementary schools.
UBTech offers Substitute Teacher Training courses for $16. For a full list of UBTech Substitute Training courses, visit
https://bit.ly/UBTECH_SubstituteTraining. For more information about working as a substitute teacher in the Uintah School District, visit
https://bit.ly/USD_SubstituteInfo.
Celebrations
Congratulations to Naples Elementary School counselor Amy Hammond! She has been chosen as the Counselor of the Month by the Utah State Board of Education School Counseling specialists and the Utah School Counselor Association. Hammond was nominated by Uintah School District Support Services Director Mindy Merrell.
"Amy is the epitome of a great school counselor. She is hard working, caring, cheerful, and optimistic," Merrell said. "She has been instrumental in developing and growing the elementary counseling program in our district."
Naples Elementary Principal Deanna Martineau said Hammond has been instrumental in cultivating and promoting a positive school climate.
"She goes out of her way to ensure students know her and feel comfortable coming to her with concerns," Martineau said. "She is a support to our teachers in creating successful emotional support plans when students struggle to self-regulate. Amy’s presence has done much to improve outcomes for students both academically and emotionally."
Great job, Amy!
UHS Homecoming
The Uintah High Homecoming Parade is today, Sept. 29, at noon. It will follow the traditional route along US-40 in Vernal.
Tailgating for tonight’s Homecoming football game starts at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Coach Belcher Stadium. Kickoff for the game between the Utes and Cottonwood Colts is at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at
gofan.co by searching for Uintah High School. The game will also be streamed live on Channel V6 at
www.channelv6.com.
The Homecoming Dance is tomorrow in the UTC (Uintah Training Center) from 8-10 p.m. Students need their activity card or a picture of their activity card and their ticket to get in. Tickets MUST be purchased in advance from the UHS Finance Office. They are $20 per couple and $15 for individuals. No tickets will be sold at the door.
UHS Fall Choir Concert
The Uintah High Choir will perform its fall concert on Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the high school auditorium. The concert will feature performances by Polyphony, Luminosa, Virsonum, SoVoce, and the General Choir. It starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The concert will also be streamed live on the Uintah High Choir Facebook page.
Weekend Events
Good luck to the Uintah High Marching Band! They compete this weekend at the Bridgerland Band Invitational, which is being held at Maverik Stadium at Utah State University in Logan.
GO UTES!