in Schools
More Information on Opting Out of SAGE Testing
We received the following information from an anonymous citizen regarding the Sage tests:
Parents DO have the right to opt-out their children of SAGE.
The Utah State Office of Education issued a statement on September 23, 2014 to clarify that parents do have the right to opt-out their children of SAGE or other state-wide testing. Some key excerpts from the statement are as follows:
After consultation with Chris Lacombe, Assistant Attorney General, it has been determined that under Utah state code law sections 53A-15-1501 through 53A-15-1503 applies to state administered tests. There is no legal definition of “state administered test”, therefore, a plain meaning interpretation of this term must be used. The SAGE Summative and Interim tests are state administered tests as well as the ACT, ASAVB and NAEP tests. Thus, parents have the right to opt their children out of these tests.
When a student over 18 years old, or parent or guardian opts-out of a state administered test, no academic penalty shall result for the student.
Any student who is in school and not participating in testing should be engaged in a meaningful educational activity. Students not participating in any testing should not be singled out in any negative way nor should the student or the class be administratively punished in any way because a student opts out of testing.
As per action taken by the Utah State Board of Education on April 4, 2014, a student who opts- out of testing will not receive a proficiency score, and for State purposes will not be counted against participation rates.
As opposition to high stakes tests gains momentum, opt-out forms are easily accessible on-line. Specific SAGE test opt-out forms can be found on the website utahnsagainstcommoncore.com under the “action” tab.
Note: First, thanks to the anonymous writer who submitted this information. Now here is the legal mumbo-jumbo… the opinions expressed are that of the writer. Park Rag does not necessarily endorse or confirm the validity of any statement. You should do your research to confirm statements made.
in Trails
Run-A-Muck Trail… Never has Being Legal Felt So Good
The Basin’s newest hiking trail, the Run-A-Muck, also sports a unique feature. You can legally walk your dogs off leash on the two miles of trails over 43 acres that are enclosed by a fence.
We had a chance to try out the new trail over the weekend. We hesitate to tell you how great it was, because we’d like to keep this gem to ourselves. It’s so good, though, that we know that won’t happen. The trail averages 3-4 feet wide as it winds through the sage and trees, below the UOP ski jump. The view is out over Kimball Junction to the valley where the Swaner Preserve lies. The trail does rise and lower but was easy enough that our aging dogs and toddler had no problem with it. It should be good for most anyone who isn’t looking for an absolutely exhilarating hike.
The trail is dirt, so avoiding it during the wet periods is essential. It also looks like it will be a challenge once there is a foot of snow, as the trail isn’t marked with poles (at least yet). Those minor things aside, this is a great trail and we recommend it wholeheartedly. We hope it’s so successful that the County decides to build a series of these around the Basin.
If you are interested in try it, the easiest way is to use the parking lot at the trail head. You access it by driving up the hill toward the Utah Olympic Park. The parking lot will be on your left a little bit after the round about. Once you hike it, you may decide you want to access it from the Millennium Trail, instead of driving. That looks equally easy.
We can’t say enough good things about this trail. Good job Basin Rec!
in Park City
Idling Backhoe Endangers Children
It’s a nice, crisp fall morning in Park City. You think about your kids at daycare and how nice it is that they can still be outside in a light jacket. What you don’t expect is them breathing diesel exhaust while they enjoy the “fresh air.” That appears to be happening at City Park, where children of the Park City Cooperative Pre School are breathing noxious fumes while playing, due to a back hoe that is idling for an extended period of time.
We received a report yesterday from a concerned citizen asking why Park City’s idling Ordinance isn’t being enforced and wondering if finishing a little construction before the winter was more important to the city than the children’s welfare. According to the report, a backhoe was left running for extended periods, with the exhaust impacting the children that were only a few feet away.
Park City’s Idling Ordinance page says that “Idle Free Utah notes that health issues, ranging from asthma and bronchitis to cancer, have been found linked to vehicle emissions.” It then continues on to state that vehicles cannot idle for more than 3 minutes unless it impacts the occupants safety. There are exclusions for vehicles like police cars, busses, and ones needing auxiliary power like a refrigeration truck. While we are sure it’s more convenient to leave a backhoe running, there are reasons for this ordinance. In this case, those reasons are compounded by the fact that little kids appear to be impacted.
We have filed a complaint with the city on this matter. We’ll update you if we hear anything.
In the future, if you want to report an idling violation, you can use this form.
Here is another picture of the event, submitted by the concerned citizen:
Update: We filed a complaint using the city’s Idling Complaint web page. It couldn’t have been more than 3 minutes later that we received a reply from a member of the city’s Sustainability Team. The response, “I’m on it.” Very impressive. If we hear more, we’ll let you know.
An answer to our question about what programs Planned Parenthood does in Summit County
We received an answer to our question about what programs Planned Parenthood does in Summit County. It appears that they at least perform educational programs in our schools and a “Teen Council”.
So, it seems there is no problem with them being part of Live PC Give PC according to their rules. However, funds given likely need to be used for the programs being offered in Summit County.
The Cautionary Tale of Sun Peak and How It Should Educate Jeremy Ranch Residents
As you drive into Park City on Highway 224, you’ll pass a nursery and then a large field on the right. Today that field is grass and has large trees. Tomorrow that field will be a Hyatt Hotel. How did that happen?
A developer had the right to build a small restaurant, retail shops, and offices on the property. Yet, nothing was built on the land for years. The developer decided they would rather have a hotel on the land and approached the Summit County Council. See, there was an agreement that said only a restaurant, small retail space, and offices could be built there and that agreement needed to be modified for a hotel to be built (sound familiar Jeremy Ranch?).
Sun Peak residents were up-in-arms over this. Most didn’t want a hotel there. The county council and Summit County Planning office recommended that the developer meet with Sun Peak residents. We weren’t at the meeting, but we heard that the developer essentially said do you want us to put in a busy restaurant or would you like a nice quiet hotel. At least some of the residents decided they didn’t want a “Chili’s” there and said so. Then in further meetings with the county, the developer let it be known that residents were initially opposed to the hotel but now they are for it.
The Hotel was a slam dunk from there. Residents for it. Check. More tax revenue. Check. Less car trips. Check. Hotel approved.
The only problem? If residents didn’t get spooked during the meeting, nothing would likely be developed there. The developer couldn’t say that residents were behind it. The county council wouldn’t likely force a hotel on residents against their will. So, no hotel. As for office space, retail, and a restaurant… if it made sense to build it, they likely would have done it already.
As many of you know, a similar situation is happening in Jeremy Ranch. So, what do we expect related to Jeremy Station? Here’s our prediction:
The developer has already met with the HOA presidents. It’s likely they were told that the land is going to be developed, so they might as well participate in the process. Then meetings with home owners will likely follow. Home owners will probably be against this development. However, home owners will be told that the land is getting developed one way or another. They’ll be asked if they want a tobacco store, vietnamese grocery, or pay day loan operation there because that’s what’s coming. Residents will say that they don’t like that. The developer will say, well “how about a hotel, a few good retail shops and some homes?” Residents will reply, “well that’s better but we don’t want the hotel.” The developer will say “OK, how about a small grocery store, some good retail, and the homes?” Residents will reply, “Now that is much better than the hotel, but Fresh Market is across the highway, do we need that?” The developer will say, “OK, it’s hard for us but we’ll just do small retail and homes. We may need to do a few more condos to compensate for the loss of the hotel.” The residents, will say “Great. That is so much better than a hotel or grocery store. We’re behind this.” Then the developer goes to the county council, tells them that initially Jeremy Ranch was against the development, but we’ve compromised, and now they are for it. Checkmate.
At that point, Jeremy Ranch will have given up everything … to gain nothing. No one will remember that the developer had no rights to develop a hotel, grocery store, or homes. Residents will have compromised for no reason. Some will say, “but they are going to develop the land, they said so”. That could happen but the odds are against it. There is so much office space available and so much coming up that we don’t see anyone investing in it now. Also, remember, they’ve had 10 years to develop the land and they haven’t. Why not?
Don’t get SUN PEAK-ED. If you are genuinely for more homes, a hotel, grocery, and shops in Jeremy Ranch, then by all means express that opinion. However, don’t be scared into doing something you really don’t want. Developers are smart. They hire great consultants to push things like this through. This isn’t their first rodeo. The only way the community has a chance, is to stand by your original convictions and realize you have all the leverage. If you continue to tell the county council that you don’t want this; they’ll likely listen. If not, you’ll trade 12 acres of open space for a Hilton.
How is Planned Parenthood Still Part of Live PC Give PC?
Live PC Give PC is coming up tomorrow. With that in mind we have one lots of questions, but the first is about Planned Parenthood and why they are still part of Live PC Give PC. Don’t get us wrong, we think the world of Planned Parenthood, but since it moved to Heber, shouldn’t it be part of Live Heber Give Heber?
We looked up the Live PC Give PC rules and it appears that an organization must either be A) Based in Summit County and primarily serve Summit County or B) Fund and Manage ongoing programs in Summit County.
So, we know that it’s not based here any more. So, is it funding and managing ongoing programs in Summit County? We haven’t heard of any but we’re not really plugged into that scene. So … maybe?
Perhaps we just feel just a little like a jilted lover. They are the ones that decided to leave and said “we can provide the same services in a more cost-effective manner in Heber”. That made it harder for Park City kids to get access to needed services and in turn worse for our community. Live PC Give PC is about helping our community. There are lots of non-profits that deserve some help. We’d just prefer to support the ones that provide the most support to Park City.
in Schools
Sage Results By Grade and Race/Category of Student
During this week’s school board meeting Sage results were displayed. This chart shows the wide gap between Caucasian, Hispanic, and Limited English Proficiency Students.
Click the image below for a larger view:
Park City Pizza Company Restaurant Inspection
Summit County Health Department inspected Park City Pizza Company on 10/8/2014. We have created a page on how to read the Inspection Report. We’ll highlight the things that may be of interest. Please read the full report below for a complete and accurate report.
Temperatures:
- Beef / Cold-hold 41º
- Chicken / Reach-in 38
- Sausage / Cold-hold 42º
- Pizza / Hot-Hold 126º
Observations and Corrective Actions:
- Sanitizer motor in dishwasher not working
- Clean hoods
- Seal Kitchen floor
Jeremy Ranch Residents Don’t Have to Compromise on Jeremy Center
We’ve received a few emails on Jeremy Center, the hill across from the Jeremy Store. Right now the developer can only build 66,000 square feet and use it for office and small retail. The developer wants the Summit County Council to alter their current agreement to allow them to increase this to 255,000 square feet for “mixed use”. Mixed use in this case means condos, town homes, houses, hotel/grocery, and retail. It appears residents are confused about what is going on, what their rights are, and what they should do.
It’s actually fairly straight-forward. There is an agreement between the county and land owner that specifically defines what the development will look like and the square footage available (66,000 sq ft.). The only way that can be changed is if the Summit County Council votes to alter the agreement and give the developer more development rights. The county council tends to listen very closely to residents before making a decision like this. So, unless Jeremy Ranch residents agree that they want this land developed, no compromise with the developer is necessary.
Some people have commented that this land WILL be developed, so the Jeremy Ranch community should try to work with developer and give them more rights in order to get something more desirable. There is always the chance that the land could be developed under the current agreement. However, the agreement allowing the developer to build is almost 10 years old. Nothing has been built. The developer came to the County Council over a year ago asking them to change the agreement. At the time, we believe they threw out ideas like a gas station being put there. The County Council said they wanted specifics. So a year and a half later, the developer is back with another proposal. It’s our feeling that if they were going to build something there, they would have already done it.
It’s likely the market won’t currently support what they are allowed to build (office space). That’s why they are trying to change the rules of the game. Could Park City need more office space in 10 years? Perhaps. However, that’s 10 years without something on that hill. A lot can happen in 10 years.
So, if you don’t want something built there, our opinion is that you should hold steadfast. Don’t compromise. Don’t let the developer have more rights. Don’t let homes be built that will only contribute to our traffic problems. Don’t bring in more cars that will make it more dangerous for children going to school. Hold the developer to what was agreed upon in 2005.
Our point is DON’T GET SUN PEAK-ED. We’ll revisit that cautionary tale later today.
Maxwell’s Restaurant Inspection
Summit County Health Department inspected Maxwell’s on 10/9/2014. We have created a page on how to read the Inspection Report. We’ll highlight the things that may be of interest. Please read the full report below for a complete and accurate report.
Good Practices:
- Wiping cloths properly used and stored
- Toilet facilities properly constructed, supplied, and cleaned.
Temperatures:
- Shrimp / Cold-hold 43º
- Chicken / Cold-hold 43º
- Sausage / Cold-hold 42º
- Pizza Rack 82º
Observations and Corrective Actions:
- Clean ice machine
- Food items on floor in walk in
- Cold holding Unit at back unit above 41º
Parkrag
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