July 2021 | Vol. 7 Iss. 07
FREE GRADUATION RATES UP, FAILING GRADES DOWN DUE TO TARGETED CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
T
he number of West Jordan Middle School students entering high school with credit deficits has decreased almost 90% in the past seven years. What happened seven years ago that had such an effect was that Dixie Garrison became principal at West Jordan Middle School. “Her priority is not to ‘run a school’ but to make West Jordan Middle School a community where both students and staff can thrive,” said Jeanette Gudgell, a member of WJMS’s Community Council. “She promotes empathy, encourages those who are struggling both academically and socially, and celebrates the successes of students and staff. One of the things I think is most impressive is that she lets the students know she loves them on a daily basis.” With a passion for education, Garrison encourages her staff to implement any idea that supports students. WJMS has a robust afterschool program and cultural support
groups such as Latinos in Action, Polynesian Crew and the Empathy Project. To address the failing grades, the WJMS staff developed a credit recovery plan, called Platinum Pride Time, that eliminates the need for summer school and credit recovery packets, which are seldom successful with students who have lost motivation. “Other schools might have credit recovery programs but not to the extent that we do it; I don't know of any other school that does what we do,” school counselor Wendy Petrovich said. School counselors run the program, working one-on-one or in small groups with students during the school day to complete the work needed to pass their classes. The year before Platinum Pride Time was created, the freshman class had a total of 445 failing grades. After the program was implemented, there were only 164. Just a few years later, that number was down to 50. Principal Dixie Garrison is a hands-on principal who promotes programs that support students. (West Continued page 4 Jordan Middle School Facebook)
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Continued from front page Complications due to the pandemic caused an increase in failing grades last year and this school year, so the Platinum Pride Time program was expanded to a full class period. Students who had failed a class were transferred out of an elective class during the final quarter of the year to work on credit recovery with tutors and specialists Garrison hired for the class. Once they got caught up, students could resume their elective class, which was an effective motivator for them. Petrovich said it is critical to get students’ credits up to date before they enter high school, because if they start high school already behind, it’s easier for them to give up on graduating. She said Platinum Pride Time sets up a pattern of success. “They'll go to high school with all their required credits,” Petrovich said. “They'll have a fresh start and hopefully be in the habit of passing classes there. We want the kids to go to the high school full of hope and with their dreams that they can graduate, which determines how easy the rest of their life will be for them. If they can just graduate high school, they're much more likely to be successful in their future.” The numbers show the effects of Platinum Pride Time follow students all the way to graduation. In 2012, the West Jordan High School graduation rate was 77%. When the first group of ninth graders who had participated in Platinum Pride Time graduated three years later, that rate jumped up to 84%. “That's unheard of to happen over a period of a year,” Garrison said. “It happened because it was systemic from the ninth grade on. If they hadn't gotten the start they had with us in ninth grade, they wouldn't have been on track.” WJHS graduation rates have continued to rise, maintaining around 95% for the past few years. Garrison said the Platinum Pride Time
Journals T H E
“I am very fortunate to have caring dedicated counselors who want to see these kids succeed and are willing to get in the trenches.” – Dixie Garrison credit recovery program is successful because it is not punitive and because teachers and counselors who genuinely care about their students run and support it. “I am very fortunate to have caring dedicated counselors who want to see these kids succeed and are willing to get in the trenches,” Garrison said. Petrovich said, because Garrison has created a school culture which is centered around what is best for students, staff members are willing to put in extra time and effort. “We do it because it works,” Petrovich said. “Everybody here can see that we are making a difference. I fully believe our teachers work harder than any other school because everything about this school is about ‘how can we do more?’ I think that totally comes from Dixie. She has brought in all these programs and made it the school it is.” Determined not to lose the relationships and progress they’ve made with their students, Garrison and her staff even decided to teach both online and in-person classes this year—the only school in Jordan
EFFECTS OF THE PLATINUM PRIDE TIME PROGRAM Total F’s of WJMS ninth graders
2013-14
445
2014-15
164
2015-16
131
2016-17
54
2017-18
50
2018-19
56
2019-20
75
District to do so. Garrison made sure all students had access to wi-fi and when they didn’t show up to classes, went to students’ homes to clear up misinformation and resolve concerns. “We've done a lot of knocking on doors and home visits and trying to find lost kids,” Garrison said. “We invited kids to come back to school, and we've had a handful of success stories.” Garrison has advocated for students and teachers on a local and national level and done what many middle schools have been unable to do. “The climate at West Jordan Middle School has undergone a truly amazing transformation under Dixie’s leadership,” Gudgell said. “Dixie led the way as WJMS transitioned from a school where academic and behavioral expectations were low to becoming a National School To Watch.” Garrison was honored this spring by the Utah Middle Level Association with the Peggy Lee Rowland Award for demon-
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The West Jordan City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Jordan. For information about distribution please email brad.c@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.
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1% of all ninth graders’ grades were F’s
strating a high level of service, integrity and leadership in middle level education and pursuing opportunities to bring success to middle school students. Garrison was surprised to get this rare lifetime achievement award after only 22 years in education (17 in administration) while still in the middle of her career. She was especially touched that her staff gave her a standing ovation when she was presented the award. “I worry that my teachers might be pushed past the brink,” she said. “And so to have them nominate me and recognize me and give me that standing ovation—that was just priceless. It made me feel really good that the work that we've done here, and what I've pushed for and what I believe in, that I have a team that recognizes that I've also sacrificed, too, that I've put a lot of my heart and soul and extra time and commitment to what we do here as a school, as well.” l
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10% of all ninth graders’ grades were F’s
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Tails & Tales Challenge at the County Library June 1–July 31 By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com Reading Challenge The Tails &Tales Summer Reading Challenge is part of a nationwide effort that encourages preschoolers, school-age children, teens and adults to read over the summer and connect with family, friends and community. Preschoolers will be talking and singing; school-age children, teens and adults will read novels. “Children and families are encouraged to read and connect with friends, family and connect with the community,” Sara Neal, marketing manager, said. Reading Record By filling out a reading record, you get a free book. Children will get picture book; teens and adults will get a novel. You can start to participate by filling out a reading record card at the library, or go online and create an account at thecountylibrary.org/ summer. You can read, create, learn, play and connect. All ages can track their reading online and participate in fun challenges. Once you finish your Reading Record and return it to your county library branch, you will receive: *A book of your choice *Entry into a drawing *A coupon sheet for local attractions Creative Activities There are creative activities every week. If you feel like being crafty, there is a Graband-Go Kit. Every week, the kit focuses on different crafts to make. “Creative activities help children grow, it is very rewarding as well as helping the community and those in need,” Neal said. You can receive a Bingo card and keep the summer fun going. Each Bingo earns you an entry into a prize drawing. A Bingo Blackout will earn you a prize as well. Once you complete all the activities on your card, you will receive free book while supply lasts. You can get a Bingo card at your local branch, or you can print one from home. Participating Why participate? Participating in Tails and Tales this summer will keep you entertained and create art crafts. You can learn, play and win prizes and discounted activities. Reading will benefit everyone. Reading over the summer increases test scores. You can earn prizes with your family and friends. It is a great way to stay connected with friends, family and the environment. Achieving your reading goals will give you a sense of accomplishment. Branch Manager West Jordan Library West Jordan Library Branch Manager Vern Waters is excited about this reading program because it helps students in their education. The program includes making crafts, drawing, writing, sculpting, gardening and baking. “Children and young adults who participate in summer reading programs do not
Page 6 | July 2021
lose the traction with their education while school is not in session,” Waters said. “Educators call it the summer slide. Studies have shown that those who participate or complete the program have better retention for what they are learning in class. Play is very important. Healthy activities bring you joy inside, outside.” The librarians are so helpful. They can help you get started on your summer fun reading program. “The summer Tails and Tales reading program is so beneficial for everyone,” Paula Burgon said. “It is so much fun to be creative and make projects,” Andrea Wilkinson said. When The Summer Reading Challenge takes place June 1–July 31 and is available at all
county library branches. Make memories by getting your pictures taken with a Mermaid, Tails & Tales backdrop or the Shark Mural. Where Sign up online: thecountylibrary.org/
summer Or go to the West Jordan Library Address: 8030 South 1825 West West Jordan Utah 84084 l
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July 2021 | Page 7
What’s your legacy?
Firefighters and city officials push the engine into the bay where it is now ready for service. (Erin Dixon/City Journals)
West Jordan inaugurates two new fire engines By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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est Jordan Fire welcomed two new fire trucks with pomp and circumstance. A bagpiper and flag ceremony welcomed the crowd. Firefighters hosed down a truck and city council, and firefighters physically pushed the truck into its new home. “This tradition dates back into the late 1800s,” West Jordan Fire Chief Derek Maxfield said. “When fire companies got a new set of horses, they would wash down those horses and get them ready to go.” Mayor Dirk Burton spoke in praise of the firefighters and the need for new trucks. “As great as these guys are, and they are fantastic,” he said. “They can’t do it right if
they don’t have the right tools.” Together, the two new trucks cost $700,000. Replacing fire vehicles is part of an anticipated rotation that happens for each vehicle every 10 years. The predecessors to these new trucks are now set aside in case of high need. “[They] exceed industry crash standards,” Maxfield said. “[They have a] 500-gallon water tank capacity, [and a] 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump. There’s a generator on the engine, and when it’s idling, the engine itself will shut off and the generator will kick on and run the tools we need and decrease emissions.” l
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WJ Fire Engine: Firefighters hose down the new engine to welcome it to its new home. (photo/West Jordan City)
West Jordan City Journal
Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimmillion people are living er’s 6.2 or another dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brainwith disease that causes 6.2 million people are living with a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are Alzheimer’s diseaseEvery in the United 10 warning signs and symptoms. individual may experience Alzheimer’s disease in the United one States. or more ofOver these signs in a different degree. If you notice any 34,000 people in Utah of them in yourself or a34,000 loved one,people please see in a doctor. States. Over Utah
alone. This disease kills more people
10 SIGNS OF This disease kills more people alone. each year than breast cancer and ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Meeting at 8040 South Redwood Road for online exchanges is now a designated safe space. (Photo/Kayleen Whitelock)
West Jordan safe exchange zone By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
E
arlier this year, Lehi city officials installed a “Safe Exchange Zone” sign outside their police headquarters. This is a safe space in the parking lot for individuals to meet and exchange online sales, or have any interaction that would be best with police supervision. This inspired some residents to ask for a similar sign in West Jordan. “It started from a Facebook post back in March; a resident posted about Lehi providing a safe zone and asked if West Jordan would consider providing,” West Jordan City Councilmember Kayleen Whitelock said. “I sent a screenshot of the post to Police Chief [Ken] Wallentine and asked if we could do this. At the time, his response was not terribly
positive. He indicated Lehi had more officers and could have someone watch the cameras, and we didn't have the staff. Fast forward, and we are informed that the city will be providing a location for an exchange zone with camera coverage.” The sign is located on 8040 South Redwood Road, in front of the West Jordan Police Department building. “Layton City has this too, and it's great!” Resident Tiffany Wilhelm said. “It also has surveillance, so people can rest assured if anything crazy goes down that they have something backing them up (which may not be the case if you just met in the police parking lot without a designated area).” l
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eachloss year 1. Memory that than disruptsbreast cancer and prostate cancer combined, and is the daily life prostate cancer combined, and is the 2. Challenges in planning or 4th leading cause of death in Utah. problem solving 4th leading cause of death in Utah. 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, More than 104,000 people in Utah More than 104,000 people in Utah work or at leisure 6.2for millionsomeone people are living with Alzheimer’s provide living 4. Confusion withunpaid time or care disease in the United States. Over provide unpaid carepeople for insomeone living34,000 place Utah alone. This disease kills withunderstanding Alzheimer’s disease. The impact is 5. Trouble more people each year than breast cancer with Alzheimer’s disease. The impact is visual images and special and prostate cancer combined, and is the widespread and can be devastating to 4th leading cause of death in Utah. relationships widespread and can be devastating to 6. New problems with words families. More than 104,000 people in Utah proin speaking or writing families. vide unpaid care for someone living with 7. Misplacing things and Alzheimer’s disease. The impact is widelosing ability to Forthemore information, aboutto families. spreadto and learn can be devastating For more information, to learn about retrace steps Together we can work to findor a cure support groups or other resources, 8. Decreased or poor and ultimately have our first survivor! support groups or other resources, or judgment Join the fight and lend your to to get from helpwork immediately contact thevoice 9. Withdrawal or this critical cause by attending the to get help immediately contact the social activities Walk to End Alzheimer’s this fall. There Alzheimer’s Association’s free 24/7 are eight Walks throughout the state 10. Changes in mood Association’s Alzheimer’s free 24/7 of Utah: and personality Helpline at:
Helpline at:
AUGUST 28 Wasatch Back -Basin Recreation Center SEPTEMBER 18 Cache County- Merlin Olsen Park Cedar City- Cedar City Motor Co. SEPTEMBER 28 Utah County-The Shops at Riverwoods Salt Lake County- REAL Salt Lake Stadium OCTOBER 9 Weber/Davis- Ogden Amphitheater Tooele County- Skyline Park OCTOBER 23 St. George- Ovation Sienna Hills
800-272-3900 800-272-3900 or visit our website at: or visit our website at: www.alz.org/utah www.alz.org/utah For more information or to get help immediately contact the Alzheimer’s Association’s Togetherfree we24/7 can work Together we can work Helpline at:
to find a cure to find a cure and ultimately have our first survivor! 800-272-3900 and ultimately haveRegister our first survivor! at: orJoin visit our thewebsite fight at: and lend yourtoday voice to www.alz.org/Walk Join the fight and lend your voice to www.alz.org/utah this critical cause by attending the this critical cause by attendingJuly the | Page 9 Walk to End Alzheimer’s this fall. 2021 There Walk to End Alzheimer’s this fall. There are eight Walks throughout the state
Jordan Landing farmers market offers produce, art and vaccines By Alison Brinley | a.brinley@mycityjournals.com
T
his summer, for the first time, the city of West Jordan is partnering with Jordan Landing to hold a farmers market. This event will run every Thursday evening from 4 pm to 8 pm, beginning in June and concluding on the final Thursday in September (excluding July 1). Visitors can find the market on the road just east of the Cinemark 24 movie theater at Jordan Landing. Located at 7800 South Bangerter Highway in West Jordan, Jordan Landing has held a farmers market in the past, but it was unaffiliated with the city of West Jordan. In addition to the typical vendors you’d expect to find at a farmers market, the Jordan Landing market will offer something unique: an opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Salt Lake County Health Department is operating a walkin vaccine clinic each Thursday. No appointment is needed, and vaccines are offered at no cost. Currently, CDC data shows that in Utah, 60.5% of those who over 12 have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 52% over 12 have been fully vaccinated. The Utah Department of Health has set a goal to vaccinate 70% of the population before July 4 in order to prevent a resurgence in cases this fall. Many walk-in vaccine clinics, such as the Jordan Landing farmers market, have popped up in hopes of helping Utah reach its goal. The Salt Lake County Health department website notes that since the Pfizer vaccine has been proven safe in 12- to 15-year-olds, county officials now offer vaccines to this population. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at their appointment. “As far as popularity goes, there hasn’t been a line out the entrance of the tent,” said Lynze Schoenbrunn, West Jordan’s Volunteer and Event Services coordinator of the walk-in clinic.
“But it has been convenient for people who haven’t found the time to get their vaccine.” Some who attended the market in its first week expressed disappointment about the scarcity of fruits and vegetables available. Schoenbrunn explained that currently, the market features many local artists and artisans selling their work. But she anticipates “more fresh produce vendors to join the list once more crops come into season.” And the Jordan Landing market is still accepting new vendors. Those hoping to sell items at the farmers market can apply for a space by emailing events@westjordan.utah.gov and filling out a few forms. A list of vendors visitors can expect to see at upcoming markets includes the following: Lida Art, R&A Hydroponics, MBD Woodcrafts, Pink Squirrel Soap, Easely Art Studio, Sweet Chills, textile artist Bonnie Dahle, bath and cosmetics maker 4 Daily Harmony, Beecraft Consult (a beekeeping consulting firm), Duke of Meat (smoked and dried meat), Gonzalez Fresh Fruit and more. Schoenbrunn hopes the Farmers Market will enable West Jordanites to “buy local.” “The vendors at this farmers market are your neighbors,” she said. “It’s not common that you get to meet the person who literally created a product with their own hands. Along with buying local, this event also gives people the opportunity to meet other residents and gives vendors the opportunity to talk face-toface about their passions and livelihoods. We are so excited to hold this event!” The Jordan Landing farmers market will abide by the guidelines of the Salt Lake County Health Department by asking that anyone who has not been vaccinated wear a mask. The event is outside in a large open area, allowing for social distancing. l
Locals will have the opportunity to “buy local” at Jordan Landing’s farmers market, which will run Thursday evenings from June to September. (Photo by Kyle Nieber.)
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West Jordan City Journal
West Jordan High Schoool raises money for police autism awareness By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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est Jordan High School students raised money to support autism training in the West Jordan Police Department. Michael Jacobson, special needs team lead at West Jordan High School, spearheaded the fundraisers. “We put on some events to raise money at our school,” Jacobson said. “We had super-supportive students and staff and community members wear colors for autism awareness.” Jacobson hosted several fundraisers during the 2020–2021 school year. “We had a student design our autism awareness T-shirt,” Jacobson said. “Our students and staff purchased those [shirts] to raise money. Our cooking class, they made sugar cookies and sold those at lunch. We were able to raise $969.” Luckily, West Jordan police have already started autism training. Utah House Bill 334, a bill requiring autism and mental illness training for police officers, passed earlier this year. “Situations with law enforcement can become extremely stressful and dangerous for the individual with autism and the officers if the two sides don’t have an understanding and comfort with each other,” Jacobson said. “That is really the goal, for the autism community and law enforcement to develop
understanding and be comfortable with each other. That will only come through training and opportunities for positive interactions.” In anticipation of the passing of the bill, West Jordan Police Chief Ken Wallentine was the first in the state to put together an autism training program. The high school money will pay for future autism training. “Chief Wallentine worked to put together a four-hour block of training,” Lt. Rich Bell said. “Giving our officers an overview of what autism is: the varying degrees, strategies for dealing with and working with people that have those sensory issues.” The training was done through some classroom work and virtual training. “What’s so tricky about law enforcement in general, it depends on what type of situation you're dealing with and to what degree they’re dealing with autism,” Bell said. “If they’re in crisis, if they're reporting a crime, some of their tendencies officers in the past may have misinterpreted. [The officers] need to assess the situation so they know how to deal with the situation. I would suspect this initial training, that’s just the foundation. We’re going to want to build on that.” The money from the school will help provide additional training in the near future. l
Clark’s Island Donuts sold doughnuts to support the fundraiser. (image/Michael Jacobson)
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West Jordan welcomes ASL interpreter By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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he West Jordan City Council hosted two individuals whose primary language is American Sign Language. Previous to the meeting, a resident couple requested an interpreter for the meeting. They wished to speak during public comment. City leaders called an interpretation agency and provided an ASL translator for the couple during the meeting. The city is required to provide services for people with disabilities. “ASL is provided in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act,” Communications Officer Tauni Barker said. “We don’t guarantee language translation services, but if someone reached out with a request, we’d make every effort to accommodate it.” Kristi Lee and Ron Mortensen were the residents who requested the service.
Through the translator, Lee spoke during public comments about a notice she had received from city officials. “It was intimidating, the language on these notices: ‘Notice of Violation,’” Lee said. “We have a lot of deaf and hard-of-hearing residents in West Jordan. They would not understand the intimidating language. They would be frightened that they would be imprisoned. This notice could use a redesign. I think there are some different ways we could approach that.” The council does not respond to public comments during the meeting, so it is unknown if anything will be done for this resident’s request. l
Kristi Lee and Ron Mortensen speak to the city council about a letter they received from the city. (Photo/Erin Dixon)
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West Jordan City Journal
Government 101: The budget process By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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ou (or your landlord) pays property tax every year, whether on residential or commercial property. There are several taxing entities that collect from what you pay, from the mosquito abatement, to the local school district. The city only collects a small portion of that tax. Residential properties pay only 45% of their property tax value, while commercial pays 100% of the value. In Utah, a city’s yearly property tax income is a fixed number. This means that unless the city changes its tax rate, the city will only receive the dollar amount that it received the previous year. If a city receives $20 million in 2019, it will receive $20 million in 2020, even if property values increase. This requires a city to consistently communicate with its residents its financial needs. “The county auditor takes the previous year's revenue we received, adds any new growth, and they divide that by the assessed property tax value. If the assessed value goes up the tax rate goes down,” Midvale Assistant City Manager Kyle Maurer said. “When the assessed value goes down, the tax rate goes up. This provides a steady income for the city.”
Budget information is public and available on every city website. The budget contains the cost for everything a city pays for, from road salt for plow trucks, employee salary, computers, website maintenance, first responder salary and ambulances, and much more. The budget is prepared by the city’s finance department, and, depending on the form of government, either the mayor or the city manager. Each department asks for what they need, but the mayor/city manager makes the final decision on who gets what. Some cities involve the city council in the budget process, asking for council priorities in budget retreats or workshops in council meetings. Some cities prepare the budget and ask for council opinion when they present the tentative budget. The tentative budget is posted to the city website and presented to the council in May, which gives council and the public a chance to comment and suggest alternatives. A budget must be finalized and accepted by the city council by June 30 before the new fiscal year begins. (A city’s year runs from July 1 to June 30, known as a fiscal, i.e., financial, year.) “If the council does not adopt a final
This is a sample property tax bill with all the taxing entities. Midvale City only collects a small portion of the tax residents pay. (image/SLCo Assessor)
budget by June 30, then the tentative budget would become the budget,” West Jordan communications officer Tauni Barker said. “If they had not adopted a tentative budget, then it would default to the mayor’s proposed budget.” If the mayor does not approve of the budget that council passes, they can veto. Sandy’s Mayor Bradburn vetoed a line item in 2020. If a city decided to change its property
tax percentage, a Truth in Taxation meeting is required. Salt Lake County decides the date of the Truth in Taxation so no two taxation meetings fall on the same date. The Truth in Taxation is a public meeting, all residents are invited to read the proposed budget and give comments before a final decision is made by the council. l
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Outstanding Educators of the Year By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
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embers of the Jordan Education Foundation recognized some of the amazing teachers who have responded to the changes, anxieties and obstacles of this school year with amazing positivity and creativity as 2021 Educators of the Year. Educators were nominated by colleagues, students and parents who had this to say about these inspiring educators: Antelope Canyon Elementary Lisa Freeman, second grade “Mrs. Freeman inspires me to be a better teacher by reminding me of the importance of being willing to learn new things.” “I honestly don’t know how she does it, but she keeps in-person and on-line learning running smoothly and maintains a classroom blog. On top of that, children adore her, grow in her classroom and feel confident in their abilities in her care. She’s remarkable.” Columbia Elementary Kymberli Cosner, fourth grade “Ms. Cosner has changed the lives of her students. No doubt about it, she is a teacher extraordinaire! Perhaps one of her greatest gifts to her students is the knowledge that they are valued because of their individual uniqueness. She believes that all students—even those who are drastically different from the mainstream—deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.” Cosner was also named Jordan School District’s Teacher of the Year by the district administration. She will compete with teachers from other districts for the chance to be named Utah State Teacher of the Year. Copper Canyon Elementary Brooke Stuart, fifth grade “Brooke’s focus is on teaching the whole child. She cares about students learning life skills, as well as academic skills. Her attitude encourages students to learn how to take responsibility for their own learning and greatly increases their success.” “Mrs. Stuart’s class is the best managed class I have ever seen! The students are respectful toward her and one another.” Copper Hills High School Jacqueline Sheppick, Severe Special Education “Jacqui Sheppick is the easiest person on the planet to adore. She is an all-around superstar teacher with a beautiful attitude and an absolute pleasure to know.” “There are not many resources for a Severe SPED High School Teacher to use in the classroom. She created every piece of curriculum then [made] it accessible online and user-friendly for individuals with disabilities.” Falcon Ridge Elementary Kimberly Reynolds, first/second grade split class “The anxiety and fear created for many students has been eliminated as she has created a positive culture with calm and reassurance.” “She knows her students individually and is willing to talk about their hobbies, interests, TV shows, sports teams, etc., which helps develop personal relationships with each child.” Fox Hollow Elementary Lydia Fa'asu, sixth grade French DLI “When school shut down last spring, Lydia worked with the team to develop ways for the students to access the core curriculum. Lydia stepped in and provided engaging lessons for virtual students in multiple grades.” Hayden Peak Elementary Lisa Martin, third grade “Lisa has adapted well. She has worked hard to make
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Kymberli Cosner was chosen as Jordan District’s Teacher of the Year as well as a JEF Outstanding Educator. (Photo courtesy of Kymberli Cosner.)
School colleagues and JEF members entered Lisa Martin’s third grade classroom at Hayden Peak Elementary to announce she’d been named an Educator of the Year. (Photo courtesy of JEF.) Colleagues and students sing the praises of choir director Michael Draut, who was named an Outstanding Educator of the Year. (Photo courtesy of JEF.)
West Jordan Elementary teacher Chelsey James (center) is recognized for her exceptional positivity during a difficult year. (Photo courtesy of Chelsey James.)
the necessary changes for the year and also tries hard to keep things fun and engaging with the kids.” “She is willing to do the new and hard things and do it with positivity. Even when I know it is difficult, Lisa is always a team player.” “She is my third grade son’s teacher and on the school leadership team. In second grade, my son started hating school. I thought he wouldn’t recover from his bad experiences. In a very short period of time, after starting in Mrs. Martin’s class, my son reported that he enjoys school!” Heartland Elementary Laurie Ferrini, second grade “This has been a particularly stressful year for everyone,
and Laurie’s radiant smile has shone through it all. Because of Laurie’s happy and productive demeanor, students in her class are also known to be happy and productive.” “She takes time to speak individually to students each day to make sure they know they are loved.” JATC North Becky Stone, Physical Therapy “Becky is always positive. She is always trying to build people up.” “Becky’s perseverance in making sure that kids are OK has helped many of them back onto a better path. Few teachers are willing to latch onto a kid the way Becky does.” Joel P. Jensen Middle Aaron Duncan, Science “Aaron Duncan is a beacon of light that is positive and full of enthusiasm. [He] is a class act and someone that any individual could look up to and learn from.” “Aaron is not just a skilled science teacher, but he is an adept actor, a creative comedian, and a tech-savvy tekki! He ended up spending hours creating entertaining and informative videos on so many important topics.” Jordan Hills Elementary Shelby Fisk, sixth grade online “Shelby is selfless, hardworking, empathetic and will do anything for her students. She goes above and beyond in her planning, preparation and instruction. She has risen to the challenge of 2020–2021 and is a leader in online teaching.” Majestic Elementary Loran Ross, fourth grade “You don’t even have to raise your hand when you need help. She just knows you need help. She teaches me until I get it. I know I can learn it when she helps me.” “Ms. Ross has made my life happy again. She is kind. She smiles all the time. She makes me feel like I am import-
West Jordan City Journal
Students and teachers at West Jordan MIddle school were proud to nominated Amelia Rose as an Outstanding Educator of the Year. (Photo courtesy of JEF.)
Melinda Mack (holding the balloons) receives the Outstanding Educator of the Year award during an assembly at Sunset Ridge Middle School. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Mack.)
The 2021 Outstanding Education Support Professionals of the Year are recognized at a Jordan School Board meeting. (Photo courtesy of JEF.)
Jacequeline Sheppick’s colleagues are impressed by her dedication to serving students with severe disabilities and running a successful Peer Tutoring Program at Copper Hills High School. (Photo courtesy of Jacqueline Sheppick.)
ant. I love coming to school again. I am glad I can be in her class. I am so lucky.” Mountain Shadows Elementary Megan Garcia, K-6 special education “Mrs. Garcia has made a positive impact with the students she teaches. Parents have commented how impressed they are with Mrs. Garcia.” “She’s great to work with and collaborates well with other teachers. I believe Mrs. Garcia is an Outstanding Educator and should be recognized for all that she does and continues to do.” Oakcrest Elementary School Kristen Stout, second grade “Teachers like Kristen are the positive glue that holds a school together. They build community and provide a steadying force through administrative transitions. They model and teach best instructional practice to their peers and become the difference makers for every student that crosses their path. Every school needs teachers like Kristen.” Oquirrh Elementary Paul Pedler, P.E. “[Mr. Pedler] has always been well-loved by the students, staff and families in our community. However, during the past year, he’s become an invaluable coach to all of us as we’ve been adapting and embracing continuous change as a team this year.” Riverside Elementary Rebecca Fenstermacher, fifth grade “When March 2020 arrived, Ms. Fenstermacher rolled
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her sleeves up and boldly faced the challenge head-on. She went to work and unabashedly began learning and trialing different online teaching platforms. She didn’t settle for a watered-down version of what students were offered in-person.” South Valley School Nancy Neff, special education “Nancy’s success stories are endless. She is positive, caring, hardworking, makes friends everywhere she goes, always has a smile on her face and always thinks first about what is best for the kids. Her kindness is genuine and contagious. She is always there for all of us.” Sunset Ridge Middle Melinda Mack, Social Studies “Melinda has a sixth sense about students that need extra help. She pays attention. When she sees a student struggling, she jumps right in and figures out a way to help them.” “Melinda has faced personal challenges that would make many people give up, but she always perseveres. Even when she has difficult days, she always reminds us and her students that tomorrow will be a chance to try again.” “Nothing slows her down or discourages her.” Terra Linda Elementary Cassandra Lee, first grade “She always has a great attitude and is great to be around. She goes above and beyond to help everyone feel welcomed and loved. She is very sweet and compassionate. I love listening to her teach and the kindness and professionalism she always shows. She truly cares about her students, families and fellow teammates.” “Cassie Lee realized that her first graders were afraid, so to comfort them each night, she and her husband would record a bedtime story and post it in the classroom to watch. For three months, Cassie read each night, ending each story telling the students goodnight and letting them know how much she loved them.” West Hills Middle School Michael Draut, choir director “He is very good at providing his students with a sense of purpose and a vision of what they can accomplish.” “Mr. Draut didn’t think twice about the mountains he would climb with this task. He did it for the students.” West Jordan Elementary Chelsey James, sixth grade
“She gives all of her students and fellow staff hope. She accepts any changes thrown at her with a smile and a positive attitude. Her No. 1 goal is and has always been the students’ success.” “Everyone loves Chelsey, and West Jordan Elementary wouldn’t be the same without her. She brings a smile, joy and new ideas to every meeting. She makes everyone around her feel strong through a pandemic and that even with all these obstacles we can still get the job done right for our students.” West Jordan High School Ron Halbert, Credit Deficient Coach, YIC “In a year where so many people have risen to the challenge of making great things happen at WJH, coach Halbert stands above them all. Nominating coach Halbert as Teacher of the Year is endorsed by every department in our building because what he has accomplished and how he has affected real change in our school, affects every classroom, teacher and department. Ron Halbert has taken kids who have lost hope of ever graduating, who forgot how it feels to experience success, who grew disenchanted with how an education can make a difference and has taught them how to advocate for themselves, believe in themselves and how to work hard for success.” West Jordan Middle Amelia Rose, eighth grade math “Amelia Rose cares deeply about her students and does whatever she can to help them.” “Amelia Rose has been a cornerstone of support for students, teachers and staff throughout the school. She is always willing to adjust instruction, offer advice and help for colleagues and/or lead the intervention period team in seeking solutions to better assist students and teachers.” “The world would be a better place if we had more Amelia Rose!” Westland Elementary Jolayne Heath, first grade “The first word that comes to mind when I think of JoLayne is ‘nurturing.’ She asks questions, she listens, she remembers and she follows up. She cares! Her students reap the benefits of this outstanding trait, as do her teammates and colleagues. JoLayne is one of those rare, golden souls that makes the world around her a much better place.” “I can think of no one more deserving of this prestigious recognition. She is the teacher that students remember forever.” Westvale Elementary Jenifer Palomin, second grade online “She shows resolve in the most difficult of situations, and always seems to find a creative way to solve a problem from the perspective of doing what is best for children.” “Mrs. Palomin is the perfect example of what each educator strives to be and who is driven wholeheartedly toward making the world a better place for our students.” 2021 JEF Outstanding Education Support Professionals: Natalie Casper, administrative assistant, District Accounting Debbie Soelberg, route coordinator, District Transportation Clydine Carlson, administrative assistant/registrar, West Jordan High School Bill Flint, head custodian, Riverside Elementary Dave Hawkins, head custodian, JATC North Campus RaeAnna Kirk, lead nurse, Jordan Hills Elementary Tiffaney Marquez, administrative assistant, Westvale Elementary Michelle Nielson, school administrative clerk, Copper Hills High School Ruth Sowell, administrative assistant/attendance, Joel P. Jensen Middle School Barry Watkins, head custodian, Columbia Elementary l
July 2021 | Page 15
Faculty room gets makeover for Teacher Appreciation Week By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Faculty members get a first look at their brighter, more welcoming faculty lounge. (Doug Flagler/JSD)
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est Jordan High School PTA members wanted to show teachers just
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how much they appreciated them after two extremely difficult school years. So, instead
of giving them a cute note and a candy bar for Teacher Appreciation Week, they gave the teachers a new faculty lounge. “They came to us at the beginning of the year and said, ‘We don't just want to put some little trinket in the mailbox, we want to do something that will last for the teachers,’” Principal Jim Birch said. Teacher Appreciation Committee Chair Mele Misifoa said the WJHS faculty lounge was dark, dingy and out of date, with furniture that she assumes was original to the building, built in 1981. PTA members and custodians deep cleaned the room and furniture, painted the walls with light colors, hung new decorations and relocated flower arrangements that were collecting dust elsewhere in the school to make a cozy space for staff members. “The PTSA has no money, so I worked with a little budget and got it all donated,” Misifoa said. She worked for more than a year on the project and was able to get cabinets donated by Montgomery Custom Cabinets and a grant from Deseret Industries to purchase new tables and chairs. The lounge makeover was a surprise for teachers. The room was closed for two weeks in May, and much of the work was done after hours. The room reveal and ribbon cutting took place May 26 along with a lunch for the staff donated by Chick-Fil-A and Crumbl Cookie. As staff members filed into the lounge for their lunch and a first look at the room, they were impressed. They commented that the room was much nicer with the addition
of flowers and new furniture. A group of language arts teachers said that it felt like a place where they could relax and feel comfortable working in. Katrina Kennedy said the brick walls had been a dark brown that made the room feel dark. Many staff members said the new wall color, a light blue, brightened the room. “It's definitely brighter,” Andria Robb said. “We walked in and it felt so inviting.” “I think the PTA did a great job on the remodel,” art teacher Robyn Briggs said. “I am so excited that they realized how hard this year is and were willing to do something so special for us teachers. This year was something no one expected or wanted, but a new faculty lounge definitely helps make up for the lost sleep and stress that this year brought.” The makeover is not complete. Briggs has been asked to create a mural on the main wall of the lounge. “I plan on doing something to help teachers see their worth and their incredibly important role they play in the world as a whole,” Briggs said. “I plan on doing some sort of quote that will help lift the spirits of our teachers and help them to see how valued and appreciated they are.” Briggs is excited to have her artwork be part of the faculty lounge remodel. She will also be creating another mural this summer in the hallway to the attendance office. The school entryway and commons area have already been decorated by murals that Briggs created. l
West Jordan City Journal
Special recognition for retiring history teacher By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
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.S. Rep. Burgess Owens visited Westland Elementary on May 24 to award fifth grade teacher Liz Halloran with the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award for her 23 years of participation in the National History Day Contest. Coming from a family of educators, Owens said he enjoys recognizing great teachers. “I understand what it is when teachers who love their profession see that light coming on in their students’ eyes,” he said. Halloran’s students, who’d been studying U.S. History and civics this year, were quizzed by the representative. He also signed their pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution and posed for a picture with each of them as they tried on his Super Bowl ring. “It's super cool that he actually came to our school,” said Lindsey Walker, a student in Halloran’s class. “But what makes it even cooler is he knows what Miss Halloran did, and he came to take the time to talk to her.” Lindsey said she learned a lot in Halloran’s class this year, through class discussions and in-depth projects. “She gets us interested in what's in the real world, not just in the classroom and in the school,” Lindsey said. Halloran is a passionate teacher who aims to instill in her students an understanding of and a love of their country’s Constitution. She also wants them to enjoy learning. “If we are not having fun, then we are doing something wrong,” Halloran said. “Kids get excited about anything their teacher is passionate about. I’m passionate about America, freedom and liberty. It shows in everything I do and say.” Because her class is the ALPS program for gifted students, Halloran has the flexibility and resources to infuse additional projects into her curriculum, such as a mock Congressional Hearing, a visit to Junior Achievement City and participation in the district and state history fairs. Each month, she asks students to memorize a poem or historical text and then perform it using props. “She typically uses primary resources to go beyond mundane surface information and helps her students dig deeper to get a more internalized feel for history and the people who made that history,” fellow fifth grade teacher Kent Larson said. “She engages in and allows her students to have protracted discussions about the impact of those historical events, and she helps them see the relevance of those events as they echo in today's America. Those are the kinds of things that will stay with them a lifetime.” Larson said Halloran is passionate and innovative in her teaching methods. “She finds highly creative ways to keep [students] curious and engaged,” he said.
WestJordanJournal .com
Rep. Burgess Owens, a former football player, poses with Westland Elementary fifth graders, allowing a young football player to pose wearing Burgess’ Super Bowl ring. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)
“She gets us interested in what’s in the real world, not just in the classroom and in the school.” – Lindsey Walker “Her energy level is off the charts, and her enthusiasm for teaching is contagious.” Lucas Crook, another student in Halloran’s class, said Halloran makes learning interesting because she is excited about it. He said she paused during a singing practice to add historical context to the song they were learning for their patriotic program. Halloran loves learning as much as she loves teaching. She reads historical books, and last year she took a class on the U.S. Constitution. Two years ago, she took a trip to visit U.S. historic sites. “It was the most life-changing experience I’ve ever had,” she said. “We saw every statue and historical site from Boston to Philadelphia.” She said the historic sites came alive for her and enhanced her teaching as she was able to share firsthand experiences with her students, such as when she
Fifth grade teacher Liz Halloran receives the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award from U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens in front of her students. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)
hid behind the trees on a pathway between Lexington and Concord and reenacted an attack on British soldiers. “I was able to infuse all of my experiences and pictures into my talking points for the kids and make it all come more alive,” she said. “To actually show the students the pictures of places we were talking about in our history books was powerful.” Halloran retired in June after 24 years
of teaching. Students, parents and colleagues said they will miss her enthusiasm. Liz makes special connections with each of her students and advocates for their success not only in fifth grade but throughout their schooling careers,” colleague Larah Lewis said. “Those who have had the opportunity to sit in her classes know how much she cares about them.” l
July 2021 | Page 17
Midvale City Park cuts ribbon on new disc golf course By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com
Dave Jessop of Herriman preps his throw on the Midvale Park disc golf course, while his faithful companion Stella looks on. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)
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Page 18 | July 2021
idvale City held a ribbon cutting May 22 for a new nine-hole disc golf course in Midvale Park. But the course is about more than just a hobby. Like the game itself, the more you learn about the story behind the course, the more you appreciate it. The sport’s basic premise is easy to understand. Disc golf is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. It’s played much like traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or Frisbee. “[The disc] is thrown from a tee to a basket, which is the ‘hole.’ The object is to throw the disc from the tee area to the target basket in the fewest number of throws,” explained Midvale City’s website. The city ran clinics for beginners and gave out free disc starter sets at the ribbon cutting. The course was several months in the making. At a Nov. 10, 2020 meeting, the Midvale City Council discussed the course as one of the ways to use CARES Act funds. The CARES Act was part of the federal pandemic economic relief plan, and a disc golf course fell within the qualifying projects. The city worked with Midvale business Grip6, a local manufacturing company which is committed to an entirely U.S.-made product. For the past four years they’ve sold belts, wallets and socks with a disc golf flair. Grip6 made donations to the course in the form of baskets for holes, posts, signage, and
guidance on installation, design and labor. The planning, funding and local collaborations have paid off. Since the ribbon cutting, the growing community of disc golf players has teed up to enjoy the course. “We heard about it on the Facebook page, SLC Tunnel Runners, which is the local club. We came today because of the chunk of time we had. This was the best available course for us. We play at courses all around the valley,” said Byron McMurtry of Riverton. McMurtry also plays traditional golf and kayaks. But because it’s inexpensive and courses can be played through in an hour or less, disc golf is nearly an everyday event for him and his friend Dave Jessop of Herriman. “I’ve played disc golf since 2007. This is a big part of our lives, and we play several times a week. We’ve played here [in Midvale] every couple weeks since it opened. It’s a good, quick turn. It takes about half an hour to play it once, so we can play it twice in an hour,” Jessop said. The Midvale course is located on the northwest side of the park. There are no fees or reservations, but players need to bring their own discs (Frisbees don’t work as well) and be mindful of others playing through. Most courses are set up in public parks, so they’re free to play. Courses that charge are reasonable—$3 or $5. And, in many cases, you can bring your canine companion. Jessop brought his dog Stella. Both McMurtry and Jessop praised disc golf as something that’s fun for beginners and more advanced players. “It’s a good family sport because different skill levels can play on the same course, and both sides will have fun. “The Midvale course is particularly good for beginners because it’s short. It’s a nice introduction for people, and it’s manicured, where other courses can be rough,” McMurtry said. McMurtry and Jessop were also excited about the PDGA Pro World Championship competition in Ogden June 22-26. “There are local tournaments every weekend, but this is like the Super Bowl of disc golf, and it’s right here in Utah at Fort Buenaventura. We’ve played that course before—it’s a whole other animal. It’s tough,” Jessop said. McMurtry and Jessop encourage beginners to go to the SLC Tunnel Runners Facebook page if they have questions or want to find disc golf friends. “Get a disc starter kit, watch some YouTube videos on how to play, and join the fun,” McMurtry said. When you play the course in Midvale you’ll know that you’re benefitting from pandemic relief funds and supporting local business Grip6 which helped make the course a reality. l
West Jordan City Journal
Rental assistance still available in Salt Lake County By Bridget Raymundo | b.raymundo@mycityjournals..com
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own the streets of downtown, homeless people can be found around nearly every corner. The less fortunate are not often at the forefront of thoughts, however, with the effects of the pandemic still in motion, many residents still struggle with affording basic living costs. The economy is on a slow path to recovery from the shutdowns in efforts to maintain social distancing. Many people have lost their main sources of income and numerous [small] businesses have closed. Rental assistance and stimulus checks have been issued to help. The question is whether they are improving circumstances or not. In January Millcreek government took initiative to release awareness campaigns about financial aid. At that point, the pandemic had been reigning chaos into personal lives for nearly a full year. Curious as to the effects of the stimulus checks issued by the US federal government? As expected, at the shadow glimpse of an approaching financial crisis and the increased unemployment rate, anyone who could afford to save, did. The rest was spent on necessities such as food, water, rent, electricity and other household bills. Entertainment and dining were mostly closed, thereby reducing needed cash flow. Handing out government funds is tricky in and of itself; claims arose stating
some stimulus checks were not received, unnecessary in some cases, and a cause for further economic inflation. The Salt Lake County Regional Development Department issued a press release on June 17 about rental assistance. It reported more than 12,000 county residents have received $17 million in rental assistance since March 2021. Data shows women are more likely to apply for aid than men since 60% of applicants are female. The Director of Salt Lake County Housing & Community Development, Michael Gallegos, states there are still funds available to applicants even as the CDC’s Eviction Moratorium approaches its end scheduled for June 30. “The demand for rental assistance funds this spring has exceeded our expectations,” Gallegos said in the press release. “While we’re ahead of where we thought we would be, there are still plenty of funds available, and we encourage residents to continue to apply.” According to the press release, race demographics from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program match or exceed County demographics, showing that rental assistance funds are getting into traditionally underserved populations.
Since March 2021 12,000 county residents have received $17 million in rental assistance according to Salt Lake County. (File photo City Journals)
“We know there are geographic areas of higher need, and diverse populations that may require support to apply,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “We are addressing those needs as they’re identified by the community and data. We are also utilizing organizations in our outreach grant program to assist disproportionately impacted individuals in tapping into this critical resource to avoid eviction.”
So far, 52% of rental assistance provided in Salt Lake County were applied for by landlords on behalf of their tenants. While 62% of all rental assistance funds in Utah are being paid out to Salt Lake County residents. Further data on the effects of rental assistance can be found here: slco.org/slcomunidata To apply for rental assistance, please visit rentrelief.utah.gov/ . l
Arts Council seeks to beautify along Jordan River Trail
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he gray slabs beneath the 106th South bridge near Mulligan’s didn’t have a lot of visual appeal. As of June 9, that was no longer the case, as local artists were given an opportunity to transform the visually unappealing slabs into works of art. The project was sponsored by South Jordan Art’s Council, a committee of residents appointed by South Jordan City Council. This council provides support and assistance in the implementation of Arts programs and events to create a lifelong appreciation for the arts for South Jordan residents. Amateur artists were encouraged to participate and were asked to submit past original artwork and design ideas. The artists and artwork were approved at the discretion of the South Jordan Art’s Council, and all those selected were Salt Lake County residents. “We have had some good momentum with different art related activities,” Associate Director of Recreation Janell Payne said. “We want to give everyone a chance for exposure.” South Jordan resident Durga Ekambaram was among one of the artists selected to paint a mural along the trail. Ekambaram brought her vision as well as her culture into her mural. Originally from India, Ekambaram has called South Jordan home for more than three years and has spent a great deal of that time involved with art. “I love the process,” Ekambaram said. “I like to express my ethnicity or my diversity through my art.” Former South Jordan resident Hollie Anderson also painted a mural along the trail. Anderson considers herself a chalk artist and street painter and has participated in various
WestJordanJournal .com
By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com festivals around the state. The mural trail project was yet another way to create public art. Her entry is called the “groovy fox” and combines her personal style while paying tribute to the nearby wildlife. “My family spotted a fox at an art festival I participated in last year along the trail, and I knew he had to be the subject for this piece,” Anderson said. Artists were assigned one, two or three panels along the trail depending on the size of their submission. Both Anderson and Ekambaram were given two panels each in which to bring their visions to life. Both used acrylic paint and their panels are side by side along the trail. “I’m not a mural artist per se,” Ekambaram said. “The largest mural I’ve done is 4 feet on a wooden plank.” According to Payne, the panels will rotate, or get switched out in the event that a panel doesn’t age well over time, or gets marked up by graffiti. Artists were given until June 20 to complete their panels, all of which have been a welcome sight to runners, walkers and bikers along the trail who stop to admire the work. “We have a lot of people saying thank you for making the trail more attractive,” Payne said. In a public space that had previously fallen victim to graffiti, the bridge underneath 106th South now offers something beautiful. For more information about how to become involved in the arts for the city of South Jordan, residents may visit www.sjc.utah.gov/south-jordan-city-arts/. l Artist Hollie Anderson incorporated vibrant colors with local wildlife. (Photo courtesy of Janell Payne.)
July 2021 | Page 19
Beehive ranked best in Utah, West Jordan gets 10th By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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his spring, Beehive Science and Technology Academy burst into the top rankings at No. 1 amongst top-ranked Utah high schools by U.S. News & World Report. Last year, it wasn’t in the top 10. Nationwide, Beehive Academy was ranked in the 98th percentile of all U.S. high schools, ranking 244 out of 17,857. For math and reading performance, Beehive ranked No. 1 in both the U.S. and Utah. “More than 60% of our students participate in the AP program,” Beehive Science and Technology Academy Principal Hanifi Oguz said. “And 57% of our students have already earned college credit by passing one or more AP exams. The U.S. News ranking is a testament to our exceptional faculty and administration, and demonstrates our commitment to academic excellence.” Other area schools placing in the top 20 include Skyline High in Millcreek ranked fourth; American Preparatory Academy-Draper campus #3, seventh; Academy for Math, Engineering and Science in Murray, eighth; Itineris Early College High, West Jordan, 10th; Corner Canyon High, Draper, 12th; Brighton High, Cottonwood Heights, 14th; and Olympus High, Holladay, 18th. U.S. News & World Report reviewed
about 24,000 U.S. public high schools of which 162 Utah schools were ranked. Utah students needed to earn a minimum of 24 credits, including at least one applied or advanced language arts credit through a class such as debate or journalism, according to the Utah State Board of Education. The top-ranking high schools had students who demonstrated “outstanding outcomes above expectations in math and reading state assessments, earned qualifying scores in an array of college-level exams, and graduated in high proportions.” The rankings also looked at college readiness, underserved student performance and college curriculum breadth. The top-ranked Beehive Science and Technology Academy was tied for second in the state with its math and reading proficiency rank, and 96% of the students graduate. The charter school enrolls 130 students, grades six through 12, for a student to teacher ratio of 17:1. According to the report, 39% of the students are rated as economically disadvantaged, 38% of students state they’re of minority diversity and 35% are female. The school is eligible for Title I funding. Beehive also is designated by the Utah State Board of Education and the STEM
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Two Beehive Academy students present their dry ice floating bubbles project in the Utah STEM Expo, an event organized by Beehive Academy. (Photo courtesy of Beehive Academy)
Action Center as a STEM Platinum School and is recognized as an Apple Distinguished School. The College Board also awarded Beehive the National AP Female Diversity Award for Computer Science. Skyline ranks 623rd nationally, with its top-ranking factors being second in college readiness and third in college curriculum breath. Of the 2,044 students at the public high school, 70% took at least one AP exam and 57% passed. Ninety-four percent graduate. The student body composition is primarily white, with only 16% stating minority diversity and 10% being economically disadvantaged. Fifty-two percent are female. American Preparatory Academy Draper #3 has a participation rate of Advanced Placement exams at 80%, with 60% passing at least one exam. Eighty-eight percent of the students graduate. With a student body of 246, 40% are identified as minorities and 19% as economically disadvantaged. The male to female ratio is 50:50. The charter school serves students between seventh and 12th grades and ranked first in college readiness and college curriculum breath for the state. Nationally, it ranks 968th. AMES, with an enrollment of 484, has a 95% graduation rate. Nationally, it ranks 1,120th. The ninth- though 12th-grade Title I charter school had 65% of the students
take at least one AP exam, with 34% passing. Fifty-three percent of the students are identified as minorities, 31% of them are economically disadvantaged. The male to female ratio is 50:50. Itineris has an enrollment of 370, with 96% graduating. The charter school serves 10th through 12th grade, with 45% identified as minority and 27% as economically disadvantaged. Fifty-one percent are female students. The school is eligible for Title I funding. Nationally, it ranks 1,263rd. Corner Canyon has a 62% participation rate in AP coursework and exams, with a 49% passing. Ninety-five percent of the students graduate. Of the 2,022 students, 17% are identified as minorities, 8% as economically disadvantaged, and 47% are female. Fifty-eight percent of Brighton’s 1,921 students took at least one AP exam, with 50% passing. Ninety-three percent of the students graduate. Eighteen percent are identified as minority, 14% are economically disadvantaged, and 47% are female. Ninety-one percent of Olympus High students graduate. Forty percent take at least one AP exam, with 32% passing. The student body composition includes 17% minority, 21% economically disadvantaged, and 51% female.l
West Jordan City Journal
G O OD NE IG HBOR
NEWS
JULY 2021
Paid for by the City of West Jordan
M AYO R ’S M E S S AG E Happy Independence Day! As we celebrate this great holiday, I ask that we all look beyond the barbecues, fireworks, and events. This is a day to celebrate our freedom, our history, and the love we all have for our country. Independence Day is a celebration for all Americans, regardless our age, the color of our skin, or our level of education. This is a time reflect on the momentous sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedom and honor those who continue to fight for us to keep us safe. The freedom we celebrate today wouldn’t be possible without the great leaders of the past, the leaders of the present, and the leaders of the future. Let’s continue to make where we live a better place for our children, and for our children’s children. We live in a country unlike any other. As I review our history, I am impressed at the magnitude of events that make us the free country we are today. The father of our country, George Washington said “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” This still rings true today. A root is strong, supportive, and a source of life – much like liberty. Let’s celebrate freedom to its fullest! I’m proud to be an American and a West Jordan resident! Sincerely,
Mayor Dirk Burton
West Jordan Teacher Receives National Recognition Elizabeth Halloran, a teacher at Westland Elementary School, received quite the award – National History Teacher of the Year! After nearly 48 years of teaching Halloran is retiring, but not without notice. Many were in attendance, including Congressman Burgess Owens, Mayor Dirk Burton, and a dozen of her very supportive students and friends, including West Jordan Councilmember Kayleen Whitelock. Along with a certificate, Halloran was also gifted an American flag that flew over the United States Capitol. With tears in her eyes, Halloran thanked her students and encouraged them to continue to have passion for their country and the way it functions. Congratulations, Elizabeth Halloran!
Open in West Jordan – Walker Edison Walker Edison has officially opened its worldwide headquarters in West Jordan. Walker Edison was named the 15th fastest-growing company in Utah. What started as a furniture supply company, in 2006, has now become a leading partner for the biggest names in e-commerce. The 95,000-square foot location features a 20,000 square foot photo studio, two auditoriums and an employee-focused workspace.
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
City Welcomes Two New Fire Engines The West Jordan Fire Department in-serviced two new engines in the city with a washdown and pushback ceremony. This traditional ceremony is how fire departments across the country introduce new engines to their fleet. Firefighters spray the engines down with a hose and then physically push the engines back into a bay. Public safety is a top priority for the City of West Jordan. Chief Maxfield said it’s not only good news for this community but cities surrounding it. “It is vital that our first responders have the best training, support, and equipment to do their job of keeping the people of West Jordan safe,” said Chief Maxfield. “These new engines aren’t just beneficial for our residents and firefighters but also the surrounding cities that we assist in emergencies.”
WJPD awarded “Top Agency in Utah” recognition at UPOA K9 Trials The Utah Peace Officer Association held its K9 trials at a Utah high school. Several West Jordan K9 Police Handlers received individual recognition including agility, building searches and in competition and training. For the first time ever the WJPD was recognized with the Top Agency in Utah award. “This speaks volumes to the hard training and hours of dedication by our handlers,” said Police Chief Ken Wallentine. “I am exceedingly proud of the field work and competition results.”
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COMING SOON New West Jordan City Website! • Online Event Calendar • Easier Navigation • Mobile Friendly
West Jordan City Journal
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
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New Benches at Veterans Memorial Park New benches located at the Veterans Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park are a new place to sit and reflect. Donated by a private donor, the benches are tributes to veterans who fought in the Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps.
COUNCIL CORNER Even though this was written before the Western Stampede occurred, by the time you read this, the Western Stampede will have concluded, the parade entries have returned home, and the fireworks show lit the sky. The Western Stampede festivities are a big part of living in West Jordan. As a council, we hope many of you and your families enjoyed attending and being a part of the city’s festivities. Council Member Chris McConnehey has been involved in the Western Stampede for many years and stated, “Having lived in West Jordan my whole life, the city events have always been in the center of our family’s celebration around the 4th of July. Today from my seat on the City Council I get to see how many people behind the scenes pour their heart and soul into events. We sincerely love our volunteers, community groups, sponsors and city staff that work all through the holiday to help their neighbors make lifetime memories. Thank you!” Most of May and June for the City Council has been related to the city’s budget. State law requires all city councils to adopt a balanced budget before the end of June. Once adopted, the new budget takes affect beginning in July. There has been some growth with new businesses coming into the city. The Council
has continued strong funding for economic development to encourage business to come to the city. The Council has also funded additional purchases in technology to help the city and its staff be more efficient and modern and transparent. Council Member Kayleen Whitelock noted, “The city budget is really the resident’s money and we, as a Council, take seriously our fiduciary duty in how it is allocated for the services the residents need such as Police, Fire, and Public Works.” Copies of the city budget and financial reports can be found on the city website. The City Council typically meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Follow the Council on Facebook @WestJordanCityCouncil and Twitter at @WJCityCouncil
MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION IN WEST JORDAN The Municipal Primary election is coming up in West Jordan on August 10. You can find information on the upcoming election on the city’s website westjordan.utah.gov/election-overview. You can also see a full list of candidates at westjordan.utah.gov/2021candidates. The Municipal General Election will be held on November 2.
WestJordanJournal .com
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GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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INDEPENDENCE DAY
FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP
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Ron Wood Park 5 p.m – 8 p.m.
visit westernstampede.com for a full list of events
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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bit.ly/WestJordan 6 p.m.
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bit.ly/WestJordan 7 p.m.
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PIONEER DAY
FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Ron Wood Park 5 p.m – 8 p.m.
bit.ly/WestJordan 7 p.m.
The City of West Jordan 8000 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, UT 84088 Join the conversation! (801) 569-5100 ulywww.wjordan.com West Jordan – City Hall
2021
The fibers that make up your single-use paper products like tissues, paper towels, and napkins are too small to make it through the recycling process, so please place these items in your trash can. If you would like to reduce your waste, you can start introducing reusable alternatives like cloth napkins once a week and cleaning rags to your cleaning routine! Questions? Please email us at recycle@acedisposal.com
Jordan Landing 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
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July Recycling Tip
West Jordan Police Dept. 8040 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-256-2000 801-840-4000 Dispatch
West Jordan City Journal
Statewide municipal posting requirement changes By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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efore 2021, cities were required to post public notices in daily newspapers. This is no longer. This year, Utah Senate Bill 201 changed that; newspaper readership has plummeted in recent years. In 2018, “U.S. newspaper circulation fell in 2018 to its lowest level since 1940,” an article on Pew Research said. Because of low subscription rates, the two major newspapers in Utah, Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune, dropped daily delivery. Newspapers are no longer the most popular way to communicate. The new requirement is that taxing entities, including city governments, must post their notices on the state website, www.utah. gov/pmn/. It is an online portal that allows you to search for any taxing entity updates. And, you sign up for email notifications to get announcements on a regular basis. Each city government is planning other posting locations. The number of posting locations depends on the population. Midvale will be posting on the city’s website, city Hall lobby, Midvale City Justice, Public Works Lobby and on the Utah Public Notice Website. West Jordan will also place notices in similar locations in addition to libraries, fire
2021 EVENING S ERIES Amphitheater Parking: 495 East 5300 South Ticket Info: 801-264-2614 or www.murray.utah.gov July 9-10, 12, 15-17 ................................... Shrek The Musical July 23 ....................... Beehive Statesmen Barbershop Chorus Aug 6-7, 9, 12-14 ......................................... Disney's Newsies Aug 11..... Jenny Oaks Baker, Violin & Cello Workshop Concert Aug 21 .................................................. Clayton Smalley Band Aug 27-28 ...................................... "A Celtic Summer's Night"
LUNCH CONCERT SERIES * Tuesday at Noon in Murray Park Pavilion #2, FREE Newspapers in Utah are no longer delivered daily, so city noticing requirements have changed. (Pixabay)
stations, parks and grocery store community boards. Other cities will be posting in similar
locations.l
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July 8 - 1520 Arts ............................................. Hip Hop Dance July 15 - Trash Panda ............................................. Drumming July 22 - The Puppet Players .............................. Puppet Show July 29 - Happy Hula .................................... Polynesian Dance
FAMILY NIGHT S ERI ES Bring the Whole Family Young and Old! The 2nd Monday of every month at 7 p.m., FREE Murray Senior Recreation Center (#10 E 6150 S – 1/2 block west of State) July 12 – Company B. ..................................................... Oldies Aug 9 – Flashback Brothers ................................... Classic Rock
STOP IN FOR STORIES * Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday at 11 a.m. in Murray Park White Gazebo, FREE Murray City Library sponsored outdoor story time full of books, songs and action rhymes for kids ages 2-7 and their families. Bring your blanket or lawn chair.
This program has received funding support from residents of Salt Lake County, SL County Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, and Museums & National Endowment for the Arts.
July 2021 | Page 25
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Page 26 | July 2021
Brielle Davis wins state pole vault championship By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
Copper Hills junior Brielle Davis won the state 6A pole vault championship this season with a jump of 12 feet 6 inches. (Photo courtesy of Copper Hills track and field.)
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opper Hills pole vault specialist Brielle Davis has fast become one of the best jumpers in the state of Utah. As a freshman two years ago, Davis showed promise. Her coaches thought she had talent and potential. She was encouraged by a girl on her gymnastics team to give the pole vault a try. “She is killin’ it,” Utah Pole Vault Academy Director Kody Pierce said. “She is doing very well. Last season got taken away, but she has continued to train and worked so hard. She had a great season.” This spring, as a junior, she set a new state record on the way to earning a 6A state championship. “It is really cool,” Davis said. “I did not really think that I would do that by as much as I did. At the moment, it felt unreal. This has been something that I really enjoy.” “I had high expectations for her,” Pierce said. “I think I got it right, didn’t I? We have not had anyone in the state jump this high consistently. She has learned to apply what she learned. She is a good girl, very sweet and sometimes sassy—one of those kids that is a good leader and example.” The pole vault is a track and field event in which the athlete uses a long flexible pole to jump over a bar. It has been a full medal event in the Olympics since 1896 for men and 2000 for women. It has been a scoring event in the state of Utah for around seven years. Davis now holds the outdoor record and aims at out jumping the indoor record of 12 feet 11.5 inches. Her state record came this season in her first event at the Davis Invi-
tational. Her jump is the 11th highest in the nation this season and stands third in her age group. Davis’ athletic prowess doesn’t stop at jumping. She finished fourth in the state in the 100-meter hurdles. “I think some of her success comes from the other events she participates in,” Pierce said. “She is a great athlete all around, and that has helped her as a pole vaulter. I encourage the athletes to try other events. Pole Vault is a spectator sport. It looks cool, but participating in other sports is a good thing. To be a good vaulter you need to be well rounded.” The pole vault community is a tight-knit bunch. “In other sports, it becomes a competition,” Davis said. “With pole vault I am competing against myself and I like to see everyone get better. I would like to hit 13 feet and keep improving next year. It is fun to be at Copper Hills and have all my friends supporting me.” Copper Hills finished the season with several top finishes at the state meet. The girls 4x800 relay finished ninth overall. The team included Elyse Gibson, Savannah Davies, Kaitlin Johnson, Hailey Kidd, Andalusia Manwaring and Whitney Kidd. Trey Traver took second in the boys 110 hurdles and eighth in the 300 hurdles. Benjamin Bohne took third in the long jump with a 21-foot 2-inch jump. The Copper Hills boys took home first place at the Region 3 championships, and the girls placed fourth.l
West Jordan City Journal
Utah Food Bank to distribute 200,000 meals this summer By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
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hat fits in a 10-inch by 8-inch by 7-inch box? If you said 14 meals for a Utah child, you would be right. As part of their Summer Food Service program, the Utah Food Bank provides meal boxes to individuals 18 and younger each week throughout Utah. The boxes are free and are design for one person for seven days— seven breakfasts and seven dinners. If a family has four children, they get four boxes. Each box includes a sample menu. For example, breakfast one is a cereal bowl and regular applesauce. For dinner two, the menu is cheddar cheese cup, sunflower kernels, MJM Pizza Crackers, flavored applesauce and vegetable juice. Other items on the menu are Pop-Tarts, barbecue chicken salad, breakfast bar, Jack Link’s Original Chicken Tender Bites, and beef sticks. The kids are given 14 small cartons of milk with their box. These boxes are distributed in eight Utah counties, including Salt Lake County.
Salt Lake County
In Salt Lake County, the Utah Food Bank provides hot meals at various locations Monday through Friday. The meals are prepared in the Utah Food Bank kitchen and delivered in electric hot boxes, which keep the food warm for up to four hours. The Utah Food Bank can provide these 200,000 meals because they are partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This partnership extends the Kids Café program throughout the summer. The 200,000 meals are served at 40 sites across the state. Some programs are open sites meaning first come, first served. Other sites are enrolled programs that have specific requirements. There are 16 sites across the valley, including Boys & Girls Clubs, community centers and libraries. Libraries are included because the Utah Food Bank found that many children spend their days at the library but never had food. A complete list and details like times, locations, and dates is available at www.utah-
“Most people, when they come home, they wonder what they are having for dinner. I drive home wondering if every child in Utah has a dinner.” – Ginette Bott foodbank.org/SummerMeals/.
Utah Food Bank
“Most people, when they come home, they wonder what they are having for dinner. I drive home wondering if every child in Utah has a dinner,” Ginette Bott, president and CEO of Utah Food Bank, said. The Utah Food Bank partners with 205 agencies across the state. In 2020, they distributed 62.5 million pounds of food at no cost to the receivers or the agencies. Utah Food Bank is the largest food distributor in the state. Since 1904, the Utah Food Bank has tried to learn more efficient ways to obtain products and meet the needs of the people of Utah. With the increase in the refugee population, the Utah Food Bank has learned how to meet their dietary needs. Utah Food Bank does not consider itself a transportation company nor a human need company. “We just quietly go about feeding kids,” Bott said. Bott mentioned that sometimes they are criticized for giving out ramen noodles. Her
Contents of a meal box given to kids by the Utah Food Bank this summer. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
response is she would rather have a child’s belly full of noodles than having them cry because they are hungry. Bott pointed out that the Utah Food Bank always needs food, time and money. She also said if a person ever needs help, call 211 or go to the Utah Food Bank website.
Grocery Rescue program
The Grocery Rescuer program is a partnership with 270 grocery retailers. Retailers provide food that is nearing the expiration date but is still healthy and wholesome to eat. Refrigerated trucks provided by the Utah Food Bank and partner agencies operate six days a week throughout the state, picking up the food donations. The food goes directly to
food pantries to be distributed within 24 hours. The donations primarily are daily consumables, including fresh produce, dairy and meat. Without this program, such items would end up in the landfill. In 2020, 16 million pounds of food was distributed to help end hunger. Walt May, a program director, offered a way anyone can help with this program. May suggested that they will give you the freshest meat or cheese when you go to the deli at the grocery store. This allows the retailer to freeze the older meat and cheese and donate it to the program. “Buying sliced deli meat or cheese helps feed people of Utah,” May said. l
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July 2021 | Page 29
Jaguars track team sets top times By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
T
he track team at West Jordan High School made a name for itself this season. “What a season it has been,” Jaguar head track coach Taylor Hatch said. “Our goal at the very beginning of the season was to contend for a state title. We knew we would need to stay strong in sprints and distance and have a good field group.” The boys team finished top five at every meet. It finished second at the Jordan School District Invite at the start of the season and won the Taylorsville Invitational and Herriman Invitational. “We won the region and sent 27 boys to state,” Hatch said. “We placed fourth overall. What these kids did this season really changed the program at West Jordan. I have people believing in West Jordan again and shows younger kids that we can be a threat at the state level.” The Jaguars had two individual state champions. Syrus Webster set a school record in the shot put throwing it 57 feet 6 inches to win the state title. Austin Klingler won the title in the 400 and 800. “I told Syrus at the beginning we had a shot,” Hatch said. “He bought into it and was determined to make it happen. Syrus and his teammate Dalyn Perez were train-
ing on their own. He was determined to make things happen.” Webster was the runner-up at state in the discus with a personal record throw of 153 feet 2 inches. Klingler scored an impressive double championship in the 400 and 800. In both races, his times were top 10 national times this season. “Austin [Klingler] had a phenomenal year. He broke a state record in the 400 and then 10 minutes after his race he finished sixth in the 200,” Hatch said. “He started as a kid who joined the team because of his older brother. He set goals and can say he is one of the greatest middle distance runners ever from the state of Utah.” Klingler scored 23 points for his team at the state meet. Webster had 18, Perez eight Anthony Macedo six, Leka Leausa five and Mason Baker three. The girls team won the region title and 19 athletes participated at state. “There were lots of personal records on the girls side and great things happened at the state meet,” Hatch said. Senior Abby Jackson just missed the 100 hurdle final. She finished ninth with a 16.3; her state time improved from her 16.44-second region winning time.
West Jordan won the Region 2 boys and girls track titles this spring. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Hatch.)
At region Alissa Sadlerwon the 400; Aly Nelson won the 800, 1600 and 3200. The girls relay teams won the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800. “We are determined to keep building off of where we ended this season,” Hatch said. “We know we can compete with these other teams and this season really showed
that.” The Jaguars walked away with dominating wins for the boys and girls teams in Region 2. The boys scored 229 points, 85 more than Cyprus in second place. The girls had 271; Cyprus was second with 144. In the state meet, the boys finished fourth overall.l
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West Jordan City Journal
Drought and fireworks… a bad combination
Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3
When Governor Cox asked all of us to pray for rain several weeks ago, my family and I talked about additional ways we could do our part. We made the decision to turn off the water while brushing our teeth, shorten our showers, and only water our lawn twice per week. We also made the decision not to do fireworks this year because of all the dry brush and potential impact on resources should something go awry. Most of Utah is experiencing extreme or exceptional drought. As Governor Cox explained recently, this is either the worst drought since 1956 or the worst drought ever. We have seen our reservoirs and lakes at record lows. In addition to the little precipitation over the last year to refill our lake and rivers, we also have more people than ever consuming water in this state. Luckily Utah has done a great job of planning for the future; but if we don’t cut back on water usage this year, we may find ourselves in a position where we will need to ration water in future years. Little things make a big difference when it comes to water conservation. There are things you can do like not letting the water run full blast while brushing your teeth or washing your pets near vegetation to get a secondary benefit. Utah’s slowtheflow.org has great advice for how to act during a drought. I found very help-
ful their tips on lawn management, namely: 1) water your lawn twice a week, 2) don’t water if it’s windy, 3) water in the evening or before 10 a.m., 4) prioritize your watering in the following order: trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, grass, and 5) raise your mower to leave your grass longer. You should also check out utahwatersavers.com, where you can find details on rebate programs for taking all sorts of water wise steps. While I can understand the desire to have the greenest lawn in the neighborhood, this year it’s cool to have yellow or brown lawn. You are showing your neighbors that you care about them and are conscientious water consumers during the drought. Paired with being water wise is being fire smart this summer. This includes the small things, like discarding of cigarettes in the proper receptacle and not driving over or parking your car on dry vegetation. It also includes the more mindful things, like only starting campfires in cement or metal firepits, never leaving them unattended, and fulling drowning them until cool to the touch. Utahfireinfo.gov has even more information to consider for your summer plans. Lastly, consider going to a planned city fireworks show for the holidays rather than having your own fireworks. It saves money, and it’s much safer
since local fire departments are onsite at those planned fireworks shows. Usually on the 4th and 24th of July we get together with neighbors and light fireworks in our circle. Not this year. Due to the high risks that fireworks pose, we will be having a barbecue and playing games to celebrate the holidays. I’m a big fan of liberty and freedom, but I’m also a big fan of personal responsibility, so join me in watching your water usage and forgoing fireworks this year. Let’s be smart and be part of the solution!
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West Jordan City Journal
What is the Mosquito Abatement District? By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
H
ave you noticed a line on your property tax bill that says Mosquito Abatement? What is that? Why do they get your tax money? There are three mosquito abatement districts in Salt Lake County. Each of them serves their area, performing similar functions: Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement, Magna Mosquito Abatement, South Salt Lake Valley Mosquito Abatement. “Mosquitos are definitely a nuisance,” Brian Hougaard, manager for South Salt Lake Valley Mosquito Abatement District, said. “They have the potential to carry diseases.” A mosquito abatement focuses heavily on mosquitos that carry West Nile Virus, a disease that can cause severe inflammation to the brain and spinal cord. “We have 52 different trap sites, using three different types of traps. We use these traps not only to monitor the number of mosquitos in the area...we also use those to catch [and] test for West Nile virus,” Hougaard said. Each district employs full-time, yearround experts, but then hires seasonal workers for the summer. The staff spends their time checking traps, testing mosquitoes for potential viruses and responding to resident
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Dedicated to Serving Our Community Mosquito abatement: The Salt Lake Valley is split into three districts. Each district helps contain the mosquito population within its borders to prevent spread of disease. (Pixabay)
calls. Residents can call for an inspection. They will inspect horse troughs, residential ponds, tree holes and catch basins. If there are mosquito larvae, the district can put in mosquito fish, an aggressive eater of mosquitos, or briquettes that prevent larvae from hatching into adults. l
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QUESTIONS? Laurie Gale West Jordan Chamber President (801) 205-1600 You may receive up to 4 messages per week. Message and data rates may apply when sending & receiving text messages. Messages sent from automated system. Consent not required to purchase goods & services. Text STOP to 57838 to opt-out. Text HELP to 67838 for assistance or call 800-211-2001. To view our Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy, please visit: www.sentextsolutions.com/privacypolicy.
www.westjordanchamber.com or call at (801) 970-3671 or email us at info@westjordanchamber.com 8060 S 1300 West, West Jordan 84088 July 2021 | Page 33
Psych 101: Narcissistic abuse centers on control and manipulation By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournal.com
“
Narcissism next!” requested a reader after reviewing the previous article covering gaslighting. OK—let’s do it! (This is where I feel obliged to share a warning. The following article discusses topics of abuse and may be triggering to some.) In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), narcissism is categorized as a Personality Disorder. Narcissistic personality disorder has been primarily recognized through behavioral patterns steeped in a need for admiration and a lack of empathy. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder tend to have a grandiose sense of self-importance, believing they are special and unique. In turn, they frequently have a lack of empathy and tend to be envious of others or believe others are envious of them. They may also be preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty and ideal love. Conversations around recognizing narcissistic traits and managing relationships with narcissistic individuals have gained more popular attention in the last few years. Now, there are two types of narcissism widely recognized. Overt or grandiose narcissism is primarily described above. Individuals may be arrogant and preoccupied with success, wealth, attractiveness and power. However, there’s a less explicit type of narcissism.
Covert or vulnerable narcissism may be identified through self-absorbed and/or passive-aggressive behaviors. Individuals with covert narcissistic traits may be highly sensitive and have a history of impersonal and difficult relationships. Narcissistic abuse has been recognized as a type of interpersonal abuse (and/or domestic abuse) and is beginning to be formally recognized in various governmental and legal documents and policies. On the surface, it may be difficult to differentiate narcissistic abuse from typified interpersonal abuse. This tends to make narcissistic abuse more complicated and harder to prove. Some of the key reported differences include increase frequency and explicit intentionality. “The idea is that they totally know what they are doing,” reported an anonymous survivor. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder tend to exhibit numerous abusive behaviors. They may make attempts at isolation in order to maintain control and attention in the relationship, driving away friends and family relations of the other person. They tend to control finances, monitoring money closely, and only allowing limited access to certain funds. In abusive relationships, including those involving individuals with narcissistic personality disorder, there’s frequently a
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cycle of abuse involved. Psychologists have deemed the phases of abuse as idealization, devaluation and discarding. In idealization, otherwise known as “lovebombing,” the individual may shower the other with praise and gifts. This builds a sense of safety and trust. In devaluation, the individual may use what was disclosed during the idealization phase as ammo to instill emotional responses and a sense of worthlessness. Then, the individual discards the other before starting the cycle over again. Additionally, abusive relationships commonly involve manipulation tactics such as being overly critical and controlling, manufacturing situations to elicit emotional distress, engaging in hot and cold behavior, stonewalling, triangulating, blaming, shaming, deflecting and projecting. Narcissistic abuse can occur in any relationship. While some of the focus above is on abuse in romantic relationships, it’s important to remember narcissistic abuse can be prevalent in friendships, familial relationships and working relationships. Those with narcissistic personality disorder tend to be in-
terpersonally exploitative as they take advantage of others to achieve their own ends. For example, friendships may only be maintained on a superficial level. If you, or someone you know is experiencing abuse, some steps of recovery to enact right now may include: validating the survivors experience, identifying abusive traits, breaking habits of empathizing with the abuser, validating one’s own reality, creating or relying on a solid support network, grieving the good parts of the relationship, resolving trauma, improving self-love, and learning to recognize red flags and set boundaries. In Utah, resources for domestic violence and interpersonal abuse include: the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, Utah Community Action, Utah Association of Family Support Centers, YWCA Utah’s Domestic Violence Shelter Programs and the Statewide Domestic Violence Info-line LINKline. Research from Shahida Arabi, Sandra Brown, Thomas Crawford, Ramani Durvasula, Harold Koenigsberg, Kristian Markon, Kati Morton, Rebecca Shiner, Jennifer Tackett, and David Watson. l
West Jordan City Journal
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he Utah economy continues to improve. Job growth is accelerating, unemployment is dropping, and wages are increasing. However, the emerging trend of inflation is causing some struggles in the economic recovery. Inflation essentially describes the principle that prices rise over time. It’s actually good to have inflation; it encourages investment and overall growth. However, if inflation grows too much it erodes the value of cash and can cause asset bubbles, which then can crash. An example of this is lumber prices, which nearly tripled in price from July 2020 to May 2021, but have dropped nearly 50% in the last few weeks. Inflation has been increasing nationally and locally for the past few months. The national Consumer Price Index rose in May by 5% from a year before. This is the highest inflation since the summer of 2008. Prices regionally were also up significantly in May, increasing 4.7% over the past year. A primary cause of this recent inflation is the economic reopening. A year ago, as the pandemic spread and as the economy shut down, demand for many goods and services evaporated. This caused prices for things like gasoline, hotel rooms, and airfare to collapse. With many people now returning to work and going on trips, demand has surged for these products. Gasoline prices alone are up 56.2% in the last 12 months, and the price of used cars and trucks has surged 29.7% over the same period. Airfares are up 24.1% in the last year and increased 12.2% in the last month. The big question now is how long this high inflation will last. Is this a temporary surge or is it the beginning of a prolonged period of price pressures? No one knows for sure and this is a topic of intense debate. The
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Federal Reserve, which sets interest rates, has said they are concerned about unexpected high inflation but they want to wait and see what the future brings over the next several months before pulling back on monetary policy that encourages growth. Robert Spendlove is senior economist for Zions Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. l
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A crash course on Salt Lake Valley’s water supply
W
ater is one of those things that people take for granted. We don’t really talk about it much until it becomes an issue. So now that Utah and the rest of the southwest are experiencing historic levels of drought, some Salt Lake valley residents might be realizing how little they know about the topic. So here’s a crash course lesson on the valley’s water supply. Who manages the valley’s water supply? The answer to this question depends on where you live. If you live on the west side of the valley, then most of your water comes from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. They collect water from Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs, as well as a collection of reservoirs in the Uinta Mountains. Twenty percent of its water also comes from groundwater, pumped from wells scattered around the valley. The District then sells this water wholesale to cities including Draper, Herriman, Bluffdale, Riverton, South Jordan, South Salt Lake, Taylorsville, Midvale and West Jordan. It also counts among its customers a few intermediary districts such as the Granger Hunter Improvement District, the Kearns Improvement District and the Magna Water Improvement District. While these smaller districts purchase as much as 90% of their water from Jordan Valley, they also supplement that with their own water supply from wells in the area. The other big player when it comes to providing water to the Salt Lake Valley is the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy. As its name suggests, this district provides water to Salt Lake City and Sandy City, the first and sixth most populous cities in the state. But wait, there’s more! Salt Lake City’s Public Utilities department is responsible for more than just its own residents. They also provide drinking water for Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek, Holladay and parts of South Salt Lake and Murray. More than 60% of all that water comes from the streams of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon. That water is filtered by facilities owned by either the Metropolitan Water District or SLC. For example, the treatment facility at the mouth of Big Cottonwood is owned by SLC, while the treatment facility for Little Cottonwood is owned by Metropolitan Water District. Additionally, some cities own and operate their own water infrastructure to supplement what they purchase from their respective districts. Sandy City, for example, collects and treats water from the Bell Canyon Reservoir. Many cities also rely on various canals throughout the valley as a source of secondary water. How much does our water cost? It can be quite expensive to collect, treat, transport and deliver water to the over 1 million people who live, work or play in the Salt
Page 36 | July 2021
By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com
(Justin Adams/City Journals)
Lake Valley. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District operates on an operations budget of about $79 million per year, while the Metropolitan Water District has a budget of about $48 million. Where does that money come from? The largest revenue source ($48 million) for the Jordan Valley is from its wholesale contracts with its various member agencies. An additional $7 million comes from retail customers, usually homeowners in unincorporated areas that purchase water from the district directly. The second-largest source of revenue for the district is property taxes, which comes in at about $20 million per year. As a special district with taxing authority, water districts are able to levy a property tax on residents within the district boundaries. The property tax rate for the Jordan Water is .0004%. The Metro District is below .0003%. While residents around the valley have likely seen their rates increase over the years due to inflation, they’re still paying much lower rates than many people around the country, according to Linda Townes, public information manager for Jordan Valley. That’s because Utah’s mountainous landscape allows gravity to move our water for us, rather than paying for pump stations which use a huge amount of costly electricity. Who is running these districts? Between such large budgets and the task of managing a resource as crucial as water, it bodes asking who’s in charge of these districts. Special districts are typically run by a
The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District maintains a Conservation Garden Park in West Jordan, as an example to residents of how yards can be re-landscaped to be more water efficient without sacrificing aesthetics. (Wikimedia)
board of trustees. The Jordan Water operates under a board of nine members. While the Metro District has a seven-member board. Members of the board aren’t elected. Instead they are appointed by various legislative bodies from within the district’s boundaries. Appointees can be elected officials themselves (such as South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey or Herriman City Councilmember Sherrie Ohrn who serve on the Jordan Water board) or
they can be city employees or even private residents—whatever the nominating body thinks will best represent their interests. As a governmental body, districts are required to hold regular public meetings. They also publish their budgets and other reports each year to keep residents informed. Are we in danger of running out of water? Between the state’s historic drought and rapid population growth, some residents may
West Jordan City Journal
wonder if we’re running out of water in the Salt Lake valley. In short, the answer is no, residents of the Salt Lake valley don’t need to worry about rationing water anytime soon. When it comes to growth, Townes said that water consumption hasn’t increased at the same rate as the population, suggesting that the District’s water conservancy efforts and efficiency standards have been effective. “The good thing we’ve seen with growth is that we really expected our water use to skyrocket with the population growth and it hasn’t,” she said. “It’s stayed pretty steady, which means conservation is working. It’s happening. We are seeing a change.” There are also still untapped sources of water which could come into play down the road. According to Townes, the Jordan Water expected to begin developing the Bear River in 2015. However, a combination of other new sources and increased water efficiency made that unnecessary. Now, they may not have to dam the Bear River until 2060. “It’s a pretty cool river and one of the last ones that’s not damned. We don’t want to develop it. It’d be great if we didn’t have to, but it’s our job to make sure there’s enough water for people,” Townes said. The Metro District is also in good shape when it comes to water supply. Speaking to the Sandy City Council last month, general manager Mike DeVries said there’s no need to worry.
“Despite poor precipitation and snow pack conditions, because of storage and Metro’s various water supplies, we’re in a healthy state when it comes to supply for our member cities. We’re not anticipating any sort of shortages for our metro at this point,” he said. It’s also important to know that most of the state’s water systems are self-contained. For example, the systems that supply water throughout Salt Lake County aren’t connected to systems for other nearby counties. So if there are water shortages in other parts of the state, it wouldn’t be possible for them to dip into the supplies of the Jordan Valley or Metropolitan Districts, even if they were willing to share. How can we conserve more water? Whether from continued growth or continued droughts, water conservation will be increasingly important for residents of the Salt Lake valley. From the water districts themselves, to municipal governments to residents’ households, there’s a lot that can be done. At the district level, the Jordan Water has set a good example by relandscaping all of their facilities to be water efficient by replacing turf with vegetation that’s more at home in Utah’s desert climate. The District also provides a number of programs, rebates and incentives for residents to improve their water efficiency. Those can be found at www.utahwatersavers.com. City governments are also getting in on the conservation effort by requiring new de-
Nearby reservoirs like Jordanelle and Deer Creek play a critical role in the Salt Lake Valley’s water supply chain. (Wikimedia)
velopments to meet certain water efficiency standards. Many cities have also taken proactive measures during our current drought. Cottonwood Heights, for example, announced that its popular splash pad at Mountain View Park would remain closed throughout the summer. Herriman City paused a requirement for developers to install landscaping on new projects, allowing them to delay the addition of extra vegetation until after the summer months. Residents, meanwhile, have many options
for conserving water. They can do small things like take shorter showers or turn off the faucet while they brush their teeth. They can take advantage of the previously mentioned programs and get a more water-efficient toilet or relandscape their yards. But the most effective and easy thing they can do, according to Townes, is simply water their lawns less. If everyone adjusted to watering their lawns just one less day per week, it would have a huge impact on the region’s water supply outlook. l
West Jordan names new football coach By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
W
est Jordan High School has hired a new football coach. Ron Halbert has coached in several programs around the state and returns to one of his favorites to lead the program. “I love this community and am glad to be back,” Halbert said at his introduction to the players. Halbert was an assistant coach at the school beginning in 1989 under Rick Bojak. “When I asked my wife if I should take this job, she said, ‘Yes, go for it,’” Halbert said. “I love West Jordan. I remember when the halls were orange. My family is a big supporter. I will be here as long as I can.” He is married and has four children. One of his daughters attends Alta High School but travels to the school every day to help with practice organization and team needs as head team manager. This will be his 34th season coaching high school football in some form. He was the first head coach at Copper Hills High school and has been defensive coordinator at Alta, Juan Diego and Jordan high schools. “I teach at the school; I have taught PE and science, and then I got this job as a basecamp teacher,” Halbert said. “I have always kept track of this school no matter where I have been. When I got here in '89, we took a program that had not won a lot and won quite a few games.” The Jaguars finished last season 3-7 overall. Their season included wins over Hunter, Cyprus and Taylorsville and a first-round playoff loss to Herriman, 29-15. “Our offensive and defensive line is going to be a strength this season,” Halbert said. “We also have a very
WestJordanJournal .com
experienced quarterback returning, Boston Farmer. We will be young at the skill positions.” The game plan is to continue to be a spread style offensive team and throw the football. “We want to be consistent enough that we can run the football just as well as we pass it,” offensive coordinator Mike Simpkins said. “ [Farmer] will be an important part of this team. We have a lot of kids returning, and we are very fortunate to be in this situation. The plan is to build a dynasty.” Farmer completed 116 passes last season for 1,343 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 512 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. “I worked as an assistant at Spanish Fork, Lehi and Pleasant Grove with some very good offensive minds,” Simpkins said. “I hope to help establish this mindset here.” The Jaguars allowed an average of 29 points per game last season. For the upcoming season, West Jordan is now in Region 3. The Jaguars will compete against Bingham, Copper Hills, Herriman, Mountain Ridge and Riverton. Halbert wants his team to be involved in the community with service opportunities and youth programs. “Our varsity coaches will be involved with the little league,” Halbert said. “We want to keep kids here. Coaches come onto our campus trying to influence our kids, and we want the best we can to stay and be Jaguars.” He wants his players to be successful on the field and
The Jaguars’ new head coach was introduced to his team as school ended. He coached there in 1989 under Rick Bojak. (Greg James/City Journals)
in life. “I expect these kids to work hard in the classroom and prepare for the game and become good citizens, husbands, fathers, mothers and wives,” Halbert said.l
July 2021 | Page 37
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Page 38 | July 2021
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West Jordan City Journal
A Series of Unfortunate Events It’s been said that when we make plans, God laughs. Do you think that’s a silly giggle or a maniacal James Bond villain laugh? The last few weeks brought a string of first-world irritations that felt like a game of Whac-a-Mole. I hit one problem and another one popped up. I pound that problem but end up hitting myself in the face with a rubber mallet. I can hear God LOLing from here. Despite our daily devotion to it, our TV stopped working. We shook the remote and pushed buttons as hard as we could, but there was still no picture. Just a dark, mocking abyss. We decided to run away from our responsibilities by driving to Idaho and checking-in at an Airbnb. (The room was nice, but the bed was shaped like a taco. I slept on the couch so I didn’t roll over in the night and suffocate my spouse.) Every 50 years, my husband likes to visit Yellowstone, so we left our Airbnb and drove to the national park to snap pictures of the bison, tiptoe around the geysers and marvel at the wondrous number of people who had the same idea. #HelloCOVID After getting lost in Yellowstone and stopping for Mexican food so we didn’t starve to death, we crossed the Teton Pass just as the sun was setting. Deer lined the road, waiting for the right moment to lunge in front of our car. We’d see their eyes glow-
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ing in the dark, then hit the brakes before driving on. It took us 245 years to get back to our Airbnb. The drive back to Salt Lake the next day was pleasant, except when I had to give my husband the silent treatment because he wouldn’t take me to the Potato Museum (#PotatoIceCream). After we crossed back into Utah, the truck in front of us kicked up a rock that hit the car’s windshield, leaving an extensive and expensive crack across the glass. Used to be, when you broke a windshield, you’d call the junkyard and they’d take a windshield out of a car in their backyard to replace the broken one. Today’s windshield has monitors, antenna and tracking devices, so it’s worth half-a-million dollars, according to the windshield repair shop.
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Why hasn’t Elon Musk created self-healing windshield glass? We made it back home, picked up the dog and gave everyone their Yellowstone golf balls and Idaho potholders. I looked forward to a nice hot shower but (joke’s on us) the hot water heater stopped working and was chuckling with God and the TV. They all had a good laugh together. We forked out more cash so we could have hot water, collapsed into our non-taco bed and slept. A few days later, my husband said, “We have a gas leak in the basement.” It took me a minute to understand what he was saying because he was so calm. My husband is notoriously terrible under stress. “Why are we still in the house?” I asked. “Where else would we be?” He responded. “Not in a house that could explode if we make toast.” We hustled everyone to the neighbor’s lawn until the gas company gave us the okay. The water heater had been installed incorrectly but our house wasn’t going to blow up. Today, at least. I rarely look at the dark side of life and by the end of the week I was chortling right along with God, the TV and the water heater. Sometimes, LOLing is the only thing you can do.
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July 2021 | Page 39
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5
July 2021 | Vol. 7 Iss. 07
FREE GRADUATION RATES UP, FAILING GRADES DOWN DUE TO TARGETED CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM T
Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
he number of West Jordan Middle School students entering high school with credit deficits has decreased almost 90% in the past seven years. What happened seven years ago that had such an effect was that Dixie Garrison became principal at West Jordan Middle School. “Her priority is not to ‘run a school’ but to make West Jordan Middle School a community where both students and staff can thrive,” said Jeanette Gudgell, a member of WJMS’s Community Council. “She promotes empathy, encourages those who are struggling both academically and socially, and celebrates the successes of students and staff. One of the things I think is most impressive is that she lets the students know she loves them on a daily basis.” With a passion for education, Garrison encourages her staff to implement any idea that supports students. WJMS has a robust afterschool program and cultural support
groups such as Latinos in Action, Polynesian Crew and the Empathy Project. To address the failing grades, the WJMS staff developed a credit recovery plan, called Platinum Pride Time, that eliminates the need for summer school and credit recovery packets, which are seldom successful with students who have lost motivation. “Other schools might have credit recovery programs but not to the extent that we do it; I don't know of any other school that does what we do,” school counselor Wendy Petrovich said. School counselors run the program, working one-on-one or in small groups with students during the school day to complete the work needed to pass their classes. The year before Platinum Pride Time was created, the freshman class had a total of 445 failing grades. After the program was implemented, there were only 164. Just a few years later, that number was down to 50. Principal Dixie Garrison is a hands-on principal who promotes programs that support students. (West Continued page 4 Jordan Middle School Facebook)
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