The Logan School District is requesting changing district boundaries between Logan and Cache County School Districts. Specifically they wish to annex land south-west of the airport, 20 acres north of 600 South near 1400 West and the proposed apartment building at 700 S, Logan which is part of the Riverwoods development. Thursday evening the Cache County School Board approved a meeting between the two school board presidents and superintendents.

If they can come to an agreement in that meeting, and it is ratified by both district boards, then the matter is finished. If they cannot come to an agreement, according to superintendent Steven Norton, there is a specific procedure dictated by the State they have to follow. The first step is a creation of a board of three, one representative from each district plus a representative from the State. If this board cannot reach an agreement, there are more steps the districts can take.

However, this is only if they cannot reach an agreement among themselves, which Norton felt certain they could. A report from the boundary meeting will be made at the next school board meeting.

Cache Education Association

The board approved the Tentative Agreement between the district and the Cache Education Association. The agreement was already ratified by the CEA members of district educators. However, there was one small amendment — Steps and Lanes will be maintained “for the 2010/2011 school year.”

The school board used one-time money from reserve accounts to fund steps and lanes this year. If the school district does not receive an increase in funds for next year, they will have to make deeper cuts in future budgets. The change to the agreement is to clarify the time frame of the steps and lanes.

The agreement, as modified, will have to go back to the CEA to see if they need to re-ratify the agreement or if the change can be accepted as-is.

School Growth

The new Birch Creek Elementary in Smithfield has 500 students already. “I don’t know what we would have done if we hadn’t built that school,” reported Norton to the school board. All of the elementary schools have room for growth. However, the secondary schools are going to feel the pinch really quick.

Norton added that the first day of school went well. The sidewalk to Birch Creek is finished and the students are using it already. “I want to thank Smithfield City for putting in that sidewalk,” he added.

Federal Money

The district will likely receive a one-time payment of $2 million from the federal government as an education stimulus. The one-time nature of the money means the board cannot use it it for anything long term, however, it can cover short-term spending needs even including salaries and employee benefits.

School Match Report

The district received the School Match report — a comparison of CCSD with other districts identified as having similar demographics. District test scores were in the 86th percentile compared to the national average while dollars spent per pupil was only in the 10th percentile.

The CCSD is considered to be a large district in the 95th percentile — over 15,000 students — compared to the national average of only 3,342 per district. It’s also interesting to note the average education level of district residents is in the 87th percentile.

Top of Utah

The board approved renting school busses for the Top of Utah half and full marathons. The half marathon was held on Saturday. The full marathon will be held on Saturday, September 18.