Meeting Minutes—UCAS Community Council 21 Oct 2014.
Attending: Michelle Johnston, Julie King, Gustavo Morales, Janet Hovorka, Dane Hanvey, Anna Trevino,
Jessica Zimmerman, Clark Baron, Shanna Beaman, Nikita Valavala
Selection of a Co-Chair. Julie King was nominated by Anna Trevino to serve as co-chair for the 20142015 school year. Jessica Zimmerman seconded. Vote was unanimous.
Student Council Update. Nikita Valavala told the board about upcoming events. In August and
September there was a barbeque and a luau dance. October 24th was an outing to Corn Bellies.
November 7th is the Sadie Hawkins girls’ choice dance. Winter formal will be in December. May 2nd will
be prom. Ice Skating will be on Jan 16th. Every other Friday the student council organizes games and
music in the Activities Center at lunch time. A board member suggested that Halloween lunch should
have a costume contest and prizes.
School board update. Clark Baron updated the council on new testing that is coming out soon.
Statistics will be hard to track at first because there will be nothing to compare it to. The School board
changed the board size at their last meeting. They don’t need representatives from the school districts
in the area as much anymore. Mr. Baron felt like it was taking the training wheels off now that the
school was established.
School Guidance update. Dane Hanvey updated the council on the school counselor’s activities.
Students have been given a three year plan to fill out themselves so that they would have more
ownership over their schedules. The counselors have been working to catch academic problems before
the end of the term. They have set up an advisory for academic improvement for students that they see
having troubles. Academic concerns were listed as #1 on the stressors in a recent student survey. Mr.
Hanvey reviewed school policy that states that a 4.0-3.0 grade point average is in good standing. 2.5-2.9
UCAS will pay for 3 UVU classes. 2.5-2.0 UCAS will pay for one on campus class and anything less than a
2.0 or any single F will disqualify students for concurrent enrollment or UVU classes. Mr. Hanvey
discussed the need for maturity and motivation in the senior class.
UCAS Trust Land Plan discussion. Anna Trevino discussed the Trust Land Plan. We need to prepare 3
goals to use the approximately $17,000 funds that the school will receive from Trust Land monies.
Discussion ensued about the cost of College textbooks for UCAs each year totaling $50,000 to $60,000.
Contributing to this budget would be a good use of trust funds but we would need a way to measure the
success that comes from that expenditure. Student Success and Career Explorations funding was also
discussed. UVU charges UCAS $16,000 to teach those UVU courses. It was generally agreed that the
three goals for 2014-2015 should be #1 Funding for Student Success and Career Exploration courses. #2
Paying for the Academic Improvement workshop and advisory courses. And #3 paying for before and
after school tutoring in math and physics. More discussion will ensue on these three goals in our next
meeting.
Gustavo Morales asked about forming an alumni association that could seek donations to the school
from successful alumni. The council agreed to send that to the student council for discussion.
Motion to close the meeting by Gustavo Morales. Seconded by Shanna Beaman.