By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Can there be too much of a good thing?
"I have wrestled with this question for years," said
Teresa Menlove, board vice-chair. "Is the school getting
into the travel business? How much out-of-state travel
should we approve?"
The latest school organization to have the board mulling
the question of what, where, and how much out-of-state
travel should be backed by the district's good-will, if not
the district's pocket-book, is Juab High School
Cheerleaders.
The group won a singular honor. As a result of their
performance at a summer camp the club has been invited to
perform with other outstanding cheerleaders nationwide
during half-time at the Cotton Bowl in Texas during the
Christmas vacation.
The district was asked to approve the trip for the girls
so they could use the high school name and attend the
festivities as representatives of the school.
Juab School District Board members voted to table the
request made by cheerleaders and their parents.
"There are 10 girls who are going from here and two girls
who are going from Manti High School," said Jones, who
served as spokesperson for the group at the board meeting
held on Wednesday. "All 17 members (of the cheer leading
squad) were invited to attend, but seven of them chose not
to because of personal reasons."
Those reasons were valid ones&emdash;one girl is
traveling in Europe, another has a brother returning from an
LDS mission&emdash;and none had to do with finances of the
family, she said. All girls had an opportunity to attend and
received the support of their individual families. For this
reason, she said, there were no feelings of jealousy from
those who were not going toward those who were.
"In the interest of fairness, I think we need to look at
our policy," said Kirk Wright, superintendent. "The board
sets the policy."
Wright said he had not signed the request form sent in
recently by the organization. "We established the
regulations, as a board, governing out-of-state travel in
1997."
"I thought, since the performance was over the holiday
and since we had not been approached by anyone representing
the cheerleaders, that you were going privately and without
need of our support."
"It is an honor they have worked for, something they have
earned," said Jones.
The team was invited because of their ability, said
Jones.
She said every squad that attended the camp had an
opportunity to vote for the squad they would most like to
belong to if they were not performing for their own group.
"They all voted and our squad won."
"It was an invitation, one the cheerleaders have never
had before. They have never been invited to attend until
now. This is a special award for the girls and they want to
go represent the community and Juab High School."
Annette Lovell said students in rural Juab School
District were as capable as those from urban Utah schools."
As they receive more and more recognition for their
outstanding achievements, there will be more and more
opportunities for travel."
In today's world, travel was a given, said Lovell. "I
want everybody who earns the right to compete outside Utah
to have that opportunity. Our students need the chance to
broaden their horizons."
Jones said Diane Park had been the cheerleader advisor
for five years and this was the first time the group had
been invited to perform at a bowl game.
The parents of the group are providing financial support
and are paying their own airfare. Some of the girls,
however, have earned the money needed through part-time
jobs.
"We did want to raise $350 for each airfare," said
Jones.
Julie Smalley, board member, said she recognized that the
travel was a good opportunity for the group. "Are we pricing
some kids out of some people's budgets?"
Smalley said she was a great supporter of
extra-curricular activities, perhaps, however, some students
were discouraged from participating because they knew they
did not have financial resources which would allow them to
do the things the other students did.
"Some may say, 'I'd love to do that but I can't because I
can't afford to and I do not want to apply for a fee
wavier,'" said Smalley.
Wright said he was concerned with the precedence which
may be set if the trip carried board approval. "Where does
it all stop?" he asked. "My concern is the number of new
requests the board is receiving and the number they will
continue to receive. I think the policy needs to be
addressed so everyone will be treated the same."
"I think we need to change the policies," said Lovell.
She said, while it was important to think about change
carefully, students should have opportunities. "We have to
change."
The majority of education is theory," said Lynn Hansen.
"To go to a new place and see what is different
there&emdash;the distinctive cultures, how society works, to
make comparisons&emdash;is as important to education as
anything students get in a classroom."
The cheerleaders had an opportunity to do some hands-on
learning and should not be denied, Hansen said. "They should
get to reap the benefits of their hard work and
achievements."
"Board policy is that to attend any event under the
auspices of the school requires school board permission,"
said Wright. No one had approached the board to ask for
permission until the time was near, he said.
Delanie Hathaway, board member, said she had some
concerns. One was that the activity was expensive. On the
other hand, she said, there would be no time out of school.
Still, she wondered, does approval open the door to more and
more requests.
"You don't have to convince me our kids are outstanding.
However, is the academic side being overshadowed?"
"I didn't know, until today, that we were being asked for
support," said Hathaway.
Dale Fowkes, board member, also thought the board needed
time. "We can decide by the first of November and let you
know. This is the first time I have seen the
application."
The cheerleaders felt a non-support for the activity,
said Hansen. "They thought a denial was implied."
Jones said, however, that the cheerleader's coach had
discussed the invitation with the high school principal and
had been told that board approval was not needed.
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