By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
It was an historic moment&emdash;Leon Pexton, board
president, voted to allow the Senior Class to visit
California at graduation time next May.
Senior Class officers, Justin Reynoso, Wes Bills and
Megan Richards, met with the board to request permission to
make the trip.
"They have the most seniors who have signed up of any
class in the past for this time of the year," said Derrin
Owens, class advisor.
Sixty-two of the 134 seniors have already paid deposits.
The first installment was to have been paid by the time the
officers met with the board so that the officers could
report on the possibility of meeting the board's established
criteria that 80 percent of the class participate.
"No other class has had this many students sign up this
soon," said Owens.
Officers reported that several others had indicated that
they wanted to attend and that they planned on paying
regular deposits but they had not raised the necessary funds
as yet. However, they expected to do so.
Last year, said Owens, was the first year that anyone had
been turned away. That had happened with some who had
decided toward the end that they would like to go. However,
approximately 80 students are needed to fill two buses. It
does not pay to take a bus for just a few students.
"We like to have the buses full," said Owens.
The intent of the trip, said Pexton, is to be inclusive
of all seniors. In addition, all students who participate
must be on track to graduate. They must also agree to the
student behavior standards required in the past.
"Historically, the board has required a certain
participation rate because the intent of the activity is
that it is a senior class activity and, as such, should have
a high percentage of seniors participating."
Stacy Brooks, board member, said the issue was whether it
was more important to stick with a set student participation
rate or to consider the economic feasibility of travel
costs.
One bus holds only a certain number of students. If that
bus is full, should a second bus be taken just to
accommodate a few students? she asked.
That was not economically wise.
However, it seemed that would be a moot question with
this class.
Owens said that with the number of students already
participating, it would only improve from that point, in his
estimation.
Last year, said Owens, the Utah Highway Patrol gave the
class $500 from a fund designed to assist those working to
keep senior class graduates off of the highways on
graduation night.
"We had 82 who went last year and the money pretty well
paid for our pizza party," he said. "We had 45 pizzas and
100 drinks."
In addition, he said, the class, as usual, had the drug
dogs sniff their luggage and other items prior to the
trip.
As for his historic vote, said Pexton, it was earned by
this class.
"I voted in the affirmative because this class have the
requisite number of students needed to make the request,"
said Pexton.
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