• Melody Barenbrugge, Parkside Title 1 Coordinator (32 yrs. teaching/27 yrs. MSD)
• Sherry Bleazard, Viewmont Reading Coordinator (25 yrs. teaching/15 yrs. MSD)
• Susan Buehler, Parkside third grade teacher (25 yrs. teaching MSD)
• Rina Bunnell, Liberty Kitchen Manager (26 yrs. MSD)
• Karen Christopulos, HJH School Success teacher (22 yrs. MSD)
• Mauritia Daily-Stephens, Longview KG teacher (19 yrs. MSD)
• Darlene Evans, Horizon Title 1 Coordinator (22 yrs. MSD)
• Patricia Hall, Viewmont fourth grade teacher (34 yrs. teaching/29 yrs. MSD)
• Jerry Hansen, Grant Head Custodian (25 yrs. MSD)
• Connie Johnson, Grant Reading Coordinator (18 yrs. MSD)
• Dale Johnson, Longview fifth/sixth grade split (23 yrs. teaching/15 yrs. MSD)
• Margaret Lewis, MHS Administrative Secretary (22 yrs. MSD)
• Carol Jean Mule’, Horizon fourth grade (37 yrs. teaching/22 yrs. MSD)
• Diane Peterson, Viewmont fifth grade (30 yrs. teaching/28 yrs. MSD)
• Marsh Yates, Horizon fifth grade (22 yrs. MSD)

Receptions & Open Houses are being held to bid these collegues farewell and send them off with good wishes:

May 15 (Wed.) – VIRGINIA SMITH; Murray High School, 2:30-4:30 PM (past)

May 17 (Thurs.) DISTRICT RETIREMENT DINNER; Cottonwood Country Club, 6:30 PM by invitation

May 21 (Mon.) – JERRY HANSEN; Grant Elementary, 3:45-4:30 PM

May 22 (Tues.) – DALE JOHNSON, MAURITA STEPHENS, TRUDY GLEASON, Longview Elementary Library, 3:30-5 PM

May 23 (Wed.) – DARLENE EVANS & MARSHA YATES; Horizon Elementary, 3:30-4:30 PM

May 23 (Wed.) – MELODY BARENBRUGGE; Parkside Elementary Library, 3:45- 5 PM

May 24 (Thurs.) – SHERRY BLEAZARD, PATTI HALL, DIANE PETERSON; Viewmont Elementary, 5- 6 PM

May 24 (Thurs.) – FOOD SERVICES THANK YOU BBQ, Murray Park, 5-6:30 PM

The original 1949 structure.

The Murray Board of Education is conducting a bond election in June when citizens of Murray will be asked to vote on a general obligation bond. The purpose of the bond is to finance the reconstruction of Hillcrest Junior High School and to make important seismic upgrades on all of the Murray School District schools, with the exclusion of the newer Murray High School. Except for MHS, all other schools in the Murray District are at least 30 years old; Hillcrest is one of the oldest, originally built in 1911 with buildings still in use dating back to 1949. Murray District have been consistantly well-maintained, but building standards at the time of construction did not require seismic considerations. A portion of the bond proceeds will provide structural retrofits to enhance safety, in the event that an earthquake should occur.

The bond request is for $33-million with $29-million to be used for reconstruction of Hillcrest, and $4-million for seismic upgrades. The Murray City School District has also saved additional capital outlay funds to help with costs. A facilities bond works much like a home mortgage with the District asking permission from the public to increase taxes to raise an amount that would be paid back over a twenty-year period. Projected costs to residents would be around $4.83 a month, or $58 a year on a (hypothetical) $200,000 home.

ADA compliance is a continuing challenge to the school.

The school district has looked into the cost of remodeling Hillcrest Junior High. The requirements necessary to bring the facility into compliance with current seismic standards and provide accessibility to disabled individuals as mandated by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as electrical, plumbing, roofing and seismic upgrades would bring costs well into the $20-milliion dollar range.

Implementation of these plans would begin immediately after the passage of the bond, with construction on Hillcrest JH beginning in March of 2013; seismic upgrades to other schools underway later in spring 2013; and completion of Hillcrest by 2015. This is the time to undertake these much needed projects as interest rates are at a historic low, and construction costs are down due to the current economic downturn. Additionally, Murray District’s bond credit rating is excellent. Moving forward during this time-frame would allow the district to complete the projects at a savings to taxpayers, versus delaying these inevitable construction needs for a future, less cost-efficient date. Watch for more information in the mail of Murray citizens, and also in local newspapers. The Murray City School District encourages all registered voters to vote in the June 26, 2012 elections.

Bond Election “QUESTIONS & ANSWERS”
(Click on this link to read a two-page information sheet)

Due to elevations throughout Hillcrest Jr. High, steps are everywhere!

PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF KINDERGARTNERS are invited to find out more about opportunities in our PORTUGUESE Dual Immersion Program at Parkside Elementary School.  Students begin a Dual Immersion program in 1st grade.  Interested participants are welcome to talk with the principal to find out more about this wonderful student opportunity.

Parkside Elementary School – Portuguese Dual Immersion Program
495 E. 5175 S.
Principal Colleen Smith, school phone 801-264-7434
“Why Study Portuguese?” Facts & Information
Utah’s Portuguese Dual Immersion Program brochure

Utah Public Education You Tube presentation about Utah Dual Immersion Programs

Or, contact Dual Immersion administrator/coordinator, Dr. Martha Kupferschmidt, Director of Teaching & Learning, at 801-264-7400 X5025 additional information.

* Please visit the Dual Immersion section of our website for future updates. *

2/29/12 11:55AM

(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students cheer on Friday for their teachers during a rock star assembly at Longview Elementary School during Teacher Appreciation Week.

This month, Longview Elementary School is proud to celebrate a 50-year legacy of providing quality education to the young students of Murray City!  They will be hosting a special celebratory assembly on Wednesday, May 16 at 1:30 PM; a day-long sock hop on Thursday, May 17, and other fun events throughout the rest of the month (school year).

Congratulations to Longview for an amazing legacy of outstanding teachers, administrators and students!

For more information on the 50 year-celebration at Longview Elemtnary School, contact Principal Connie Amos, or school secretary Sharon Gillen, 801-264-7428.

InTheNews: May 9, 2012/Salt Lake Tribune by Lisa Schencker: Utah teachers earn ‘rock star’ awards for appreciation week – At Longview Elementary in Murray, the school PTA treated teachers to a rock-star awards assembly on Wednesday. The event featured trophies, a red carpet and more (read article and see photos)…

Stack of 75 hand-tied fleece blankets made by students.

Honor Society students at Riverview Junior High School just finished their first service project for the inaugural year of the school’s Honor Society. The project was organized by Honor Society officers and everything will be donated to Primary Children’s Medical Center (PCMC).

The following items were collected for donation to PCMC:

• 161 Children’s Books
• 197 various craft items, including 74 glue containers, 13 pairs of scissors and 27 packets of crayons or markers
• and hand-tied 75 fleece banklets!

Great Murray students doing great things for others!

Reported by Ian MacDonald, AP Chemistry Teacher, Murray High School.

• Parent page – includes program supports with links, Murray Connect, Electronic High School, school reports, and college links

• School page – includes links to each school’s website

• Curriculum page – will include the best links for the core, elementary curriculum, and secondary curriculum

• Instruction page – includes pictures of Murray classrooms and links for instructional supports

• Professional development – still under construction

• Programs – includes valuable information on ESL and Special Education

• Assessment – includes sites intended for staff on state and district required assessments

To access the website, go to the Teaching & Learning dropdown link under the Departments & Programs header on the Murray City School District website (you are here now!)