MCSD prepares to welcome students back to school

Not everyone loves change, yet change is always inevitable when it comes to a new school year in Morgan County. One of the biggest changes parents, students and teachers will have this year is the change from Aspire to PowerSchool as the Student Information System. School personnel have been working for weeks to switch over before school starts next week.

Social media is usually a buzz during the summer with parents asking for a copy of the supply list for students. This year, comments were made that K-sixth grade supplies would be provided by the school district and would not need to be provided by parents. 

“School districts in Utah are required to provide a free public education,” said MCSD Business Administrator, Scott McMillan. “There are certain areas where a fee or tuition may be charged such as for athletics or preschool, but it is very limited. There is an exception where parents can be provided with a list of items on a voluntary basis that they may provide. It appears that these voluntary lists may have become more of an expectation upon parents that feels more like a fee than a voluntary donation.” Over the last four years the board has been reducing student fees each year in an effort to provide a free education and this change is an extension of that effort. If you would like to gain a better understanding of the codes on fees and voluntary donations go to 

https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53G/Chapter7/53G-7-S503.html 

At Morgan Middle School, an Audio Enhancement safety system has been installed as a pilot using school safety grant money. To address the safety issue of ice buildup and drivers slipping and falling, the bus shed has now been enclosed. The north bleachers in the high school gym have been upgraded while the district has started the replacement of the welding shop at the high school.

With teachers retiring or moving onto other opportunities, it becomes necessary to hire new teachers. Morgan High School has hired Randall Falkner as a Social Studies teacher, Reganne Hales as a Science teacher, Amy Koppenhafer as a Social Studies teacher,  Amber Louder as a girls PE teacher, Skyler McCormick as an Ag Mech/Welding teacher and Crystal Nelson to teach Music 1010.

Krachel Fullmer who has been the business teacher at MMS for the past two years will be moving to the high school as the new business teacher. Emily Mellor, who has been helping in the Mountain Green Middle School counseling center will be the new counselor at MHS.

The only two changes that will happen at Morgan Middle School is long time Morgan Elementary teacher Tiffany Netz will now be a Math Teacher and Counselor. MGMS business teacher Dustin Fullmer will be the business teacher at MMS.

Morgan Elementary has hired Laci Rose as the new fourth grade teacher. Chelsee Petersen who has been a MHS teacher will go back to MES where she taught for years previously. 

Mountain Green Middle School has hired Jenna Harper as a sixth grade teacher, Makenzie Peterson as a SPED teacher and Kacey Rollins as a Social Studies teacher. Averi Thurgood who has worked as an intervention aide at MGMS has been hired as a sixth grade teacher. Kevin Beals who has been a teacher at MHS will now be the Computer Science and Business teacher at MGMS.

Mountain Green Elementary has a new Art Integration Specialist, Christy Bath. Heather Richardson who has been the MES Instructional Coach will now be the Early Learning Coach at MGES.

School starts Tuesday, Aug. 20; this will be an early release day. Each school has sent out informational emails to parents concerning back to school nights along with start and release times. λ