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PTA leaders from across Provo on Tuesday took a close look at the city's schools during the last meeting of the school year for the Provo Council PTA.
PTA council leaders and school PTA presidents from across the city toured both Provo high schools, Dixon Middle School and several elementary schools, including Timpanogos Elementary, which has been using the Oakridge building across from the campus of Brigham Young University, while the new Timpanogos Elementary is being built.
RaDene Hatfield, next year's president of the council PTA, said the tour was aimed at breaking down the misconception that east-side schools were better than west-side schools and to expose PTA members to the challenges and strengths of other schools.
"You find out we're a lot more alike than you think," Hatfield said.
Hatfield organized the trip to revive the tradition of visiting schools. That tradition had been abandoned by the council PTA.
"It's something that the PTA actually used to do all the time," Hatfield said. "It was a way for the PTA leaders of the district to get to know each other and the schools."
At Timpview High School, Principal George Bayles showed the PTA leaders around the school, including the gym and playing field. He joked that the exposure would alleviate the PTA leaders' concerns about the school's All Sports Turf football and soccer field.
"You may find out it's not the great Satan you thought it was," Bayles said.
There has been concern about dangerous levels of lead in artificial turf. Bayles told PTA leaders that there was no lead in his field.
At each school, the PTA learned something different. They asked Diane Bridge, the principal of Timpanogos Elementary School, how they could help the school when it moves into its new building in October. Hatfield wants to organize volunteers to help move or to provide childcare.
They asked Rosanna Ungerman, the principal of Dixon Middle School, about the school's new dress code. Next year students won't be allowed to wear sweats or pajamas. They must wear collared shirts without logos and plain-colored pants or knee-length shorts or skirts.
"Each school has kind of focused on different things and that's made it interesting," said Deon Turley, the current president of the council PTA.
Hatfield is running for a state Senate seat in District 16 as a Democrat and Turley is running for a state House seat in District 61 also as a Democrat.
• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at
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