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The City Journals Team

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By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

ferent thoughts on how to handle it. It was difficult to find an answer for what everybody needed. The positive was it got more parents involved so overall it was good.”

“It was peer pressure that made me decide to run,” said Stevenson, who has served for four years. “I’d retired after 40 years as a teacher so I had the background to be involved in the district so friends encouraged me to. I decided I needed to step up and do what I could for good or bad.”

A big part of her term was taken up by COVID issues, she said. “I think we did a great job getting kids back (to school) safely. We were pioneers.”

Even with that Stevenson said she had a good time being on the board. “I feel like it was a positive experience. I know there are so many good people, teachers and students. The highlight was watching people work tirelessly for our district.”

Stevenson figured out she’s been involved in education for 60 plus years. “I was a student in K-12, then a teacher, a board member and as a parent. My whole life has been that and I still have a lot of grandkids in the district.”

Stevenson’s assignment on the board was serving with the Davis Education Foundation. “It was wonderful watching the teen centers come to fruition,” she said. “Being part of that at the start and seeing the generosity of the community who reached deep into their pockets to make it happen was a joy and delight.”

Cheryl Phipps has served for four years but had previously served starting in 1994 for eight years. “I ran originally because I didn’t feel like the north end of the county was getting much attention,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that any child in school would have an equal opportunity no matter where they lived in the county.”

Phipps said after leaving the board the last time about four years ago she became concerned about the negative environment where public education was not being put in a great light. “I love public education. That negative talk about our public schools four years ago made me decide to get involved again to be a positive voice for public schools.”

Parents were feeling like they weren’t being heard, she said. “I wanted to be an advocate to listen to their concerns and work through the problems and find a way to bring all people together.”

“It’s about the students,” said Stevenson. “We (board) always tried to remember it was about our students and make our choices based on what was good for them. I hope I changed lives and have done something good.” l

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Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

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There’s also an open mike where students perform original songs. “One of the girls sang her song and everyone was crying,” said Alexandra. “Our hearts were breaking. It was a song to her sister telling her how much they would miss her if she committed suicide. Some of them are going through a lot of hard stuff. It's through music they can express themselves.”

Bands have to play an original song and a cover song, said David. “The cover song has to be family friendly. It can’t talk about drugs or have foul language and nothing sexual. They learn to live by the rules. It’s a beautiful thing having rules, structure. It teaches them life skills.”

The Sandbergs have brought in some talented judges for the event. “We had Chance Thomas who is kind of the father of music for modern video games,” said David. “He did the music for the Avatar and Lord of the Rings games. He has an Oscar and several Grammys.”

“We’ve been trying to get him for the last six years,” said Alexandra. “This was the magical year that he said he could do it. We also had Madeline Page who was a contestant on the Voice. We’re excited that such professional judges could come. The kids were beside themselves.”

“Two of the other judges were past stu- dents,” said David. “After high school they got together and started a band called Acacia Ridge. They have 4 million followers. The kids all know them because the band is popular. They know how the kids feel because they were in their shoes 10 years ago.”

It gives the kids a chance to get out there and live their dream, said Alexandra. “They feel like a rock star for that day and they are.”

Life can be tough and sadly one student took his own life, she said. "At the funeral his mom said the greatest thing he ever experienced was Battle of the Bands.”

The bottom line is to make sure these kids know they are loved, said Alexandra.

“That they know that they have self worth. We’re in the business of providing a safe place, a program where the kids can be lifted up and feel loved.”

They follow the kids’ lives after high school, she said. “We love these kids. They’re our kids. We’re two people who have a bunch of sons and daughters. It’s well worth the time we put into it.”

Region for the Battle of the Bands will be held March 4 at Bountiful High and Rock’n the Arts will be the night before featuring all of the bands that tried out but didn’t make it. Look for more information on the BHS website. l