Note: Recordings and documents for agenda items can be accessed via BoardDocs by clicking on the corresponding agenda items.
Farewell to Outgoing Board members
The Board of Education honored Nancy Tingey and Kris Millerberg, who are just weeks away from ending their time as members of the Canyons Board of Education. In January 2025, when their terms have expired, it will be the first time since 2008 that either a Millerberg or a Tingey, or both at the same time, has not been on the Canyons Board of Education. Kris Millerberg was appointed in March to complete the District 1 term of her husband, Mont, who served on the inaugural Board, returned in 2016, and was re-elected in 2020. The Millerberg legacy was enshrined earlier this year when Mont Millerberg, and by extension, Kris Millerberg, was presented with the District’s highest honor — the Legacy Award at the 2024 Apex Awards. Through Mont, Kris had a front-row seat of the creation of the District, the first new school district to be created in Utah in nearly a century. Kris has supported innovations designed to inspired high levels of student achievement and has served as an advocate for teachers during her time on the Board. Millerberg, along with Tingey, endorsed the 2024 lease-revenue bond proposal to strengthen the Jordan High feeder and pay for major renovations and additions at Jordan High, Hillcrest, and Corner Canyon high schools and Eastmont Middle. They also were among the visionaries who saw the future in the purchase of the former eBay building for the site of a school that prepares students for the jobs of the 21st century. Tingey has held the District 3 seat since her first election in 2012. For her part, Tingey has served on the Board alongside all four of CSD’s chief executives and played a major role in the national searches that led to the appointments of Drs. Jim Briscoe and Rick Robins. She was among the members of the Board to put into place a salary schedule that made Canyons District teachers among the highest-paid in the state and she supported the 2017 bond that advanced CSD’s ambitious facility-improvement plan. In fact, nearly two dozen schools have been renovated or rebuilt since Tingey was elected to the Board. Tingey also was lauded for her leadership during the COVID-19 school year. As Board President, she was tireless in her dedication, even when she was inundated with emails and phone calls from patrons whose viewpoints ranged from shutting schools down entirely to operating without any wellness protocols. The Board and Administration presented Tingey and Millerberg with a crystal award, flowers, and gift baskets of items emblazoned with the CSD logo. Prior to the Board meeting, a reception was held to honor Tingey and Millerberg for their service. Each Board member, Dr. Robins and Business Administrator Leon Wilcox also addressed the contributions of Tingey and Millerberg.
Administrative Appointments
The Board of Education approved the appointment of Nicole Svee Magann’s to an administrative position with the Student Wellness Services Department. Magann, who has more than 30 years in education and a decade of experience as a school administrator, currently serves as Principal of Willow Canyon Elementary. At the District Office, the former English teacher and Apex Award winner for School Administrator of the Year will be tasked with helping to oversee student supports. Svee Magann will be succeeded by Halley Nelson, who currently serves as Assistant Principal at Glacier Hills Elementary. To ensure a smooth transition, Svee Magann will remain at Willow Canyon through December. During this time, she will work closely with Nelson to maintain stability and continuity for our students, families, and staff. Stepping up to work in Nelson’s place at Glacier Hills will be Alison Milne, a third-grade teacher at Silver Mesa who has more than 15 years of administrative experience at Granite School District.
Teacher Merit Pay Proposal
Canyons District will not participate in a teacher merit-pay system that was created by 2024 legislation titled “Market Informed Compensation for Teachers.” This is not because CSD teachers do not deserve the merit bonuses, stated members of the Canyons Board of Education, but because of the way the district would be forced to choose which teachers would get the bonus. The process would pit teacher against teacher, discourage collaboration. and create an environment in which teachers may turn away special education or multi-lingual learners out of concern that their assessment scores would make the teachers ineligible for the extra funds. The bonus also would not be available to teachers in elective courses or classes that do not have a required assessment. The 2024 bill, SB173, provides $150 million for bonuses for “high performing” educators. Participating districts would be required to develop a matrix to identify the top 25 percent of teachers, based on student achievement and growth, professional evaluations, a parent survey, and student input and collaboration. The Board asked the Administration to craft a message for CSD employees explaining why Canyons will not be participating.
UCAW and FAFSA
Canyons high schools have planned events to help seniors complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, which is required for students to qualify for financial assistance. Melissa Baker, Canyons School Counseling Program Specialist, said Jordan High has the highest FAFSA-completion rate in CSD, largely because the school has hired support personnel to coordinate FAFSA-related activities. Baker said some families have not completed the FAFSA because they assume they make too much money and would not qualify for student aid. Concerns about citizenship status, coupled with tax issues, also have led to some students not completing the FAFSA.A botched rollout of a new FAFSA website also added to lower rates of students not completing the FAFSA in the past year. In addition to encouraging students to complete the FAFSA, schools held Utah College Application Weeks to urge every student to submit at least one viable college application. Baker said 75 percent of CSD seniors applied to 150 different colleges and universities during their UCAW activities in 2024. Baker also told the Board of Education that counselors provide information about Career and Technical Education pathways offered in traditional and comprehensive high schools and the Canyons Technical Education Center.
Goals and Indicators
In a presentation focusing on CSD’s strategic goals and indicators, CSD Research and Assessment Director Dr. Hal Sanderson told the Board of Education that the job-satisfaction level of Canyons teachers has jumped 10 percent in two school years. Seventy-three percent of Canyons teachers responded affirmatively to the survey question “All in all, I am satisfied with my job in Canyons School District.” This is a vast change from the 2021-2022 Educator Satisfaction Survey, when the response to the same question landed at 63 percent. Dr. Sanderson also noted that 86 percent of respondents to a stakeholder survey indicated they were pleased the quality of education their children receive in CSD schools, and a survey of the Class of 2024 showed that 81 percent were satisfied with the education they received in CSD schools. Canyons District students mostly outpaced their peers on year-end assessments and on the ACT, according to the achievement data. While some achievement indicators didn’t see marked increases last year, Sanderson urged the Board to consider the trajectory of growth over a period of years. While CSD’s graduation rate landed at 88 percent, Canyons District students with disabilities popped up to 82 percent and the graduation rates of Hispanic/Latino, multi-lingual, and low-income students hover between 75 and 82 percent. The Board also was presented information about chronic absenteeism, volunteer rates, the amount of time patrons spend on the CSD website, and financial audits showing CSD in full compliance. In fact, CSD received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Association of School Business Officials International Meritorious Budget Award.
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Business Administrator Wilcox presented the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which indicates a fund balance of some $72.5 million. Wilcox pointed out that some 88 percent of the budget goes toward salaries and benefits for District employees. During the presentation, it was noted that taxes stemming from home ownership are greatly outpacing the tax rates of businesses. This is because of the sudden and steep increase in home prices. The same is not happening for business properties. In addition, the report indicates CSD retired $29.8 million in general obligation bonds and $3 million in lease-revenue bonds during 2024. According to the report, as of the close of the current fiscal year, the District’s governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of $144.8 million, an increase of $49.2 million. Most of this increase is due to the issuance of $50.8 million, including premiums, of additional lease revenue bonds issued April 25, 2024. Actual revenues were $2.8 million or 0.7 percent less than budgeted for the General Fund. This variance primarily results from expenditure-driven state and federal grants that will be utilized in future years. Actual expenditures were $9.1 million, or 2.3 percent less than the amount budgeted. Lower-than-anticipated state and federal expenditures explain the majority of the variance. However, it is also explained by conservative budgeting practices of planning on full capacity level staffing and paying maximum benefits to all benefit eligible employees. At the end of the current fiscal year, the unassigned fund balance in the General Fund increased by $1.9 million to $33.2 million representing 8.8 percent of General Fund expenditures.
School Highlights
Ridgecrest Principal Sara Allen says she focuses on teamwork at the school, which continues to show progress on year-end assessments. In fact, Allen said, Ridgecrest exceeded state and CSD levels in all tested academic areas. She reported that attendance rates are on the upswing, PTA membership and parent engagement is high, and students are learning to love to read with the literacy program “Road to Success.”
Recognitions
The following were recognized for the achievements:
- Midvale Middle’s ConnieTrue Simons, who was named Utah’s Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year
- Easmont Middle’s designation as a National AVID Demonstration School
- Bella Vista student Ashley Cadman for being selected as the artist for CSD’s 2024 holiday card
- Corner Canyon High’s football team for repeating as 6A football champions
Consent Agenda
The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes of the Board meeting on Nov. 12, 2024; hire and termination reports; student-overnight travel requests; purchasing bids; the 2023-2024 ACFR and related audit reports; an approval to join an insulin mass litigation lawsuit; and the approval of administrative appointments.
Board Member Reports
Ms. Holly Neibaur lauded the quality of Corner Canyon’s fall musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” She also congratulated the Chargers on winning the 6A football championships.
Mr. Andrew Edtl commented on how well Glacier Hills’ choir performed at a holiday event.
Ms. Nancy Tingey expressed gratitude for family and friends who have supported her during her 12 years on the Board of Education. She believes public education is central to the vitality of our community and revisited some of the comments she made during her Oath of Office on Jan. 8, 2013. She also remarked on the work that’s been done during her tenure on the Board, advancing CSD from its infancy to a leader in public education in Utah. She believes CSD will continue to be a beacon of hope and inspiration to so many, and she looks forward to being CSD’s “biggest cheerleader.”
Ms. Kris Millerberg said it’s been an “awesome” experience to serve on the Board after watching the inception and growth of the District as the wife of an inaugural Board member.
