Board Summary, Feb. 4, 2025

Note: Recordings and documents for agenda items can be accessed via BoardDocs by clicking on the corresponding agenda items

Long Range Planning

The Long-Range Planning Committee has been studying demographic data to gain insight into the fluctuating enrollment trends across Canyons District. According to the figures presented by Business Administrator Leon Wilcox, 10 Canyons elementary schools have a total enrollment below 370 students. The total number of middle school enrollment has gone down from 8,024 students in 2020-2021 to 7,337 in the current school year. However, high school enrollment figures have ticked up slightly, from 10,956 in 2020-2021 to 11,395 for this school year. Colleges have been anticipating the expected drop in freshmen in fall 2026 and then another drop in 2033. Wilcox also presented information about a refinancing proposal that would advance the repayment schedule on debt from the 2010 general-obligation bond. If realized, the debt would be paid down by 2031 instead of 2033. The estimated savings in interest is $850,000, Wilcox said. If the Board moves forward, a bond parameters resolution would need to be reviewed during two readings during springtime Board meetings. 

Legislative Update

Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards provided an update on the education-related bills being deliberated by Utah lawmakers since the legislative sessions started on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Bills of interest included an update to the school-safety bill requiring each school to have an armed guardian from bell-to-bell every day school is in session, proposed rollbacks tax amendments, suggested curriculum changes, among others. Canyons’ legislative team produces a daily email update on the education-related bills being discussed on Capitol Hill. The community is invited to subscribe to the Canyons’ bill tracker, sent by the RSS feed from the CSD website.

School Fees Policy Review

Canyons District is required to adopt a student-fee schedule for the coming school year by April 1. To start this year’s process to review, gather input, and then consider for adoption the 2025-2026 fee schedule, the Board of Education reviewed the CSD policies governing the collection of student fees, including the requirement to post Canyons District’s fee policy and schedules on the CSD and school websites. Business Administrator Leon Wilcox noted that CSD must establish a maximum fee amount per student for each activity, the maximum total aggregate fee amount per student per school year, and a spending plan for every fee. The fee also should be based on the cost to provide the activity, class or program. Students may not be denied an opportunity to participate in any activity because of the cost of a fee. Waivers should be granted to those who cannot afford to participate, Wilcox said, and schools cannot treat a student on waiver differently than those who pay their fees out of their pockets. Students who receive fee waivers also cannot be identified in public. The overall cost of fee waivers is shouldered equally by schools, Wilcox said. Starting next year, Districts will be prohibited from charging registration fees. For FY24, CSD collected $262,000 at the middle school level and $650,000 at high schools in registration fees to help off-set costs of providing programs and services. District also will not be allowed to charge a fee to use any school-owned equipment or for any non-core classes. The Board is being asked to change the fee policy so that, among other things, schools cannot withhold class schedules for unpaid fees, consider SNAP eligibility to issue a fee waiver, or charge a fee for computer usage unless the device is lost or damaged. A proposed fee schedule will be discussed at the Feb. 18 meeting of the Canyons Board of Education.

LAND Trust, TSSP Reports

The Board of Education has been provided access to the school LAND Trust and TSSP plans. School Performance Director Alice Meridith presented information about the process to approve the plans.

Graduation Ceremonies

Assistant Superintendent Dr. McKay Robinson presented options for future Graduation Day plans. For the current and next year, he said, it is proposed that Graduation Day would remain on the same day at Utah Valley University and the Maverik Center. Then, the following year, CSD would hold commencement rites at only one venue over a two-day period. This year, Canyons District’s five traditional high schools will hold their graduation ceremonies Thursday, May 29. Ceremonies for special programs and schools will be held on separate dates. The dates, times and locations are:

Alta High – May 29, 2:30 p.m., Utah Valley University UCCU Events Center

Brighton High – May 29, 6 p.m., Maverik Center

Corner Canyon High – May 29, 10 a.m., Utah Valley University UCCU Events Center

Hillcrest High – May 29, 2 p.m., Maverik Center

Jordan High – May 29, 9:30 a.m., Maverik Center

Diamond Ridge High School – May 28, Time TBD, Alta High Performing Arts Center

Entrada – June 12, 7 p.m., Alta High Performing Arts Center

Jordan Valley – May 23, 3 p.m., Jordan Valley

Life Skills Academy – May 28, 12 p.m., Life Skills Academy

Canyons Strong Recognitions

The following were recognized for their achievements:

• The Jordan High Navy National Defense Cadet Corps, who presented the colors at the State Capitol last week.
• Hillcrest Drill for repeating as state champions in the 4A UHSAA competition. The Corner Canyon Charelles took fourth place overall in the 6A classification and the Brighton Accadians were awarded fifth place in the 5A Dance category.
• Corner Canyon’s cheer squad for winning second place overall at the 6A state competition. The team also is the focus of an upcoming documentary-style film produced by Varsity TV.
• School nurses, particularly nursing coordinator Jen Gerrard, for conducting vision screening and participating in SightFest, an event that provided new eyeglasses for 40 CSD students.
• All CSD counselors for National School Counseling Week Feb. 3-7.
• The lineup of CCHS football coach Eric Kjar, Brighton football coach Casey Sutera, Brighton graduate and former NFL player Bryan Kehl and Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins who talked about the upcoming Super Bowl, and the importance of student extracurriculars, on this week’s episode of the Connect Canyons podcast.
• Nancy Webb, CSD’s new purchasing director, who was appointed as a recent Board meeting. 

School Highlights

Brookwood is an academic center that also focuses on helping students build positive character traits, said Principal Corrie Barrett. From the speech language pathologist to the MTSS aide to the instructional coach, the entire staff works together to create a creative and positive learning environment. As principal, Barrett said, she tries to stay attuned to the needs of the school’s teachers to support their instructional work. Brookwood also enjoys strong community and parent support with such programs as the student music group, chess club, STEM activities, and the Book Blitz.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes for the Jan. 21, 2025 meeting of the Board; hire and termination reports; student overnight travel requests; purchasing bids; approval of LAND Trust and TSSP reports; an amendment to the Cottonwood Heights CDRA; an amendment to the contract for the Superintendent; and an amendment to East Sandy Elementary’s LAND Trust/ TSSP plan.  

Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports

Superintendent Robins thanked Canyons District counselors for their contributions to student achievement. Not only do the counselors provide valuable academic advisement, but they serve as a major resource in times of crisis, as evidenced by the supports provided during recent tragedies in several school communities. Counselors, and CSD’s Student Wellness Services Department, play pivotal roles in addressing physical and mental-health issues that could hinder learning. National School Counseling Week is held annually during the first full week of February.

Mr. Wilcox noted the start of Career and Technical Education Month. He thanked the CTE teachers at the Canyons Technical Education Center and secondary schools for their efforts.

Board of Education Reports

Ms. Holly Neibaur reported on attending the Listening Tour at Willow Springs Elementary and commented on the study of possible and current course offerings. She noted the enrollment and demographic figures presented during the presentation on CSD’s long-range planning and asked for additional time in various committees to discuss the implications of the data. Neibaur also said community members have commented to her on the recent Lunar New Year celebration at Corner Canyon High, which was planned by Monet Oaks, Vice President Amanda Oaks’ daughter.

Mr. Jackson Lewis reported on attending Canyoneering Academy and the event’s workshops on e-cigarettes and school safety. He also went to Capitol Hill to speak to lawmakers during the session and congratulated Hillcrest Drill on repeating as the 4A UHSAA drill team champions. 

Ms. Amanda Oaks reported on Alta High’s Multicultural Week, including an assembly that featured dances and music from global cultures. She attended the Utah School Boards Association’s Day on the Hill and thanked the community, particularly families of children in a Dual Language Immersion program, for the support of the Lunar New Year event held last week at Corner Canyon High. 

Ms. Katie Dahle thanked CSD personnel for overseeing the operations of schools, commented on the discussions during Listening Tours, and reported on attending the UASB Day on the Hill. She noted the importance of such programs as the Jordan High Navy National Cadet Corps and encouraged the community to contact legislators about pending bills, including school-safety amendments that would “harden” facilities instead of investing in counselors and school psychologists.

Mrs. Karen Pedersen reported on the development of an interactive evaluation of the Superintendent and remarked on the District’s financial support of extracurricular programs, even as the legislature wants to eliminate fees that pay for activities. A bill also has been introduced that would cut funding for teachers in special education. She also sent a verbal “valentine” to school personnel for their work with students and families.

Vice President Andrew Edtl noted that a lot of a Board member’s work is done in committees. The Board recently reassigned committees to members of the Board. Edtl expressed his concern about the “unfunded mandates” being passed by Utah lawmakers, such as the costs in HB84, which would require districts to pay for bullet-resistant film on fourth-story windows. He encouraged the community to contact legislators to discuss pending legislation. Edtl expressed appreciation for legislators who are “standing up for common sense” and speaking against unfunded mandates. He attended USBA Day on the Hill and chaperoned Mount Jordan Middle’s trip to the legislature.