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

Long-Range Planning

The Board of Education advanced a plan to complete facility-improvement projects at Eastmont Middle and Jordan, Hillcrest, and Corner Canyon high schools. The projects, which could start as soon as the spring, could be funded by lease-revenue bonds. Per Utah law, a Truth-in-Taxation hearing would need to be held to provide information to the public about how the financing will be used to improve the CSD schools. The plan endorsed by the Board of Education calls for the majority of the funding to be used at Jordan High and Eastmont Middle. Plans for the home of the Beetdiggers include a new field house, upgrades to the auditorium, additional parking, a black box theater, remodeled bathrooms, a security vestibule, new scoreboards, new field irrigation systems, and renovated locker rooms, among other projects. At Eastmont Middle, the plan calls for upgrades to classrooms, a new roof, renovated restrooms and locker rooms, and an elevator, plus other items. The plans also includes building a fieldhouse at Corner Canyon High, plus replacing the CCHS soccer, baseball, and softball fields with turf. Turf and track improvements at Hillcrest High’s stadium also are on the docket. The Administration will provide information to the Board about the financing packages and the required dates the Board must meet as a Local Building Authority. A timeline for the projects and the financing plan will soon be presented. Planned summer small capital-facility projects include the relocation of fuel tanks, a sprinkler system in Alta High’s gym, a new roof at Ridgecrest Elementary, replacement carpet at Oak Hollow Elementary, security vestibules at Jordan Valley, and a food storage expansion at Oakdale.

Day Care Proposal

The Canyons Board of Education approved a proposal to expand day care options for employees of the District. As a result, the day care, which is largely staffed by students enrolled in Career and Technical Education classes, will be expanded at Jordan High. The Administration also will proceed with opening a day care center, also staffed by students who are learning early childhood development, at Corner Canyon High. The expansion at Jordan and opening of the center at CCHS could happen as soon as fall 2024.

School Accountability Report

Over the past six years, the graduation rate in Canyons District has ticked up for all student demographics, according to data presented to the Canyons Board of Education. Overall, the graduation rate hovers at about 90 percent, an increase from an 85 percent figure in 2015. But double-digit increases have been gained by Hispanic/Latino, low income and multi-lingual students. The rates of students with disabilities who are graduating from CSD school has popped up 13 percent in six years, said Dr. Hal Sanderson, CSD’s Director of Research and Assessment. In another indicator of student progress, scores earned by CSD 11th graders on the ACT have gone up in English, math, reading and science since 2018. With the aim of helping students graduate and be prepared for college and careers, CSD seeks to reduce by 5 percent the number of students who are chronically absent. A focus also has been placed on cutting the numbers of high school students with F grades from 34.4 percent to 29.4 percent or fewer. Sanderson told the Board that, on year-end tests, 81 percent of Canyons schools logged “Commendable” academic growth – the highest level of progress as defined by state education officials. Three elementary schools — Crescent, Midvalley, and Sprucewood — exited out of Targeted School Improvement status due to good student progress in the past three years. While four TSI student groups were identified for targeted assistance to boost achievement, 16 student groups across eight schools exited TSI status in 2023, Dr. Sanderson said.

Elevate Grant

The Utah State Board of Education is funneling $375,000 to support an effort to increase student-learning levels at Mount Jordan Middle. A plan to address the slow-to-rise scholastic progress among Mountaineers, in addition to identifying and working on the root causes of the school’s struggles, is being created by an education-consulting group in collaboration with a committee of teachers, parents, administrators, and a member of the Board of Education. The Canyons Board of Education approved the selection of Innovations Education Consulting as the group to aid Mount Jordan with this initiative. Teachers will be provided a substantial amount of professional development as the plan moves forward.

Legislative Update

Representatives from Canyons District will advocate for CSD’s interests and the Board of Education’s legislative priorities during the 2024 General Session of the Utah Legislature, which begins on Tuesday, Jan. 16. External Relations Director Charlie Evans and Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards will be at Capitol Hill throughout the session to monitor the progress of the proposed education-related legislation. A daily email will be sent to members of the Board and Administration to provide updates on issues being discussed by legislators. Members of the public can stay abreast of education-related bills by signing up to receive a daily tracker via an RSS feed from the CSD website.

Elementary Planning Time Task Force

A 17-person task force continues to study options to increase elementary-teacher planning time while also maximizing instructional time, maintain professional development and safeguard time dedicated to Professional Learning Communities. School Performance Directors Sally Sansom and Alice Meridith and Instructional Supports Director Dr. Amber Roderick-Landward presented information to the Board. The task force is focusing attention on developing schedules to expand daily planning time and the possibility of adding administrative positions in the elementary schools. Any schedule-change impacts to “Brain Booster” staff also are being evaluated and discussed. The Board will continue to review recommendations and proposals from the task force.

School Highlights

Draper Park Middle Principal Dr. Chip Watts noted the school, which he affectionately called “The Park,” has been named one of Utah’s top five middle schools by the U.S. News and World Report. This year, he said, seventh-graders have done oral histories of modern pioneers — the trailblazers of today in vital industries. They conducted 150 interviews and used Artificial Intelligence to transcribe and digitally record the interviews, Watts said. The first year of robotics also has been a hit, he said, and teachers use technology wisely and according to best-practices to augment instruction. The school also has put into place a program called “Away All Day,” which asks students to put their phones away during the school day. The aim is to cut down on the distractions inherent in constant access to cell phones.

High-Quality Learning Update

Instructional Supports Director Dr. Amber Roderick-Landward reported on the work of the committee focusing on the “High-Quality Learning” focus area of the Strategic Plan. The group has reviewed CSD’s differentiated diplomas and how they could be aligned to Canyons’ Portrait of a Scholar, the progress of STEM/STEAM-related instruction, and arts integration. Dr. Roderick-Landward also said teams visited 144 classes to track how much time was spent on Chromebooks and other devices during class time. The team reported that 40 percent of the classes observed didn’t use technology as part of instruction.  When students were using technology, she said, 59 percent of the use was active, high-learning value.  The team also reported that 58 percent of the classrooms had cell-phone use policies. The next steps for the committee are to consider a metric for progress in STEAM and arts integration and to study and review for CSD’s personalized competency-based learning.

Patron Comment

The following patron addressed the Board during Patron Comment. Recordings of the patron’s remarks can be accessed on BoardDocs.

• Lydia Wright
• Michael Wilde
• Jeannine Cardenaz
• Wendy Buchanan
• Kaitlin Barton
• James Barron
• Andrew Morgan
• Chip Watts

Canyons Strong Employee Recognitions

The following were recognized for their achievements:

• Corner Canyon football standout Isaac Wilson, who was named the Utah Gatorade Football Player of the Year, “Mr. Football,” and MaxPreps Utah Player of the Year
• Corner Canyon wide receiver Tate Kjar for being named the 6A Player of the Year by the Deseret News
• Corner Canyon head football coach Eric Kjar for being named to the coaching staff at the Under Armor All-American Game in Florida on Jan. 3.
• Unified Special Olympics students who competed at a special scrimmage against the 5A state champs Alta High Hawks.
• Max Eddington, Midvale Middle math teacher, whose classroom was visited by Utah State Superintendent for Public Instruction Dr. Syd Dickson. Eddington was a finalist for the Utah Teacher of the Year award.
• The six students from Alta, Butler Middle, and Draper Park Middle for being named to the Utah All-State Junior High Band and Orchestra. Students selected for the band are Ian Anderson, Butler Middle; Brady Houghton, Alta High; Joshua Smith, Draper Park Middle; Sarah Billeter, Alta High; and Toby Schwartz, from Butler Middle. Ruby Rolfe, from Butler Middle, has been picked for the orchestra. The band will perform at Abravenal Hall on Jan. 19.  The orchestra will perform at the same venue on Jan. 20.

Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports

Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins thanked the Board members for supporting proposals to improve Jordan and Eastmont Middle facilities and several other schools.

Business Administrator Leon Wilcox also thanked the Board for investing in schools. He said CSD facilities are known to be among the best in the state.

Board Reports

Mrs. Holly Neibaur urged the Board to study ACC supports for Corner Canyon High.

Mr. Andrew Edtl thanked the Board for the discussion surrounding the facility improvements at Jordan High, Eastmont, Corner Canyon and Hillcrest high.

Mrs. Amanda Oaks noted the thorough facility-improvement plan for Jordan High, Eastmont Middle, Hillcrest High, and Corner Canyon High. She also mentioned the review team that evaluated the technology use in the classroom.

Mr. Mont Millerberg mentioned the Utah School Boards Association conference, at which CSD employees presented information about the Canyons Peer Court. Canyons Board of Education has received the master board award. He also noted State Superintendent Dr. Dickson’s visit to Midvale Middle math teacher Max Eddington’s classroom.  He also reported on the Unified Special Olympics game at Alta High, which featured performing groups.

Mrs. Nancy Tingey reported on programs that help students excel

Mrs. Karen Pedersen said the Board’s No. 1 concern is how decisions affect students and employees.

She thanked parents and students from Eastmont Middle and Jordan High for participating in Patron Comment. She also thanked the work being done to put into place more planning time in elementary schools.

President Shill reminded CSD patrons about Canyoneering Night on Jan. 18 at 6 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes for the Dec. 12, 2023 meeting of the Board; hire and termination reports; student overnight travel requests; and the Mount Jordan Elevate Grant consultant approval.