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

Thrive Time

A created-by-Canyons curriculum to help students develop positive character traits is being reviewed for approval by the Board of Education. Thrive Time, which was developed to meet the Utah code requiring schools to use a social-emotional learning curriculum, includes lessons on anger management, conflict resolution, goal setting, and building resilience, Instructional Supports Director Dr. Amber Roderick-Landward told the Board of Education. With an eye toward implementing the program districtwide in fall 2024, the Canyons Administration has spent the school year informing parents about the weekly Thrive Time lessons, conducting a targeted field test of the lessons, and collecting feedback from students and teachers. Specialists also spent a considerable amount of time honing the program to address input and concerns. In all, Dr. Roderick-Landward said, 400 teachers and 6,000 students submitted feedback on the revisions. Parents can still provide input, even though as of this week the District has not received any parent complaints about the final revisions. Dr. Roderick-Landward reminded the community that Thrive Time is not a comprehensive wellness program, therapy or behavioral treatment, or an attempt to tell students what to think or believe.  Rather, she said, Thrive Time was created to satisfy the law while also helping students learn valuable character traits through a program that reflects the values of the CSD community. 

Budget

In just one year, the average price of a home in Canyons District has increased 7.7 percent to about $700,000, according to assessed-value estimates in Canyons’ 2024-2025 proposed budget. Those figures play a prominent role in the amount of money the District can collect through property taxes to operate schools and pay teachers and support staff.  In a presentation about the proposed budget for the coming year, Business Administrator Leon Wilcox said the financial plan includes a proposed $5 million tax increase for the General Fund and the cost of the negotiated employment agreements. Wilcox said the District also must plan to cover a $406,000 increase in property insurance, find the funds to pay for the additional and protected planning time for elementary teachers, a salary adjustment for 300 paraeducators, and an expected $530,000 hike in costs for utilities, supplies and curriculum. The District also is evaluating how to best support Special Education and staff with training and class sizes. In addition, the proposed budget reflects an increase in spending for School Resource Officers. Wilcox told the Board that five-year contracts with Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Sandy and Unified police departments expire this year. Those contracts called for CSD to contribute about half, or roughly $45,000, of each SROs yearly compensation.  However, Wilcox said the average salary of a police officer has increased to some $150,000 for salary and benefits, and the Administration has agreed to increase CSD’s contribution to $75,000 per officer, which reflects a $480,000 overall increase. The proposed budget is scheduled for a vote on June 18 and final approval could come during a scheduled truth-in-taxation hearing, which would be required if the District wants to adjust the certified tax rate to capture inflation.

Strategic Plan

All Canyons teachers ­— 100 percent — participated in some kind of professional development throughout and digital versions of CSD instructional guides were accessed 1,734,855 times in the past school year, Dr. Roderick-Landward told the Board of Education. To meet one of the impact statements of the “High-Quality Learning” focus area of the Strategic Plan, which calls for the District to provide all educators access to job-embedded and personalized and professional learning, CSD has offered 560 targeted professional learning opportunities, CSD teachers have accessed 4,224 online PD activities through “Canyons U,” and specialists have made 2,342 visits to schools to provide support. Dr. Roderick-Landward also told the Board of Education that CSD high schools offer 85 concurrent enrollment courses and 36 Advanced Placement courses.  Another milestone is the “Great Library Update” in which teacher-librarians and media-center specialists “weeded,” or de-selected, 110,000 books from CSD libraries to ensure current and appropriate books are available for students. With an investment from the Board last year, collections in elementary libraries were updated. As a result, the average age of the books in school collections went from 19 years old to less than 10 years.  Students also are being offered educational experiences at STEAM activities, literacy events, music-education initiatives, debate programs, and arts shows, among other personalized-learning and evidence-based learning activities.

Canyons Strong Recognitions

The following were recognized for their achievements:

• Corner Canyon’s boys lacrosse team for winning the 6A state championship
• Brighton’s boys lacrosse team for winning the 5A state championship
• Alta’s Wind Symphony, Brighton’s Symphonic Band, and Corner Canyon’s Wind Symphony for earning Superiors at the State Band Festival
• Alta, Brighton, Corner Canyon and Jordan choirs for earning Superior ratings at the State Choir Festival.
• Jordan, Hillcrest, and Corner Canyon chamber choirs for earning state Superior ratings.
• Corner Canyon’s McKay Neyman and Brighton’s Noah Ripplinger and William Buckley  for earning “side-by-side” performances with members of the Utah Symphony.
• Ten CSD paraprofessionals and paraeducators for earning 2024 Outstanding Para Awards.
• The Class of 2024 for earning $50 million in scholarship offers, eight state UHSAA team championships, and 25 individual state championships. 

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes of the Board of Education meeting for May 21, 2024; the hire and termination report; student-overnight travel requests; purchasing bids; and to become a service provider for the Utah Fits All Scholarship.

Policy Update

The Board of Education approved updates to policies governing Board governance, administering medication to students, the approved process to conduct research and surveys, instructional materials, and reconsideration of School Library Materials (Second Reading, Possible Action)

Superintendent, Business Administrator Report

Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins congratulated the Class of 2024.  He was able to attend several graduation and completion ceremonies.  He lauded the quality of the Digital Teaching and Learning Summit, which was held Monday and Tuesday. 

Business Administrator Leon Wilcox congratulated graduates and thanked Teri Hodkinson for filling in for Cindee Clawson for Board meeting.

Board Member Reports

Ms. Holly Neibaur congratulated graduates, reported on attending the double-overtime win of the Corner Canyon Chargers in the 6A boys lacrosse final, and noted the championship-game appearance of the Charger baseball team. She thanked teachers, support staff, and administrators for their hard work throughout the school year. 

Ms. Nancy Tingey thanked CSD educators, Education Support Professionals, and administrators for a successful year. She reported on attending multiple end-of-year activities, banquets, and awards ceremonies. Mrs. Tingey attended Jordan Valley, Life Skills Academy, and Brighton high graduation and completion ceremonies.

Mr. Andrew Edtl spoke about how much his children love learning, their schools, and their teachers. He thanked CSD employees, students, and their families for making the school year a success.

Ms. Amanda Oaks said arts integration is an important aspect of learning in CSD schools.  She said the BYU Arts Express conference was inspiring. 

Ms. Kris Millerberg reported on attending events and activities, including Jordan Valley School’s touching completion ceremony. 

Ms. Karen Pedersen thanked Sandy City for inviting members of the Board to sit in the city’s suite during Saturday’s Real Salt Lake game. She congratulated her grandson for being a part of the Class of 2024.  She invited Board members to attend the delegate assembly of the Utah School Boards Association.

President Shill congratulated the Class of 2024 and Brighton High’s 5A lacrosse team for winning the state championship. She lauded the Brighton and Corner Canyon baseball teams for earning spots in the 5A and 6A championship-game series.