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

Budget Update 

Renovation and improvement projects for Jordan High and Eastmont Middle are two of the major capital projects included in the tentative 2024-2025 budget. In an update to the Board of Education about the tentative budget for the coming school year, Business Administrator Leon Wilcox said the expected expenses for the project at the home of the Beetdiggers will reach $12.6 million. In this budget, CSD plans to spend $5.5 million for a new roof, engineering work for a draining system, classroom designs for a new STEAM-centered model, and a new elevator at Eastmont Middle. Projects at Corner Canyon and Hillcrest also are included in the tentative budget, Wilcox said. A security vestibule and turf installation on softball and baseball fields are expected to be done around the start of school, he said. At Hillcrest, a $4.7 million project will begin in a few weeks on Hillcrest’s football stadium. Artificial turf will be installed and improvements made to the bleachers. The visitor bleachers will not be accessible for this upcoming season. The home bleachers should accommodate all fans, Wilcox said. The projects at Jordan High, Eastmont Middle, Hillcrest and Corner Canyon are being completed with funds from lease-revenue bonds, which is the funding mechanism CSD also used to complete Peruvian Park and Glacier Hills elementary schools. A truth-in-taxation hearing will be held later this year in relation to the financing for the school-facility improvement projects. Wilcox also said the 2024-2025 tentative budget includes initial budgets for lease revenue bond projects and payments, ongoing capital maintenance, and $5 million for small capital projects. In the coming months, more information will be available related to property taxes in Canyons District’s boundaries, but early indicators indicate higher assessed valuations will generate new revenue, Wilcox said. The Administration will continue to provide budget-process updates to patrons.  

CSDtv Update 

In its first full year, CSDtv, Canyons District’s in-house broadcasting program, fielded and responded to 234 requests for live-streams and videography, created 156 custom-produced videos and hosted 34 live broadcasts. In all, some 77 percent of the video work done by CSDtv staff and students focused on Canyons’ academic and artistic programs, said Justin Andersen, CDS’s Video and Digital Broadcast Specialist who is spearheading the CSDtv project through the Office of Public Communications. The most-watched live-stream of the year, according to viewership data, was Sandy Elementary’s 2023 Halloween Parade. Nearly 900 people tuned into the school’s annual march down Main Street. Andersen noted that CSDtv app is now available on the Apple Store and Google Play, as well as on Roku Channel Store. At CSDtv.org, viewers can access videos featuring CSD’s Teachers of the Year, winners of the Apex Awards, award-winning shows from the CSD Film Festival, and live-streams of CSD activities, among other videos. Nearly 100 students have signed up to participate in weekly CSDtv classes in broadcasting, videography, video editing, photography, and audio recording. The students put it into practice what learn as they serve as the broadcast-production teams for the events covered by CSDtv.  Starting soon, CSDtv staff and students will coordinate a multi-camera broadcast of the business meetings of the Canyons Board of Education.  

Utah Fits All Scholarship 

The Board of Education discussed whether Canyons District will be an education provider for students who receive a voucher through the Utah Fits All Scholarship. A student using the state-provided $8,000 voucher to access education cannot be enrolled in a public school because the local district will not receive weighted-pupil unit funding for the student’s attendance. However, Business Administrator Leon Wilcox told the Board that CSD can be a provider to voucher-students for some classes and activities. Wilcox said the Board’s options include submitting an application to become a provider for both regular classes and extracurricular programs; applying to become a provider for regular classes only; and choosing not to be a provider for the 2024-2025 school year and then re-evaluate for the 2025-2026 school year. If the Board chooses to be a provider, they must submit a description of the classes, programs, or services CSD will offer in addition to the fees for each offering. The District can set the fee for each class and activity. 

Strategic Plan 

Multiple academic departments have contributed to a plan to support schools as “newcomer” students, or those who have been in the country for less than a year, continue to enroll in CSD schools. Federal and State Programs Director Paula Logan presented the “CSD Newcomer Onboarding” guidance as part of an update on the “Access and Opportunity” focus area of the Strategic Plan. This year, CSD schools have enrolled hundreds of students who are just days from stepping off a plane from other countries. Public school districts are required by law to provide access to education to children who live within the boundary of a public school.  The guidance document outlines how schools can provide translation services, help families complete online registration, and arrange for multilingual student supports in the classroom. Logan also noted that in 2023-2024, 3,408 students attended Title I schools. Canyons District personnel also assisted 2,370 students who are experiencing homelessness. The total number of multilingual students served in this school year is 4,853, according to data from CSD’s Federal and State Programs.  

Superintendent Listening Tour Update 

From September 2023 to May 2024, Canyons Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins visited 17 elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools, two special programs, and five departments as part of his ongoing Listening Tour. A word-frequency analysis of the notes taken during Listening Tour stops show that 27 percent of the input received focused on student behaviors. Dr. Robins told the Board of Education that 13 percent was related to additional planning time for elementary teachers and 11 percent was about “newcomers” and multilingual learners. The analysis also showed 10 percent of the feedback focused on technology in schools, 9 percent was about Special Education programs, and 7 percent touched on salaries and benefits. Safety, enrollment, mental health supports, and facilities and infrastructure rounded out the topics discussed during Dr. Robins’ face-to-face meetings with faculty and staff. In response to the feedback received during the Listening Tour, CSD responded by adding 60 minutes of protected planning time for elementary teachers, funded five new assistant principals, bumped up pay for paraprofessionals, started work on a daycare for employees, created a plan to support schools as they enroll multilingual and new-to-the-country students, and addressed policies governing personal leave to make them more employee-friendly.  

Policy Update 

The Board reviewed proposed policy updates governing Board of Education governance; the administration of medication to students; required approvals for surveys and research projects; instructional materials; and school library materials.  Assistant Legal Counsel Jeff Christensen provided the update to the Board.  

Special Education Resource Update 

The aim of a proposal from the Canyons Special Education Department is to align school assignments for Extended Core Curriculum students closer to their boundary schools and home neighborhoods. Included in the proposal is to move ECC classes to Copperview, Granite, and Sprucewood elementary schools. Under the plan, student who attend Copperview would feed into Union Middle, Granite students would feed into Albion and Union, and Sprucewood students would feed into Draper Park Middle. Special Education Director Nate Edvalson said the new alignment would help CSD address a regulation that states student “placement” be as close to home as possible. The Board will continue to review the proposal. Edvalson will continue to provide information on the proposal to the Board.  

Student Recognitions 

The following were recognized for their achievements:

• Corner Canyon High’s boys track and field team, which won its fifth state championship. Students from Corner Canyon, Brighton and Alta also won individual state titles at the 5A and 6A track and field meets. 
• Brighton High tennis players Maxwell Pohlman and Jacob Ballstaedt, who are the 5A second doubles state champions. Brighton’s team took second in the 5A tourney. 
• Five CSD students for being named 2024 National Merit Scholars.
• Students from Hillcrest and Corner Canyon for winning their categories at the 2024 Sterling Scholars competition. 
• CTEC construction students for finishing and holding an Open House for the Project House, which is now for sale.  

Consent Agenda 

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes for the May 7, 2024 meeting of the Board of Education; hire and termination reports; student overnight travel requests; purchasing bids; and April financial reports.  

School Highlights 

In the last few days in her first year as principal, Shelley Karren said she remains committed to her vision of making sure Indian Hills Middle is a place where students, teachers, staff, and parents are empowered to be the best versions of themselves.  Karren said early results of the year-end tests are promising and it was exciting to see middle school students apply themselves on the exams. “We applaud them for trying,” she said. “We want to honor that.” Karren also noted IHMS is among the top schools for the number of students who check out e-books and referred to recent media stories about an IHMS teacher who is a “superfan” of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The teacher rolled out the lessons about Salt Lake’s Winter Games as the world prepares for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, she said. Indian Hills’ instrumental music program is bursting at the seams, she said, and the choir recently performed at festivals.  More than that, she said, students are building each other up and making connections with peers. 

NSBA Update 

The Board of Education discussed some topics covered during workshops at the National School Boards Association conference. Topics included controversial issues, ethical and appropriate use of artificial intelligence, the debate over whether districts should eschew Advanced Placement programs for less-expensive concurrent classes, the inclusion of the student voice in district decisions, and orientations for candidates and elected board members.  

Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports 

Business Administrator Leon Wilcox congratulated bus driver Jeremy Klung for being named Utah’s best driver at the Utah “road-e-o” last Saturday. The event was held at Crescent View Middle and organized by CSD Transportation Director Jeremy Wardle.  He congratulated the Class of 2024 and wished them well after graduation.  

Board of Education Reports 

Mrs. Karen Pedersen reported on attending the ribbon-cutting for CTEC’s Project House, the “Mamma Mia” musical at Corner Canyon, Hillcrest’s production of “Sister Act,” and Mount Jordan Middle’s “Disney’s Moana Jr.”  In response to a concern expressed by a patron, she asked parents to teach road-safety rules to students who ride e-scooters on roads and sidewalks.  

Mrs. Kris Millerberg lauded the Portrait of a Graduate ceremony at Midvale Middle, Midvale’s Traditions in the Park program, and CSD’s Peer Court. She also noted Midvalley’s invitation to the Class of 2024 who once were Jr. Huskies to return in their caps and gowns to visit former teachers and speak to current elementary students about the importance of graduating from high school. 

Mrs. Amanda Oaks said Corner Canyon High’s production of “Mamma Mia” was a phenomenal production, complete with great music, choreography, acting, and costumes. She also attended the dedication of Draper’s Gold Star Family Memorial and remarked on the inspirational  pre-event dinner with the families. 

Mr. Andrew Edtl celebrated the completion of the Canyons Technical Education Center’s Project House.  He thanked Dr. Robins, Jordan High Principal Dr. Bruce Eschler, and School Counseling Specialist Melissa Baker for going with him on an aerial refueling orientation flight with the Utah Air National Guard. He attended “Disney’s Moana Jr.” at Mount Jordan Middle and said his son was a member of the cast. He encouraged e-scooter-riding students to be safe as they navigate the roads. 

Mrs. Nancy Tingey reported on attending the Superintendent Choice Awards, the Latinos in Action Banquet, and the annual end-of-year celebration for American Indian students.  Tingey also recalled the touching gatherings to honor our retirees, including CSD Middle School Director Cindy Hanson, who was attending her final Board meeting on Tuesday night.  

Mrs. Amber Shill thanked the Board for attending the various events throughout CSD and expressed appreciation to Hanson for her commitment to CSD throughout the years.  She congratulated the Class of 2024 and the other CSD students for a successful school year.