New, Returning Board Members Take Oath of Office

The seven-member Canyons Board of Education began anew Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, with one newly elected member — Steve Wrigley — and re-elected members Tracy Cowdell, Sherril Taylor and Kim Horiuchi taking the oath of office. Board members also re-elected Cowdell to serve as Board President and Taylor to serve as Vice President. Click here for more information.

Bond Projects Updates

Architects on four of the five projects (Sandy Elementary, rebuilt a few years ago, is receiving seismic upgrades only) have met with school communities regarding programming needs to inspire proposed draft plans. They also have held three Town Meetings and one Open House for the new high school. Projects were detailed as follows:

• Butler Middle: VCBO Architects propose a site plan that would rebuild the school adjacent to the current school, allowing students to stay put during construction. The master plan also provides three additional acres of continuous open space, including soccer and tennis areas that could be used by neighboring Brighton High; 200-car parking; and potentially, if the Board so chooses, a future elementary to be placed on the footprint of the existing middle school. The Board liked the proposal, which is a site plan only, and asked that it be placed on the Consent Agenda next week for final approval.
• New High School: Sandstrom Associates architects praised opportunities to interact with the community in developing and revising school draft plans. They changed the plan since last week’s public Open House to move the tennis courts and move the access road on Golden Pheasant further to the East due to resident traffic concerns and the City’s decision to create an adjacent cul de sac. The design also incorporates community history, including a dome that resembles the old community meeting place called the Roundhouse. The Board praised the architects’ work, and is expected to vote on the proposal next week.
• Albion Middle School: FFKR Architects’ proposal includes adjusting office and science lab space, band and chorus location, more natural light and adding a commons area. The current proposal does not include replacing the kiva with an auditorium due to costs and the fact that ninth-graders will move into high schools in 2013, which will allow more students to use performing arts facilities in the high schools. The project is anticipated to take approximately 15 months. Relocating students during construction would save construction costs, boost student safety, and improve the quality of work. The Board discussed several options for student housing during construction. Board discussion will continue next week.
• Midvale Elementary: NJRA Architects presented a proposal that incorporates the Utah landscape to use the school as a teaching tool. It includes a grand staircase gathering space, a fault line in the rooftop design, a Delicate Arch-inspired entryway, with natural light and more open space and an outdoor commons than in the current school. The proposal also was presented to the Midvale City Council, and has been presented to residents at a Town Meeting. The Board will continue discussions on the site plan.

Sandy City Presents CDA Proposal

Sandy City proposed the Board enter a unique partnership with them in efforts to leverage economic development tools they said could benefit to the city and District through a proposed Community Development Agency. The proposed CDA area, north of 11400 South and State Street, would include retailer Scheels, a unique “all-sports store.” The city said the retailer’s presence would help boost surrounding property values, including Canyons’ old Valley High property. The city also proposed using CDA proceeds to help rebuild and develop the Mount Jordan Middle School campus as part of a revenue-sharing interlocal agreement. Canyons would keep 25 percent of the new tax revenues generated on the property — or about $3.2 million — in addition to the $2.4 million it currently receives over the life of the 25-year CDA, as well as be able to lease the Valley High property at higher rates. The proposed CDA partnership would be a first in Utah, the City said. Salt Lake County is participating in the project. The Board will discuss and take action on the proposal next week.

Canyons Hosting French Film Students

Students from Grenoble, France, are staying with Canyons host families during the Sundance Film Festival as part of a student exchange. The students have been paired with families whose students are involved in world languages and District Dual Immersion language programs. The French students will visit the festival, tour Canyons and Salt Lake City, visit world language and Dual Immersion programs in Canyons schools, and interact with Canyons students at a reception. Dr. Doty hopes Canyons students will be able to visit Grenoble next year as part of the exchange.

Patron Comments

Ken Vance, a neighbor of the new high school in Draper, praised the partnership with Draper City and the School District to address residents’ traffic concerns regarding the new high school and move the entrance on Golden Pheasant to the east. He said he is happy with the plan presented to the Board tonight.

Elisa Kelson, who lives on Golden Pheasant Drive next to the new high school, thanked the district and architects for working with neighbors to ease traffic concerns and moving the entrance to the east. She asked the Board to approve the proposal presented tonight.

Board Action

The Board approved the following items on the Consent Agenda: Dec. 7 minutes; December Board Hires and Terminations; 2011-12 Large Capital Improvement Projects; Site Lease Agreement for Bella Vista Elementary; Purchasing Bids; Advanced Diploma Emphasis Proposal; and Student Overnight Travel for Brighton Dance, Student Body Officers and Choir and Band; Hillcrest Cheer; and Jordan Boys Tennis. The Board also approved the 2011-2012 school calendar recommended by the District Calendar Committee.

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Dave Doty praised 37 Hillcrest students earning International Baccalaureate Diplomas who earned 5.4 million combined in scholarship money. He collected Board signatures on a letter of sympathy and support regarding the shooting death of a Millard Public Schools assistant principal in Omaha, Neb. Millard is a fellow member of the National Federation of Urban and Suburban School Districts. Dr. Doty also highlighted the Civility and Community 2011 Initiative in which he is a participant.

Board Reports

Mont Millerberg attended the Hillcrest High staff reunion, and praised the Utah School Boards Association Convention and training sessions. He congratulated Board leadership for their successful election, and thanked the District Calendar Committee for its work.

Paul McCarty, a 37-year educator, said he’s never seen a District collaborate with communities as much as Canyons has on the new high school plans. He commended Dr. Doty, Facilities Director Rick Conger, CFO Keith Bradford, and the Communications staff for their work in that regard.

Sherril Taylor thanked District staff and Sandstrom and Associates for excellent outreach to patrons in drafting plans for the new high school.
President Cowdell thanked Sandy Police officers for providing Board Meeting security. He congratulated Board Vice President Taylor for his successful leadership election and the Board for re-electing him as president, saying he was humbled by the Board’s trust.

Kevin Cromar attended the USBA convention and was elected delegate at large. He attended the Town Hall meeting for the new Midvale Elementary and the first Face to Faith video conference between Brighton High and a school from India. He also attended: holiday open houses hosted by the Region 17 PTA and Sandy City; the Granite Elementary Christmas Choir concert; a Sandy Elementary event where children received donated Teddy bears; the announcement that Hillcrest students’ science project was selected to fly aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour; and a Native American/Veterans honors event. He wants to look into having more elementary schools take recess before lunch as a health measure. He noted Brighton swimmer Amanda Barrett was spotlighted in the Deseret News.

Kim Horiuchi praised ideas presented at the USBA Convention.

Steve Wrigley thanked the voters in District 5 for giving him the opportunity to serve. He promised to listen to constituents. He thanked Board members for reaching out to him and staff for working with him.