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

Resolution for the Issuance of Bonds

The Board of Education approved a resolution that authorized the issuance of $75 million in general-obligation bonds to fund the construction and renovation of schools in Canyons District. The adoption of the resolution does not require the District to issue bonds, but it’s the first legal step in the issuance process. Under the maximum parameters established in the resolution, the District must stay within a 21-year repayment term. The interest rate also must not exceed 5 percent. Moving forward, the District’s finance team will prepare the appropriate documents and the bond-sale’s legal structure. In September, the District’s fiscal health will be reviewed by Moody’s and Fitch Ratings in order to receive a bond rating by the last week of September. A Notice of Bond sale would be released to the market in mid-October, with a bond sale and closing in November. At that point, monies earned from the issuances would be delivered into a construction fund or refunding escrow. Canyons District, which received approval from the public last November to bond up to $283 million for new and renovated schools, has wasted no time in starting construction on the first three projects to be funded by the 2017 bond. Crews are already working at a major renovation of Alta High and rebuilds of Brighton and Hillcrest high schools.

Construction Project

The Board of Education approved a contract with Hogan Construction to complete a project at Corner Canyon High that was promised to the public at the passage of the $283 million bond in November 2018. The Board also voted to increase the number of classrooms in the academic wing at the school to accommodate the school’s 2,300-student enrollment. The $9.6 million contract includes the construction of 24 classrooms, an expansion and upgrade of the cafeteria, and a new storage area. Among CSD’s five traditional high schools, Corner Canyon High currently has the least amount of square footage. When the work is completed, the school’s square footage would increase to 374,000 square feet. As soon as the construction is done, the 12 portables on the campus will be removed, and the school may qualify to be taken off moratorium status. 

Human Resources Report

Human Resources Director Steve Dimond reported on the recruiting the District is doing to attract the best and brightest employees. To recruit teachers, he said, Dimond’s staff has attended 12 out-of-state job fairs and made visits to eight in-state colleges and universities. Canyons District hired 227 licensed employees for the 2018-2019 school year, Dimond reported. Sixty-seven, or 30 percent, relocated to Canyons District from another state, and 34, or 15 percent, aim to earn their teaching licenses through one of three alternative teacher preparation programs. The District also started the school with a full roster of bus drivers for 136 routes. Canyons recently increased starting bus-driver compensation to $18.34 per hour. Dimond also reviewed some responses from resigning or retiring teachers who participated in an exit survey. 

Mathematics Textbook Adoption

Instructional Supports Department Director Dr. Amber Roderick-Landward presented a proposal to adopt a series of online mathematics textbooks that align to secondary-school math learning standards.  The Board will review the proposal and discuss the proposal at future meetings.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes from the Aug. 21, 2018 meeting of the Board; hire and termination reports; and purchasing bids.

Patron Comments

Patron Alex Murphy asked the Board of Education to revise the bus schedule so special-education students don’t arrive at school more than 30 minutes before the first bell.    

Draper Park Middle student Kathryn Smith addressed the Board about the six-period schedule. She encouraged the Board to work with DPMS to revise the schedule so students, especially those who are in the Dual Language Immersion Program, can take more electives. 

Parent Wendy Smith requested the Board revisit the schedule at Draper Park Middle so students can take more electives. 

Parent Chad Smith encouraged the Board to address the school schedules at a District level.  He also encouraged the Board to vote in favor of expanding the academic wing at Corner Canyon High to accommodate the growth.

Recognitions

The Board of Education recognized the following for their achievements:

• Diamond Ridge and Entrada Assistant Principal Mark Mataya, who has received the Outstanding Adult Educator Award from the Utah Association of Adult, Community and Continuing Education.
• Teachers Kristina Kimble, Alta; Pace Gardner, Brighton; Mindy Wilder, Corner Canyon; Jordan Hulet, Hillcrest; and Nicole Manwaring, Jordan High. The five are represenenting CSD in the Intermountain Heart Institute’s Healthy Heart Challenge.  
• Risk Management Coordinator Kevin Ray and Canyon View Elementary Principal Kierstin Draper received the second Think Safe Award for heading up the pilot program of the DIR-S mobile app, which will soon be implemented districtwide as a security measure. 

Superintendent and Business Administrator Reports

Superintendent Dr. Jim Briscoe reported on visiting the schools during the first few weeks of the academic year. He also invited to the Board to his annual luncheon for PTA presidents and SCC chairpersons on Wednesday, Sept. 5. 

Business Administrator Leon Wilcox expressed this thanks to employees for their hard work in launching a school year. He noted Risk Management Coordinator Kevin Ray’s work in maintaining the security plans of the District and heading the Emergency Preparedness Committee. 

Board of Education Reports

Mr. Chad Iverson said he appreciated hearing about teaching children that they can do hard things. He asked for the administration to review the reason for summer homework assignments. He also attended the Utah County Invitational Cross Country Meet, where Canyons District student-athletes competed. 

Mrs. Clareen Arnold thanked teachers and staff for their hard work preparing for the school year, including the construction and renovation work. She also thanked Mrs. Nancy Tingey and Mrs. Amber Shill for sending her photos of the first-day-of-school celebrations.

Mrs. Nancy Tingey expressed thanks to school employees and central-office staff for their efforts to successfully start the school year. She attended several first-day-of-school red-carpet events, and she thanked work crews for completing the remodel projects before the beginning of the school year. She noted the retirement of Cottonwood Heights City Manager John Park, who is a longtime friend and ally of Canyons District.

Mrs. Amber Shill says she’s proud to be a part of the District. She said she is pleased to see the pride that CSD employees take in their work to help students succeed.

Mr. Steve Wrigley noted the work done by the Policy Committee and Calendar Committee. He also attended a workshop at Eastmont Middle by BYU professor Hank Smith. Wrigley expressed thanks to employees for starting the school year on a positive note. 

President Sherril Taylor asked HR Director Steve Dimond to thank the HR staff for their efforts to recruit the best-possible employees for CSD schools and departments. He called the improvements to CSD schools, in just 10 years, nothing short of “miraculous.”