Note: Recordings and documents for agenda items can be accessed via BoardDocs by clicking on the corresponding agenda items.
Bond Project Discussion
The Administration discussed a possible construction timeline for the projects to be funded by the $283 million tax-rate-neutral bond voters approved on Nov. 7. Proposed is a two-phase construction schedule. Phase No. 1 would start in summer 2018 with the significant remodel of Alta High and rebuilds of Brighton and Hillcrest high schools. The Alta High project is projected to take two years; both Brighton and Hillcrest would be three-year projects. The three projects are the largest projects on the list. Starting this summer would allow the District to capitalize on lower construction costs and interest rates. According to the proposal, Phase No. 2 would start in summer 2019 with the start of a rebuild at an elementary school. Each summer after that, and until 2022, the District would start one of the promised elementary schools, which would all take roughly 15 months to build. In addition, the rebuild of Union Middle would start in summer 2021 and be complete in time for the 2023-2024 school year. The elementary schools to be rebuilt under the plan include Midvalley, Peruvian Park, and a school in the White City area. A new school also has been promised for west Draper. The Administration is proposing to this summer rebuild front offices at Brookwood, Park Lane and Silver Mesa elementary schools, and natural lighting projects at Brookwood, Canyon View, Crescent, East Midvale, East Sandy, Park Lane, Quail Hollow, Ridgecrest, and Silver Mesa. In the summer of 2019, projects include the new front offices at Granite, Oakdale, and Sunrise and the elementary interior lighting upgrades at Altara, Bell View, Granite, Lone Peak, Oak Hollow, Oakdale, Sunrise, Sprucewood, and Willow Springs. The Board of Education also discussed when crews could be hired to build classrooms to replace portables at Corner Canyon High. The portables at Corner Canyon may be needed at Brighton and Hillcrest while those two schools are being rebuilt onsite. Business Administrator Leon Wilcox also presented information about the small-capital facility projects expected to be started in summers 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Policy Update
The Board heard updates on policies governing Secondary School Changes and the Student Dress Code. These are just two of the policies being examined by the Policy Committee, which is made up of Board members and CSD administrators. The group, led by Assistant Legal Counsel Jeff Christensen, has met two times per month throughout the 2014-2017 school years. In 2017, 144 polices were studied, discussed and referred to the Board to make sure the policy matches practice.
Dual Language Immersion Program
Instructional Supports Director Dr. Amber Roderick-Landward updated the Board of Education on the expected high school implementation of Dual Language Immersion Programs. Dr. Roderick-Landward told the Board that planning for DLI in the high schools is challenging. CSD’s plan hinges upon several variables, including student enrollment, state support for the college-bridge programs, and the ability to retain qualified teachers, Dr. Roderick said. If swings in the variables are such that it would not be possible to sustain a quality program, the District may need to readdress the plan at a later date. A list of current and projected sites for DLI in high schools, as well as the year of implementation, can be found on BoardDocs. Based on surveys and intent-to-continue forms from current students in lower grades, interest in secondary Mandarin Chinese, French and Spanish programs is solid. However, additional discussions about the DLI high school offerings will likely need to happen when the official enrollment figures are tallied after registration.
Assessment Audit
Canyons District students spend between 1.7 percent to 2.7 percent of the school year taking tests, according to an internal audit of state- and district-required assessments performed at the request of the Canyons Education Association. By comparison, 27 percent of instruction time is spent learning math, 12 percent is devoted to school lunch, and 4.5 percent is reserved for recess. The results run counter to commonly held concerns about over-testing in schools. The average number of minutes spent by students in testing has increased since 2014. However, this trend will reverse in 2018-2019 as changes in SAGE writing and district language arts exams contribute to a decrease in testing time.
Pledge of Allegiance and Reverence
Midvalley Elementary student Joseph Mesa led the Board in a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and Principal Tamra Baker delivered the reverence. She expressed appreciation to the CSD Board, parents and taxpayers for their support of the $283 million bond that will be used to repair and upgrade 27 schools, including Midvalley Elementary, which was first built in 1957. The school is among those slated for a complete rebuild. Baker also expressed gratitude for her PTA, the support of community groups, including the Eagle Scouts, and a grant that will be used to purchased musical instruments. She explained a program geared toward improving student engagement and reducing tardies and absences, and invited the Board to visit the school to see it in action.
Patron Comment
In regards to the bond projects, Patron Steve Van Maren urged the Board to consider starting the Union Middle rebuild before the Alta High renovation. He also urged the Board to start the elementary school projects in the spring instead of summer months. He also encouraged the Board to continue planning for the future in the southern part of the district, especially with the relocation of the Utah State Prison in Draper.
CEA President Erika Bradshaw thanked Dr. Hal Sanderson, Director of Research and Assessment, for his audit of assessments proctored in CSD classrooms. She also thanked the Instructional Supports Department for responding to the requests of the CEA to re-evaluate how much time is spent on assessments.
Consent Agenda
The Board approved items on the consent agenda, including the minutes from the Nov. 14, 2017 meeting of the Canyons Board of Education; the hiring and termination reports; purchasing bids; student overnight travel requests; and a LAND Trust amendment for Midvalley Elementary. They also approved an amendment for the Brighton High LAND Trust plan.
Policy Updates
Assistant Legal Counsel Jeff Christensen updated the Board of Education on policies governing the Calendar Committee guidelines; student search and seizure; student attendance; and student records, privacy rights and release of information. The Board voted to accept the updates.
Academic Calendars
The Board of Education approved the calendar for the 2018-2019 school year. The Board also tentatively approved the alternative calendars for the 2019-2020 school-year calendar, which includes an earlier start date in August and an earlier end date, during the week of Memorial Day Recess.
Reviews and Audits
The Board of Education voted to accept the 2016-2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and accompanying audits, which were conducted by Squire and Company. The public can access the reports on BoardDocs.
Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports
Superintendent Briscoe thanked Business Administrator Leon Wilcox for the work done on this year’s CAFR and other accompanying audits. He mentioned that the District’s fiscal health led to the AAA bond rating, which will save taxpayers millions. He thanked the School Resource Officers for helping keep campuses safe. Dr. Briscoe also thanked the outgoing mayors of three CSD-area municipalities — Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore, Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini, and Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan — for their roles in starting and strengthening Canyons District. He bid all Canyons employees and patrons a happy and safe holiday season.
Mr. Leon Wilcox thanked Board members for reviewing the financial reports and participating in design meetings for the buildings that will be constructed with proceeds from the public-approved bond. He wished everyone a happy holidays.
Board Member Reports
Mr. Mont Millerberg remarked on the innovations of the teachers who received grants from the Canyons Education Foundation. He also thanked the patrons who served on the Friends of the Canyons District Bond advocacy group. He also thanked his fellow Board members for the civil discourse that surrounded the bond-project discussion. Mr. Millerberg also reported on his attendance at the audit committee.
Mr. Steve Wrigley reported on attending the high school musicals at Brighton, Alta, Jordan, Hillcrest, Corner Canyon and Brighton high schools. He also said he attended meetings regarding the future of the land on which the Utah State Prison now stands. He wished everyone a happy holiday season.
Mrs. Amber Shill reported on attending Hillcrest High’s recent production of “Les Miserables.” Mrs. Shill commended the cast and faculty advisers on the high quality of the production. She also attended the Butler Middle SCC and a UHSAA meeting. Mrs. Shill thanked Dr. Stensrud and the Calendar Committee on creating the calendars for the coming school years.
Mrs. Nancy Tingey thanked the Calendar Committee for their hard work and responsiveness to feedback. She also thanked the business departments of CSD for their work on the financial and accompanying audits. She reported on attending the Common Good Awards. She also reiterated her commitment to encouraging high-quality instruction in classrooms. She wished everyone a happy holidays.
Mrs. Clareen Arnold bid patrons a happy holiday season.
Mr. Chad Iverson attended performing-arts concerts at Indian Hills Middle. He wished Canyons patrons a happy holidays.
President Taylor thanked the members of the Canyons District family for all they do for students. He acknowledged the hard work that goes into creating a leading District. He wished every a happy and safe holiday season.
