Note: Recordings and documents for agenda items can be accessed via BoardDocs by clicking on the corresponding agenda items.
Board Committee Assignments
Members of the Board of Education discussed their various committee assignments. Board members serve on such external panels as the Board of the Canyons Education Foundation, the Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Utah School Boards Association, and Cities that Care-Draper. Internally, Board members serve on CSD Arts, Audit, Policy, Facilities, Arts, RDA/CDA, Incident Command, Dual Language Immersion, Calendar, Curriculum, Health, and Vision Mission and Values committees.
Legislative Preview
School safety, equalization, ongoing funding, and secondary-school fees are among the education-related issues expected to surface during the 2019 General Session of the Utah Legislature. External Affairs Director Charlie Evans updated the Board on the District’s approach to representing CSD on Capitol Hill during the 45-day session. CSD representatives will be monitoring committees and floor debates with an eye toward informing budget and policy discussions. Evans said Board members will receive daily updates about the progress of education-related bills.
Partial Federal Government Shutdown
Students who qualify for free- and reduced-price lunches will continue to be served even if the federal government shutdown continues several more weeks. According to the USDA, the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program will continue operations into March. That said, CSD policy is to provide a meal to every student, regardless of their ability to pay in that moment. Employees also have been directed to not ask students for meal payments. It’s the District’s intention to maintain the meal program uninterrupted, even with the partial shutdown. The District also will still receive reimbursements for all U.S. Department of Education grants, including IDEA, Title I, Title IIA, and Title III, until September.
Small Capital Projects Update
Business Administrator Leon Wilcox updated the Board on plans to improve schools. Bidding for Front Office upgrade projects at Sunrise, Granite and Oakdale started on Jan. 22, and the Board is expected to review and approve bids in February and March. Construction is scheduled to begin in June. On Jan. 31, bids will open for daylighting projects at Oakdale, Quail Hollow, Crescent, Sunrise, Canyon View, Granite, East Midvale, and Sandy. The Board will review the bids in March, and construction is expected to start in June. Those projects were promised to the public when voters approved a $283 million bond in November 2017. Wilcox also discussed other proposed summer 2019 projects, including a $1.8 million mechanical upgrade and $300,000 carpet installation at Jordan High, and a $1.1 million CAB-East remodel of current central-office work spaces and HVAC upgrade. Wilcox also presented proposals for 2020 projects.
Board Meeting Schedule
The Board of Education discussed a proposed meeting schedule for 2019-2020.
Consent Agenda
The Board voted to approve the Consent Agenda, including minutes from the Dec. 18, 2019 meeting of the Board of Education; minutes from the Jan. 8 meeting of the Board; hire and termination reports; request for student overnight travel; December Financial Reports; purchasing bids; LAND Trust amendments for Bella Vista Elementary; and administrative appointments.
Yearbook Policy
The Board of Education approved updates to the District’s high school yearbook policy. The policy calls for the price of the books to be reviewed by the Office of School Performance and removes language that is inconsistent with the local school practice of taking of individual yearbook pictures.
Pledge of Allegiance, Reverence
The colors were posted by Boy Scouts who attend Indian Hills Middle. The reverence was presented by Indian Hills Middle Principals Doug Graham, who said the school has a solid balance of high-quality core classes and elective programs. The middle school has a robust enrollment even though it’s a landlocked area with not a lot of construction growth, he said. He also said the faculty is dedicated to removing any barriers to learning for the students.
Public Comment
Facilities Department employee Merlyn Rhodes, who is retiring this year after a 40-year career, thanked the Board of Education for making decisions that benefit employees, students, and families.
Parent Lorena Milner urged the Board to consider adopting policies that would restrict or prohibit rewarding students with food, especially junk food, for academic or behavioral progress.
Patron Steve Van Maren asked the District to send regular communications to all patrons of the District.
Recognitions
The Board recognized the students, faculty and staff for their achievements. They are:
- Morgan Brown, Alta High Athletic Director, UHSAA Athletic Director of the Year
- Natalie Meyer, Brighton High, UHSAA 5A Coach of the Year
- Jake Sorensen, Entrada, ASE Technician of the Year
- McKay Wells, Draper Park Middle 7th-grade student, Cross Country Gold Medalist in National Junior Olympics
- Robert Violano, Midvale Middle 8th grade teacher, Utah Science Teachers Association 8th Grade Teacher of the Year
- Fifth-grade teachers at Draper Elementary, Outstanding Elementary Department Award, Utah Science Teachers Association
Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports
Superintendent Dr. Jim Briscoe reported on attending the Utah School Boards Association Conference. He also announced the appointments of Cindy Hanson and McKay Robinson as the new School Performance Directors. They will replace Mike Sirois and Joanne Ackerman, who are retiring. In the posts, they will join Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bob Dowdle and Alice Peck in supervising the schools.
Business Administrator Leon Wilcox reported on attending the USBA conference, congratulated Amber Shill for her election to Vice President of the USBA, and commented on the good work of bus drivers who drive in the winter weather. He recognized Merlyn Rhodes and congratulated him for a long and successful career.
Board Reports
Mr. Chad Iverson thanked School Performance Director Mike Sirois for his years of service.
Mrs. Clareen Arnold reported on the Incident Command Committee discussions and her attendance at the Legislative Luncheon with the elected officials who represent Canyons District. She also reported on attending the Utah School Boards Association Conference. She thanked the custodians for clearing the walks of snow and ice before students and teachers arrived on Tuesday after Monday’s snow storm.
Mr. Steve Wrigley said the District’s Wellness Committee has discussed policies that would discourage rewarding students with food. He reported on attending the Student Advisory Council meeting, the USBA conference, and the District’s Legislative Luncheon. He also encouraged Board members to complete the “master boards” training program of the USBA.
Mrs. Amber Shill updated the community on UHSAA discussions surrounding sanctioning cheerleading and girls wrestling. He also reported on attending the USBA conference. She thanked staff members for planning the Oath of Office ceremony for new Board members.
Mrs. Amanda Oaks attended several legislative-update meetings. She also said she enjoyed the USBA conference, thanked the Education Support Professionals who work in CSD schools, and congratulated the fifth-grade teachers at Draper Elementary who received the statewide award for science education.
Mr. Mont Millerberg welcomed Mrs. Oaks to the Board, complimented the Calendar Committee for “scheduling a snow storm on a holiday,” and commented on the positive impact that retirees have on our schools. He also reported on attending the holiday program at Peruvian Park Elementary and the Homecoming Dance at Jordan Valley School.
President Tingey thanked employees for touching the lives of children every day. She also thanked those who assisted to the responses at Jordan High, including the Sandy Police. She hopes the community can continue to work together to provide safe and welcoming learning environments to students.
