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

Elementary School Rebuild 

As part of the consent agenda, the Board selected Midvalley Elementary as the first elementary school to be completed with funds from the $283 million bond approved by voters in November. Construction is expected to start during the 2019-2020 school year. The 60-year-old school is the oldest of the buildings that are on the list for reconstruction with funds from the 2017 bond. The school also lacks ADA-compliant restrooms, is not built to seismic standards, has a high Facility Cost Index, and the campus is large enough to simultaneously accommodate construction and school operations in the old building. The Board also approved awarding the design contract to NJRA Architects per the recommendation of a selection committee comprised of District employees and school principals.

 
Cottonwood Heights CDA 

The Board approved a request to extend an amended version of the Canyon Centre Community Development Area (CDA) agreement into which the District entered in 2012. The amended agreement removes single-family homes from the CDA and sets a $4.6 million cap on the tax increment. The redevelopment project to add commercial, residential and parking structures to an area at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon was delayed due to the recession and a legal challenge. An independent review found the current assessed valuation of the project’s budget to be reasonable. The review also determined that the use of funds would provide a public benefit, and that participation in the tax increment financing proposal is justified. Projections indicate that by extending the agreement, the District could collect an additional $24 million in property tax revenues.

Draper City CDA

The Board considered a proposal to participate in the Draper South Mountain Community Reinvestment Area (CRA). The tax increment financing would facilitate the redevelopment of land once occupied by a gravel pit into an 800,000-square-foot global headquarters for the technology company Pluralsight. The publicly-traded company is projected to bring 2,464 high-paying jobs to Utah over the next 10 years. The plans calls for developing transit-oriented and affordable housing and a TRAX stop. After the 20-year project timeline, the District would receive its full share of the taxable value of the property, which is projected to exceed $1.7 million in tax revenue annually, explained Draper City Manager David Dobbins. The Board will take up the matter at future meetings.

Public Comment 

Patron Steve Van Maren requested, and was provided, a copy of the documents shared with Board members during the Board’s June retreat.

Consent Agenda 

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes from the June 12, 2018 and June 26, 2018 meetings of the Canyons Board of Education; hire and termination reports; purchasing bids; June financial reports; approval of State Treasurer Public Entity Resolution; and approval of Midvalley Elementary School to be rebuilt. Requests for student-overnight travel were pulled from the consent agenda due to an error in some of the forms that were publicly posted. The travel requests will be discussed at a future Board meeting. The Board also postponed discussion of a proposal to reaffirm support for construction of a Midvale City-area pool so as to give the City more time to consider where to locate the facility.  

Superintendent Report 

Superintendent Dr. Jim Briscoe invited the Board to attend an active shooter preparedness training for all school Administrators on Aug. 1.

Board Member Reports 

Clareen Arnold shared an idea for working with area Police Departments to enhance their presence on school campuses. She added that she has been receiving feedback from constituents about growing confidence in the Board and District leadership.

Steve Wrigley had an opportunity to attend a completion ceremony for Jordan High’s AVID Summer Bridge program, which gives entering freshmen a jump on their high school studies.

Mont Millerberg mentioned that the National Rifle Association has a program to help fund safety training for schools.