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

Administrative Appointments

Assistant Superintendents Dr. Kathryn McCarrie and Dr. Bob Dowdle announced the Board-approved leadership appointments for the coming school year. 

• BJ Weller, currently the Principal of Canyon View Elementary, is the new Director of the Department of Responsive Services.  
• Kierstin Draper, Principal of Oakdale Elementary, will become Principal of Canyon View Elementary
• Lori Jones, currently Principal of Sprucewood Elementary, will become Principal of Oakdale Elementary. 
• Colleen Smith, currently Principal of Parkside Elementary in the Murray City School District, will become Principal of Sprucwood. 
• Christy Waddell, who now is the Principal of Butler Elementary, will become Principal at Draper Elementary. She replaces Piper Riddle, who has accepted a principal’s post in the Wasatch School District.
• Jeff Nalwalker, currently Principal at Midvalley Elementary, will become Principal at Butler Elementary.
• Tamra Baker, currently Director of Student Support Services, will become Principal at Midvalley Elementary.
• Brandee Burgham, a teacher at Fort Herriman Middle, will become an Assistant Principal at Midvale Middle. She will assume the role previously held by Kerry Schroeppel, who is returning to the classroom to teach. 
• Randall Saltz, now an Achievement Coach at Jordan High, will become an Assistant Principal at Draper Park Middle School. The school qualifies for another AP because of high enrollment figures. 

Legislative Update

CSD’s Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards updated the Board of Education on talks surrounding SB80, a school-funding equalization proposal. The bill appears to have stalled, though conversations about how to adequately fund schools continue. An early iteration of the bill would have cost CSD up to $1.5 million if approved. Among funding proposals to gain more traction is a Senate- and House-approved measure that would provide salary bonuses to teachers in Title I schools, Edwards said. Lawmakers also have coalesced around a spending plan that calls for a 4 percent increase per pupil funding and contains ongoing funding for growth, teacher supplies and offsets for teacher licensing fees. Edwards also briefed the Board on SB240, which, among other things, would allow School Community Councils to bypass local Boards of Education and approach the Utah Board of Education to become a charter school.

Policy Update

CSD Assistant Legal Counsel Jeff Christensen described proposed policy updates, including language to clarify that paid release time for jury duty is only available for benefit-eligible employees. Also proposed under a first reading is an update to bring CSD’s Family Medical Leave policy in line with federal law, and a policy that would require CSD employees who are elected or appointed to a public office to perform their elected duties on their own time while on leave from work. Christensen also proposes striking obsolete language from policies having to do with employee suggestions and lump sum payments. Board members will further discuss the proposed changes at their next meeting.

Proposed Bus Route Changes

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bob Dowdle discussed the possibility of eliminating a bus route that serves students who reside in Big Cottonwood Canyon and attend Butler Elementary, Butler Middle and Brighton High. It’s a dangerous route; this year alone there have been two slide-offs and a collision with a deer, Dowdle said. Parents have expressed frustration over delays in service caused by inclement weather and the inability to communicate with drivers once the bus is deep in the canyon. Current ridership ranges between 1-10 students, and CSD must pay the $28,000 annual cost of providing transportation for these students, because under state law, bus routes catering to fewer than 10 students don’t receive state funding. The route is a bit of anomaly. CSD does not send buses up Little Cottonwood Canyon, up to Suncrest or to South Mountain. The District reimburses families for mileage to bring students from Suncrest.   

Pledge of Allegiance, Reverence

Members of Draper Park Middle School’s Scout Troop 1219 posted the colors and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Draper Park Middle Principal Mary Anderson reported on developments at her school, the only middle school in Utah to score in the top 10 in SAGE formative assessments in math, science and English language arts. The school benefits from high parental involvement, she says, and offers a rich variety of academic programs, including French and Mandarin Chinese, and award-winning jazz, choral and orchestra programs. Among its after-school offerings are debate club, service fair, math and science clubs, a new National Jr. Honors Society chapter, and a Vikings Scholar program modeled after Utah’s Sterling Scholar program for high school seniors. Starting tonight and running through Saturday is a student performance of “The Lion King Jr.”  

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes from the Feb. 21, 2017 meeting of the Board; a hire and termination report; approval of purchasing bids; approval of student overnight travel; approval of a date change in the 2018-2019 calendar; a 2017-2018 meeting schedule for the Board of Education; approval of the Director of Responses Services position; and approval of new administrative appointments.

Recognitions

The Board of Education honored students, teachers and an administrator for accomplishments. Those recognized included Shaun Stockwell, a 4A heavyweight wrestler from Corner Canyon High; boys basketball player Ammon Savage, an Academic All-State recipient who attends Corner Canyon;  Brighton High 5A champion swimmers Jack Binder, Rachel Butler, Anna Hibbard, Brooke Van Conklin, and Ava Binder; CSD Dual Language Immersion Coordinator Ofelia Wade for earning a Lifetime Achievement Award; You Yin-Yao, a teacher at Draper Elementary who was named the International Language Teacher of the Year, and Debbie Beninati, a Sandy Elementary music specialist who has been named Utah Music Educator of the Year.

Superintendent, Business Administrator Report

Superintendent Dr. Jim Briscoe mentioned the District’s receipt of the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. He congratulated Business Administrator Leon Wilcox and his team for achieving this accomplishment for three consecutive years. He mentioned the robotics fundraiser held at Alta High on Friday night, and encouraged the community to support CSD’s five traditional FIRST Robotics competition on Saturday, March 11.   

Business Administrator Leon Wilcox thanked the Canyons Technical Education Center students who staffed the Canyons District booth at District Day on the Hill. He expressed condolences to the families and friends of three students who recently died, as well as the loved ones of Mike Huish, an employee in the Information Technology Department, who died as a result of complications from surgery. 

Board Member Reports

Mr. Chad Iverson also expressed his condolences for those in the CSD community who recently passed away. He reported on attending Crescent Elementary’s spelling bee. He said he enjoys the level of intensity and pressure at such academic competitions. 

Mrs. Nancy Tingey expressed her condolences to the loved ones of those who passed away. She appreciated the support shown by staff members for students who are experiencing difficult emotions. She congratulated Wilcox and his team, and thanked the Utah legislators for increases to the Weighted-Pupil Unit, the main funding formula for public schools. 

Mr. Steve Wrigley reported on visits to schools in his district and his attendance at the policy-committee meeting and the arts consortium meeting.  He also attended Human Resource’s “Flip the Interview” recruiting event and the Alta High robotics event at the school. 

Mr. Mont Millerberg congratulated Wilcox’s department for winning the CAFR award.  He said the honors show the District’s finances are well under control. He thanked External Affairs Director Charlie Evans and Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards for their work during the legislative session.  He also mentioned the work that goes into providing a secure environment, especially when faced with an emergency situation. 

President Sherril Taylor thanked all the teachers for their hard work and dedication on behalf of students. He also expressed appreciation for District Office administration and staff.