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

Long-Range Planning Committee Recommendations

Recommendations to adjust boundaries and consolidate school communities were made by the District’s Long-Range Planning Committee, which has been studying how to address declining enrollment number and unused space in some CSD school buildings. Tuesday night’s reveal of the recommendations serves as the beginning point in a months-long public input process that will include multiple public community meetings.  According to Business Administrator Leon Wilcox, who presented the information, the first recommendation is to consolidate the Bella Vista and Ridgecrest elementary school communities. The new 580-student school community would be housed at the Ridgecrest facility, 1800 E. 7200 South. Wilcox said the 61,500-square-foot building’s capacity is about 600 students. As part of this proposal, the committee also recommends that current Ridgecrest students who live west of 1300 East be assigned to East Midvale as their boundary school. This move would boost East Midvale’s enrollment to about 540 students and better align elementary populations with middle-school boundaries. The next recommendation, Wilcox said, is to consolidate the Park Lane and Granite elementary schools, which are separated by about a mile and a half.  Such a move would create a school community of 460 students. CSD invites public input on whether the new school community should be housed at either the Park Lane building at 9955 Eastdell Dr., or the Granite building at 9760 S. 3100 East. Both buildings have a capacity of about 500 students. In addition, the committee recommends the 50 current Granite students who live west of Eastdell Drive and north of 9800 South be assigned to Willow Canyon, and the 40 Granite students who live south of Dimple Dell Road and between Dimple Dell and Wasatch Boulevard be assigned to Lone Peak as their boundary school. Granite’s EEC unit of 40 students would remain with the Park Lane-Granite school community, according to the proposal. It’s also proposed to move the 40-student ACC unit to Willow Canyon Elementary, which would then have an enrollment of about 370 students. Another recommendation, according to the proposal, is to move 20 students who live near Quarry Bend from Glacier Hills into the East Sandy elementary boundary. The aim is to improve the alignment with the Union Middle boundary so students can have the same cohort as they move from elementary to middle to high school. As part of this alignment effort, the committee recommends to bounder all Brookwood students into Albion Middle, and Oakdale students who live east of Highland into Albion Middle’s boundary.  Also, the committee recommends moving all Silver Mesa into the Union Middle boundary instead of splitting the student body between Union and Albion middle schools. Furthermore, the committee proposes that all Sprucewood students be assigned Indian Hills, and that after the 2027-2028, CSD will no longer provide a bus for IHMS permit students who live in the Mount Jordan boundary. Other minor boundary adjustment proposals are being made in hopes of aligning the Brighton and Hillcrest boundaries with their feeder middle schools. The public is invited to provide input during Patron Comment of the Sept. 16, Oct. 7, and Oct. 21 meetings of the Canyon Board of Education. Public hearings also will be held at Granite Elementary on Oct. 15 and at Bella Vista Elementary, 2131 Fort Union Blvd., on Oct. 16. Both those meetings will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Another public hearing will be Oct. 20 at the District Office, 9361 S. 300 East, from 7 to 8 p.m.  A second reading on the proposal is scheduled for the Nov. 11 meeting of the Canyons Board of Education. A third reading, with possible action, is scheduled for either the Dec. 2 or Dec. 16 meeting of the Board of Education. Detailed descriptions of all the recommendations can be found on CSD’s interactive web portal. Input on the recommendations can be provided either online or in person at the community meetings. Invitations to community meetings will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to families with home addresses that could be affected by the proposed changes.

New Technical Training Center

The Canyons Board of Education plans to adjust the new name of the District’s new technical-training center. To avoid possible legal implications, the Board opted to revisit the previously chosen name — Innovation Point — at a future Board meeting. A company named Innovation Pointe operates in an office park in Lehi.  The company holds state and national trademarks on the name.  The Board will continue to review naming and branding options for the new center, which will be housed at the former regional headquarters of eBay.

School Community Council Training

Canyons Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards presented information about the laws and rules governing School Community Councils. School Community Councils are made up of parents and school employees, including the principal. Parents are elected by the school community and make up the majority of the SCC. In Canyons, SCC members review school data, identify school needs, establish school goals, and allocate school funds toward accomplishing those goals. Councils approve school-specific Land TRUST and TSSP plans. They also consider and address specific safety concerns faced by students and staff in the classroom, on school grounds, and in traveling to and from school. They develop personal electronic-device and attendance plans for their schools and support programs that empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world. Councils may advise the school principal and provide feedback to the Board of Education on other issues. Six trainings have been planned for Canyons District 2025 SCC members. Edwards also presented a required annual school safety and digital report.

Sandy Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone

The Board received information about a proposed HTRZ project in Sandy City, called the “Sandy Cairns.” Per Utah law, a committee of two state senators, two state representatives, two CSD representatives, and one representative each from Sandy City, Salt Lake County, UDOT, UTA, the state treasurer, central Utah water, and the governor’s economic development will vote on the HTRZ proposal. Such projects must be 0.33 miles from a transit hub and have at least 50 residential units per acre, among other affordable-housing and commercial-space requirements.  The Board will work with External Relations to provide input to legislators and other policymakers about how Utah law regarding the approval progress for such projects disadvantages school districts.

School Highlights

Butler Middle Principal Bryan Rudes noted that the home of the Bruins is ranked among the top middle schools in Utah. Some 960 students attend the Cottonwood Heights-based school, which attracts hundreds to back-to-school events. The days leading up to the first day of school were marked by high temperatures inside the building.  Rudes noted the school’s HVAC system was fixed in time for the start of school. Rudes lauded the contributions of PTSA, which sponsors such activities as “Fun Lunch Fridays.”

Canyons Strong Recognitions

The following were mentioned: 

• Tuesday morning’s celebration for Eastmont students, faculty and staff. The school has not been able to attend class in the building because of the ongoing renovation work.
• Alta High’s appearance last Thursday on Fox 13 as the “Cool School of the Week.”
• The Canyons Education Foundation’s Sept. 18 Mont L. Millerberg Classic to raise money for Teacher Innovation Grants.
• Union and Mount Jordan middle schools for receiving $25,000 from the Ron McBride Foundation for after-school programs.
• Library Specialist Gretchen Zaitzeff for being honored with Utah Valley University’s Utah Literacy Champion award.

Patron Comment

The following patrons addressed the Board during Patron Comment. Recordings of the remarks can be accessed on BoardDocs.

• Jason Maldonado
• Juliana Jackson
• Laura Nielson
• Joanne Andrus
• Olivia Morrison
• Jessica Watts
• Caitlin Soffe
• Kristina Ruedas
• David Miller
• Nicole Ford

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes for the Board meeting on Aug. 19, 2025; hire and termination reports; purchasing bids; a TSSP Amendment for Oak Hollow Elementary; and an easement agreement with Cottonwood Heights for a historical monument at Butler Elementary.

Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports

Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins thanked Mr. Maldonado for his remarks and the remembrances of his son, Kian, a Jordan High student and baseball player who died last year. Dr. Robins said he appreciated the patrons who attended the meeting to learn about the boundary and school-consolidation recommendations.

Mr. Wilcox remarked on Eastmont Middle’s opening today — the first time that students have been allowed back into the building since the start of the school year. The building is undergoing renovations. The welcome-back party included Jordan high cheer and drumline, a red carpet, a balloon arch in Patriot colors, and confetti cannons. Wilcox also thanked CSD’s Facility Department for working hard on HVAC issues at several buildings.

Board of Education Member Reports

Mrs. Holly Neibaur remarked on the progress of the plans for the new technical-training center. Back-to-school events, such as Friday Night Lights, concerts, auditions for musicals, and dances, help make the school the heart of the community.

Mr. Jackson Lewis reported on attending East Midvale’s back-to-school night, commented on the proposed efforts to align feeder boundaries, and encouraged parents to provide input on the recommendations over the next several months.

Mr. Andrew Edtl thanked patrons for attending the meeting and being invested in the boundary and enrollment study. He remarked on the tragic school shooting in Minnesota and the decision of the Utah legislature to require armed guards at every school but not provide the state funds to pay for it.

Ms. Amanda Oaks reported on attending a mountain biking competition and other back-to-school events.

Ms. Katie Dahle asked the community to engage in the Boundary and Enrollment Study recommendations.

Ms. Karen Pedersen reported on the progress of renovations at Eastmont Middle and the back-to-school event at several schools, including Entrada, CSD’s Adult High School.  She thanked parents for attending the meeting to learn about the recommendations.

President Shill thanked Mr. Maldonado for presenting information about the foundation started in Kian’s name and expressed appreciation for Dr. Robins for hosting the annual luncheons for PTA presidents and SCC leaders.  She also thanked parents for being so involved in school issues.