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

Budget Update

The Board tentatively approved a $399 million general fund budget for the coming school year and authorized the District to hold a Truth-in-Taxation hearing Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. to seek feedback on a proposed tax increase to cover capital expenses; negotiated agreements with employees; the rising costs of utilities, supplies, and curriculum; 13 new assistant elementary principal positions; stipends for the “armed guardians” as required by state law, and a cushion to maintain educator staffing levels. Business Administrator Leon Wilcox noted that nearly 40 percent of CSD’s revenue comes from property taxes, and nearly 60 percent of expenditures is spent on instruction, including employee salaries and benefits. Less than 5 percent is spent on administrative support at the central District Offices. Wilcox said inflation and new state mandates remain funding challenges as well as declining enrollment, which is driven by the nation’s falling birth rate. He noted, notwithstanding these demographic headwinds, Canyons remains competitive and continues to be a District of choice for families throughout the Salt Lake region, capturing 90 percent of all school-aged children who live in the District’s boundaries. The Board approved the final 2025 budget and will revisit the budget for the 2026 fiscal year following a hearing on Aug. 5, 2025.

Chromebook Community Discussion

As part of a communitywide conversation regarding the use and filtering of Chromebooks in Canyons District’s elementary schools, the District empaneled an advisory committee. The committee, comprised of 10 parents, and a group of administrators, teachers, and IT engineers, is not a decision-making body, but was formed to gather qualitative insights to support data collected from a survey of School Community Councils, Building Leadership Teams, and principals. The committee discussed in great depth ideas for: improving Internet filtering; enhancing the monitoring of students’ online activity; supporting instructional balance and student well-being; reinforcing digital citizenship and student accountability; ensuring that all students have access to the tools they need to learn; and strengthening communications to ensure parents have the knowledge they need to reinforce good digital habits at home. The Board will continue to discuss the committee’s feedback and asked the Administration to report back on how technology is being used in classrooms. In the meantime, the District has taken the following steps: eliminated Chromebook “free use” time for students who complete classwork early; blocked multiple categories including: media file-sharing, video, TV and music then added back appropriate apps; begun providing regular Digital Citizenship updates and information to families; and audited classrooms for quality and quantity of screentime. In addition, the District is implementing Bark, which will traverse Google accounts, including emails and files, for such issues as cyberbullying. The District is also implementing a system to proactively notify parents when students search for inappropriate content.

Professional Learning Communities

As part of a two-year effort to implement Professional Learning Communities (PLC) districtwide, Canyons District’s high schools asked faculty members to do a self-assessment of how well PLCs are working to support student achievement. PLCs are a mechanism for bringing faculty members together on a regular basis to collaboratively review student data and share ideas for enhancing instruction to target students’ needs. While there are variations from school to school, the data show a majority of faculty reporting “mastery” or “some success” in implementing PLCs. 

Innovation Center Update

The Board of Education reviewed possible names for the high-tech learning center that will soon be occupying the former Draper headquarters of tech giant eBay. Two of the names — Synergy and Nexus — were developed through an internal naming- and branding-development process, which included gathering input from current Canyons Technical Education Center students, listening to industry-partner focus group feedback, and brainstorming with CSD personnel and the Canyons task force helping to guide the launch of the new center. The Board also considered two additional names — the Wave and Confluence — and directed the administration to run the names through student, industry, and faculty focus groups prior to bringing them back to the Steering Committee for consideration.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda. This included the minutes for the June 4, 2025 meeting of the Board; hire and termination reports; student overnight travel requests, May financial reports, and purchasing bids. 

Administrative Appointments

Also approved as part of the Consent Agenda were administrative appointments. Heather Baird, a special education teacher and specialist who is currently serving as the Learning and Development Manager at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, will be hired as a Special Education Administrator. She will replace Linda Hall who has resigned. Kelsey Gile, currently the School Based Behavior Specialist at East Sandy Elementary, is promoted to Intern Assistant Principal at East Sandy Elementary. These appointments are effective with the start of the 2025-2026 contract year. 

Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports

Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins thanked Board members and administrators for attending a recent Dignity Symposium at Davis School District, a showcase of processes the District has in place for allowing students to speak up when they feel bullied, harassed, or face discrimination.

Business Administrator Leon Wilcox expressed appreciation and best wishes for Nate Edvalson who is leaving Canyons to take an administrative post at Provo School District.

Board Member Reports

Jackson Lewis remarked on having enjoyed the Davis Dignity symposium and spoke in condemnation of the acts of violence that occurred in Salt Lake County over the weekend.

Amanda Oaks attended Brigham Young University’s Arts Express conference, which focuses on arts integration in education. The conference reinforced for her the importance of nurturing creativity and entrepreneurial thinking in students at young ages. She also has been reading about the rise of AI and its use in supporting creativity. She noted a survey by Stanford University of 31,000 business leaders around the world found 71 percent said they would hire a less experienced candidate with AI aptitude over a more experienced candidate without it. Canyons has the profound responsibility to prepare students to use AI as an effective tool, she said, requesting further committee discussion of the use of AI in the classroom.

Katie Dahle thanked Leon Wilcox for helping Canyons to be a wise steward of taxpayer funds while focusing funds on supporting high-quality instruction. She also thanked staff and faculty for all the preparation they are putting in this summer to prepare for the coming school year.

Karen Pedersen also thanked teachers, noting summer is when they truly have time to plan and integrate to better their practice and innovate. She attended Entrada High’s graduation and the USBA Delegate Assembly as well as the Davis Dignity Symposium.

Amber Shill also attended USBA’s Delegate Assembly and said it was interesting to hear the perspective of the legislators. She also took part in the Dignity Symposium and was gratified to know Canyons has already implemented much of the work that was highlighted. She also attended the Real Salt Lake game honoring CSD’s Teachers of the Year. Finally, she expressed gratitude for Nate Edvalson’s great work.

Andrew Edtl echoed Amanda’s comments about AI and noted he submitted proposals to teach AI sessions at upcoming USBA and NSBA conferences. He expressed condolences to the family of 39-year-old Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a bystander at a Salt Lake Rally over the weekend who was shot and killed by a “peacekeeper” who was assigned to ensure safety at the event. The accident was not a fluke, said Edtl, noting it was the byproduct of putting weapons in the hands of untrained individuals. Referencing the state’s mandated guardian program, he argued in favor of having trained officers perform this role in schools.