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

Friday Early Out Schedule for all CSD Schools

The Board of Education voted to establish an “early out Friday” at every Canyons school so teachers can collaborate internally with teams and vertically with other schools. This will be put into place for the coming school year. In a presentation about such a schedule and the value of Professional Learning Communities, Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins said this common planning and collaborating schedule will provide time for teachers in all grade levels to effectively collaborate, give opportunities for vertical teaming where appropriate, and carve out a family-friendly time to avoid difficulties in scheduling. Robins said teams evaluating Canyons for accreditation noted that the District would benefit by a common time for planning, collaborating, and professional development for elementary, middle and high schools licensed professionals. Elementary, middle and high school principals spoke in favor of the common block of time for planning and collaborating.  Informational communications and alerts will be prepared for the community.

Board Approves Contract for Licensed Educators

A beginning teacher in Canyons will earn $54,665 under the contract for licensed personal approved by the Canyons Board of Education for the 2022-2023 school year. The vote was 6-1. Under the terms of the contract, which has been ratified by the Canyons Education Association, the District will fund a 4.25 percent cost-of-living adjustment based on Step No. 20 of the certified salary schedule. Business Administrator Leon Wilcox told the Board of Education that employees working on a 186-day contract will receive a total salary increase of $3,715 — $900 for the increment level, plus $2,725 cost-of-living adjustment and a $90 TSSA increase. The cost, including benefits, will be approximately $8,671,000, or a 5.64 percent increase. The District also agrees to cover the cost of education enhancements and increased stipends for coaching and supervision of activities and athletics. According to the contract, the District share for health insurance will increase by 2 percent or approximately $307,000. The employee share will increase by 1 percent, or approximately $42,000 for all certified employees. In August the committee will meet to review updated claims data and may need to make further adjustments to the premiums for the 2023 insurance plan year. Family-friendly benefits in the new contract include an option for six weeks of maternity leave for all benefit-eligible employees and an extended family leave that allows an employee to convert up to 30 days of accrued sick-leave days to take physical custody and care for a child under one year of age. A memorandum of understanding calls for committees to review and report back on issues related to orderly termination, salary schedules for specialty instructors, maximum prep periods in secondary schools, unlimited sick leave, class-size reductions, and special education issues.

Contract Approved for CSD Administrators for 2022-2023

A 4.25 percent cost-of-living increase, plus salary-schedule increment steps, will be provided to Canyons administrators in the 2022-2023 school year, according to an employment contract approved by the Board of Education. Additionally, a 1.25 percent one-time stipend will be given to the 58 administrators on the top step of her or his salary schedule lane. The District share for administrators’ health insurance will increase by 2 percent, or approximately $29,000. The employee share will increase by 1 percent, or approximately $4,000 for all certified employees. The total amount contributed to the insurance fund will be $33,000 of which 87.4 percent will be contributed by the District and 12.6 percent contributed by the employees. In August the committee will meet to review updated claims data and may need to make further adjustments to the premiums for the 2023 plan year. In this year’s negotiations, the District also agreed to continue to review the current full-time equivalent allocation process and identify modifications that could be made to address issues of equity. Also, the District agrees to bolster the training provided to new principals and assistants, and new “activity differentials” for administrators who must attend and supervise extracurricular events were negotiated.

Budget Update

Canyons Business Administrator Leon Wilcox provided the Board of Education with an update on the proposed 2022-2023 budget, which includes a legislatively approved 6 percent increase in the weighted pupil unit, which is the funding mechanism of Utah’s state government, and increases in Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) and Land Trust funding, and funding for students who face obstacles to learning. Canyons will continue through Fiscal Year 2024 to receive a share of Utah’s allotment of federally appropriated Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding, a good portion of which is being spent on new curriculum, a new assessment platform, and 23 teachers to help address learning gaps stemming from the pandemic. Canyons recently received unexpected news of a $2.2 million decrease in Title I funding , minus carryover funds,  due to a drop in Utah’s child poverty rate. Utah had the largest decline in poverty among school-aged children in the United States, 23 percent, second only to Pennsylvania, 13.8 percent, according to 2020 Census population data. The District Administration is reviewing options for managing that loss of funding. School rebuilds and other capital improvements are among some of the projected expenditures. By refunding bonds, the District is projected to save taxpayers an estimated $9.2 million in interest payments. In addition, on June 15, 2022, the debt that Canyons inherited from its predecessor Jordan School District will be paid off and no longer appear on property tax statements. Wilcox also noted that the USDA waiver for free school meals has expired. The plan, for now, is to charge previously approved prices for school breakfast and lunch.

Bell Schedule Survey, Study

The Board reviewed the results of a survey done April 21-29 of 11 communities that would be impacted by a proposal to standardize the start and dismissal times of all CSD middle schools. Parents and employees in those school communities were asked if they would like to keep their current bell schedule or would be willing to change bell-schedule times up to 30 minutes to accommodate a 7:50 a.m. or 8 a.m. start time at all middle schools. Currently, Draper Park and Mount Jordan middle schools begin at 7:30 a.m. — 20 minutes before any other CSD middle school. The changes to the bell schedules would be required because of bus-route logistics. According to the survey, the majority of parents in nine of 11 school communities strongly or somewhat prefer their schedule to remain the same. The majority of employees at ten of 11 schools strongly or somewhat prefer the schedules to remain the same. Some 43.40 percent of parents responded to the survey, and 52.7 percent of parents submitted responses. In addition to DPMS and MJMS, parents and employees in Diamond Ridge High, Alta View, Lone Peak, Sprucewood, Crescent, Draper, Oak Hollow, Willow Springs and Glacier Hills elementary schools were sent surveys. The Board also will continue to study whether a districtwide bell-schedule study should be done.

Midvale-area Boundaries

The Board of Education approved Option No. 3 of the Midvale-area boundary-change proposals. Board member Mont Millerberg moved to approve Option No. 3.  As a result, the area east of State Street will be moved from Copperview Elementary to Midvalley Elementary. The avenues will be moved from East Midvale Elementary to Midvale Elementary. The implementation will be for the 2023-2024 school year. Also instruct the administration to notify all school communities.

Policy Update

The Board of Education is considering changes to policies governing the approval process for research and surveys; student conduct and disciplinary process; instructional materials; and school library materials selection and review. The Board will continue to review the proposed updates.

Utah School Boards Association Update

Mont Millerberg said the Board of Education and Administration has completed the requisite work to obtain a 2022 Master Board Certification. He also updated the Board of Education on upcoming USBA events and activities.

School Highlights

Butler Middle Principal Paula Logan noted it’s been a decade since the opening of the Bruins’ new school, which was built with funds from a $250 million bond approved by voters in 2010. The 10-year-old building houses two Dual Language Immersion programs, 44 teachers, and 917 students who have earned 375,000 Butler Bruit “PBIS Points.” However, Logan said, the most important number for educators should be “one” — and how every student needs one-on-one support and encouragement to succeed. “It is about the one,” she said. “We became educators to help the one.” Logan also presented Board members with Butler Bruins pins.

Patron Comment

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

• Rep. Steve Eliason
• Deron Roberts
• Cami Kuchinjinskyr
• Sione Ofa
• Ilaisa Folau
• Candace Duncan
• Amy Fetter Johnson
• Marianne Barrowes
• Ruth Taylor
• Sally Scott

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including minutes for the Board of Education meeting on April 19, 2022; hire and termination reports; purchasing bids; student overnight travel requests; 2022-2023 LAND Trust and TSSA plans; and two-year contracts of employment for Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins and Business Administrator Leon Wilcox.

Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports

Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins expressed appreciation to the Board for the robust discussion during Board meeting and invited the public to Thursday’s Superintendents Awards Night.

Wilcox thanked the negotiating teams on the contracts for employees for the 2022-2023 school year.  He thanked the Board for approving his employment contract until at least 2024. He noted the retirements and resignations of employees in Facilities Department.

Board of Education Reports

Mrs. Amber Shill reported on attending the Butler Middle School Community Council and the Town Hall with President Nancy Tingey. She noted Teacher Appreciation Week.

Mrs. Holly Neibaur also noted Teacher Appreciation Week and reported on attending the Willow Springs SCC meeting.

Mr.  Steve Wrigley expressed appreciation for Administration and staff who attended Board meeting.

Mrs. Clareen Arnold thanked educators for Teacher Appreciation Week.  She also noted her completion of some parts of LETRS training.

Mr. Mont Millerberg said he decided to read one of the library books that has been under review by CSD teacher-librarians as a result of a concern expressed by a parent. He said it’s not an easy question to decide whether the books should be available to all students.

President Tingey expressed appreciation to the Board for its work and commitment.