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

Board Summary

DLI Guidelines

The Board of Education approved an enrollment-based rubric that will guide decisions on participation availability levels in dual-language immersion programs. The predictive guidelines, to start in the 2027-2028 school year, were created to show transparency in decision-making regarding each DLI program, said Superintendent Dr. McKay Robinson. The short-term plan, approved unanimously, includes enrollment targets and timelines for determining whether schools have sufficient enrollment to support two first-grade DLI classes. According to the approved plan, at least 50 students would need to commit by Jan. 15 to a DLI enrollment. In addition, the neighborhood general-education classroom, which CSD must offer by law, would need to have at least 19 students. Under the guidelines, explained Dr. Robinson, if DLI enrollment does not meet 50, the school would transition to a one-class cohort of 30. The Board also approved implementing a final March 15 date as the deadline for moving back to a two-class cohort as the students enter second-grade for the upcoming school year. Any elementary two class cohort that decreases to 30 students or below through attrition, regardless of grade, would move to a one-class cohort the following school year. This allows for appropriate hiring and FTE allocation. At every step, from the first parent meetings at the outset of the school year to the Sept. 30-Dec. 15 enrollment window and beyond, parents would be able to see most-recent enrollment numbers on the CSD website. The aim is to reduce questions from parents as they prepare their children for the school year. Dr. Robinson urged the Board to consider long-term solutions to DLI issues—many of which have come to the forefront because of the overall enrollment declines in CSD.  Proposed solutions include magnet schools for DLI programs, boundary adjustments, and consolidations of programs. Lora Tuesday-Heathfield, a CSD Instructional Support Department specialist, presented information to the Board about the survey, which drew responses from 861 parents and 329 employees. The survey, which was open Aug. 21-Sept. 4, showed general support for changing boundaries or consolidating DLI programs as long-term solutions for the global-language program. Surveyed employees indicated a preference for magnet DLI schools. The survey was completed to get public input on the current plan, plus start gathering longitudinal data on DLI-related issues. Additional survey results can be accessed on Diligent.

Title IX Report

Canyons High School Director Dr. Tom Sherwood provided information about the proportion of athletic participation and enrollments among girls and boys. In a presentation during Study Session, Dr. Sherwood also said recent campus improvements, particularly softball-facility construction work at Jordan High, are helping create environments where there aren’t identified inequalities or inadequacies for girls sports and activities. Posters promoting girls athletics have been designed, printed, and sent out to schools. Additionally, Dr. Sherwood outlined plans to develop and send out an interest survey for future possible activities. Dr. Sherwood also said CSD will execute a communications plan to promote non-tryout girls sports.

School Community Council Training

Law and rules governing School Community Councils wer presented by Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards. The Canyons Board and Administration rely heavily on SCCs, which are made up of parents and school employees, to serve as the main conduit for parent input. The main responsibility of an SCC, though, is to 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. Edwards explained those proposed plans are due to School Performance Directors by April 12. The Board then reads and approves the school plans, which are due to the state by May 14. 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. Several trainings have been planned for Canyons District 2025 SCC members. The next training is Oct. 7. The first session is 10 to noon and the second session is 6 to 8 p.m. Edwards also presented a required annual school safety and digital report.

Open Meetings Act Training

General Counsel Dan Harper conducted the state-required training on the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act.

Policy Update

The Board of Education is considering the adoption of updates to District policies governing access to public records and retention, non-discrimination, and student attendance. The updates were presented during Study Session by Assistant Legal Counselor Jeff Christensen. 

School Highlights

Community engagement is evident at Sandy Elementary, said Principal Elenoa Pua. The PTA is foundational to the success of the Title I school, she said, and parent-planned events are held throughout the year to support the school, students, and teachers. Sandy Elementary also has put into place a PBIS incentive program to improve student behavior and achievement. Sandy is one of two elementary schools in Canyons that is implementing AVID strategies schoolwide .

Patron Comment

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

• Liz Huff
• Cora Whitmore
• Amber Sposeto

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes for the Sept. 1, 2026 meeting of the Board; hire and termination reports; purchasing bids; August financial reports; a memorandum of understanding with Alpine District regarding Suncrest busing; and LEA-specific licenses;

Canyons Strong Recognitions

The following were mentioned: 

• Canyons’ IT personnel for National IT Professionals Day.
• Jordan High’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school’s new Black Box Theater and Fieldhouse.
• The commemoration of the Sept. 11 Patriot Day at CSD schools.
• CSD School Resource Officers’ stair-climb on Sept. 11 to honor the first responders who climbed 110 stories at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. 
• The Canyons Education Foundation’s fundraising golf tournament, called the Mont L. Millerberg Classic, on Thursday, Sept. 18.
• The five Canyons students who received 36 composite scores on the ACT.  The students are Alta’s Gabriel Carlton and Oliver Collings; Brighton’s Miles Higginson; Corner Canyon’s Sydney Hanks, and Hillcrest’s Zhuocheng Wang.

Superintendent and Business Administrator Reports

Business Administrator Leon Wilcox thanked the students who participated in Patron Comment.  He noted the successful ribbon-cutting event during Jordan High’s Homecoming week. He mentioned that a lighting system is going up and sod placed on the ground at the Beetdiggers’ baseball and softball fields.  Wilcox also said 68 percent of the space-available permit requests for transportation have been approved.

Superintendent Dr. Robinson thanked those who spoke during Patron Comment. He noted the SCC trainings conducted by School Performance Director Alice Meridith and Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards. Dr. Robinson remarked on the launch of the School Spotlight program, which started with a visit to Indian Hills Middle classes on Tuesday. He offered heartfelt condolences to the Moroni Elementary school community. They are mourning the loss of Utah’s Teacher of the Year, Talia Casares, from North Sanpete School District, who died this week.

Board of Education Member Reports

Ms. Holly Neibaur thanked Dr. Robinson and Mr. Wilcox on the DLI plan. She asked the Administration to make sure the Board stays up to date with personnel staffing decisions.

Mr. Jackson Lewis commended the bravery of students who spoke during Patron Comment and thanked parents for the emails regarding recent budget- and enrollment-related obligatory transfers. He reported on attending East Midvale’s back-to-school night and noted that Midvale’s mayor is often seeing at CSD events. He also commented on the sad and sudden passing of Utah’s Teacher of the Year.

Ms. Katie Dahle noted the Sept. 11 commemorations, as well as the School Spotlight visit at Indian Hills Middle. She remarked on the different funding mechanisms for capital facilities and personnel. 

Ms. Karen Pedersen reported on participating in Jordan High’s ribbon-cutting for the new Black Box Theater and Fieldhouse. She also commented on the customer-service oriented space-available permits provided by the Transportation Department, and thanked Canyons’ IT staff for IT Professionals Day.  

Vice President Amanda Oaks remarked on possible discussions with the legislature for FTE funding. She thanked teachers and staff for planning Sept. 11 commemoration events, including the patriotic display at Charger Stadium at the outset of the Friday Night Lights.