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

State of the District

Academically, Canyons shines. Canyons District students outpace Utah peers on year-end tests by up to 15 percentage points, earn above-average AP pass and participation rates, last year earned $50.2 million in scholarship offers, and ranks No. 1 among all Utah school districts in ACT-participation rates. Along with those sparkling academic achievements, Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins told the Board of Education that teacher satisfaction has jumped significantly in just a few years. Teacher retention and satisfaction rates have jumped to 90 percent and 78 percent, respectively. Ninety-one percent of administrators and 77 percent of CSD Education Support Professionals say they are satisfied with their jobs in CSD, as well.  While enrollment is dipping across the District, Canyons’ strong reputation as an academic, artistic, and athletic powerhouse draws 32,364 students, 29 percent of whom are economic disadvantaged. Robins noted the 5 percent rate of homeless students and 11 percent of students who are multi-language learners, factors that create learning and instructional challenges in CSD schools. Other “big rocks” faced by CSD to increase graduation rates and learning levels, include chronic absenteeism, the rate of secondary students with multiple F grades, math and science proficiency, and extreme student behaviors. Robins suggested that the committees of the Strategic Plan focus areas — High-Quality Learning, Access and Opportunity, Human-Centered Supports; and Operations — align strategies and resources on the issues that will directly impact graduation numbers and the quality of education in CSD. The Board will continue to review the “State of the District” reports and will plan a roundtable discussion in the future to discuss the proposal.

Title IX Update

All five traditional comprehensive high schools in Canyons are within the recommended proportion of sports participation and enrollments among boys and girls, according to CSD High School Director Dr. Tom Sherwood. In a presentation during the Study Session, Dr. Sherwood told the Board of Education that CSD may need to consider additional supports for female-specific activities as a District, even though Canyons recently has added boys and girls lacrosse, competitive cheer, girls wrestling, and boys volleyball to the roster of sanctioned activities held as part of the Utah High Schol Activities Association. In the coming weeks, Canyons will distribute an Interest Questionnaire to all female eighth- through 11^th-grade students to gauge interest in sports that could be added as sanctioned sports. Dr. Sherwood also noted that athletic facilities on high school campuses are equitable with the new construction of the softball clubhouse at Jordan High. In Canyons, each middle school has an assistant principal who will serve as a Title IX liaison with high school athletic departments. Posters promoting girls athletics have been designed and will be sent out to schools in the coming days. The Board asked Dr. Sherwood to send messages to student athletes and parents, alerting them to the webpage clearinghouse for information regarding training for coaches, UHSAA participation rules, and calendars of tryouts, auditions, practices, and competitions. 

Nutrition Services Update

The menu in Canyons District cafeterias receives rave reviews from the thousands of students who line up for breakfasts and lunches every day school is in session. Some lunchtime favorites are orange chicken, macaroni and cheese, pizza, chef salad, and ravioli, said Nutrition Services Director Sebasthian Varas. While school meals must meet federal requirements, decision about the menus are made by local school districts. Varas said school breakfasts also must meet nutrition standards based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Popular menu items for the morning meal include fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and breakfast pizza. In accordance with HB222, Canyons serves “Breakfast in Class” programs for the schools that have more than 30 percent of students who qualify for free- and reduced-price meals. This includes East Midvale, Midvalley, Copperview, and Sandy elementary schools. Midvale Elementary, he said, was among the first in CSD to offer “second-chance” breakfast instead of breakfast in the classroom. Now, Bella Vista, Crescent, Draper, East Sandy, and Glacier Hills elementary schools; Eastmont, Midvale, Mount Jordan, and Union middle schools; and Hillcrest and Diamond Ridge high schools are serving “second-chance” breakfast, per Utah law. Canyons also provides such services as the summer-meal program, a fresh fruit and vegetable program, and a snack program. About a quarter of all CSD students qualify for free- and reduced-price meals. Under HB100, students who qualify for reduced-price meals may receive free lunch at no cost. The District is then reimbursed by a grant, Varas said. Canyons also is preparing to fully implement HB402, which restricts additives in food served in Utah schools. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, public schools will be prohibited from selling, donating, offering, or serving food containing nine specific additives during school hours, including potassium bromate, propylparaben, and several Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act color additives such as Blue No. 1, Red No. 40, and Yellow No. 5.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are provided in eligible elementary schools, with the aim of introducing children to fresh, unprocessed produce. Sandy, Copperview, Midvalley, Midvale, and East Midvale participate, and for this school year, CSD received $175,000 to fund produce for this program. Varas said school lunch debt continues to grow. In 2023-2024, outstanding debt for unpaid meals reached $203,545. Last year, the carry-over negative balance from the previous year was $233,380.  Some $53,244 remains unpaid from students who are inactive. Canyons has received about $26,130 in private donations to pay for negative meal accounts.

School Highlights

Hillcrest High’s International Baccalaureate Program recently passed accreditation for the fourth time, said Principal Brenda McCann. Largely because of the rigor of the IB and the Advanced Placement program, McCann said, Hillcrest logged a record number of exam scores of a 4 or 5.  This summer, McCann noted, Hillcrest’s theater department not only was announced as the recipient of the Best of State Award for best theatrical instruction — but also captured, much to the pleasant surprise of the Huskies in attendance, the golden trophy for Best of State overall in the field of education. Hillcrest won state and regional championships last year, STEM and robotics teams excelled, and students regularly contribute thousands of hours in community service in the community. Hundreds of students also receive services through the “Free Market,” which provides food, clothing, and supplies to students. McCann thanked the Board for investing in improvements to the football stadium.  Through the construction work, Huskies have been able to play every home game in front of the home crowd. 

Canyons Strong Recognitions

The following were mentioned: 

• CSD schools have planned events to commemorate Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
• CSD School Resource Officers who participated in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, a stair-climbing trek that equals the 110 stories climbed by the firefighters who saved lives in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. 
• Canyons’ IT personnel for National IT Professionals Day.
• Facilities personnel Zach Lindgren, Brandon Wolf, Dan Bray, Casey Hatt, and Bob Ellis for fixing malfunctioning HVAC systems at five schools in recent weeks.
• Brighton High art teacher Derek Chandler, first-place winner in watercolor division of the Veterans Affairs Creative Arts Competition.
• Fred Lowry, who served for several terms as President of the Canyons Education Foundation. The Foundation’s Mont L. Millerberg Classic is this Thursday, Sept. 18.
• Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins for being named the association’s Administrator of the Year by the Utah School Library Association.
• Jordan High donor Dan Jorgensen, who contributed $700,000 to benefit the Beetdiggers. He’ll be honored at Friday’s Homecoming game at the Jordan High Stadium. 

Patron Comment

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

• Krista Pippin
• Taylor Berhow
• Brooke Eastham
• Shelly Christensen
• Isaac Cocoran
• Kari Boyd-Peak
• Brittney Jarrett
• Jake Garfield
• PJ Mannion
• Sara Mannion
• Meg Pack
• Kinley Garfield
• Christie Taylor
• Stephanie Johnson
• Ashley Hellstrom
• Natalie Anderson
• Alicia Patrick
• Melanie Griffith
• Lara Miller

Consent Agenda

The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes for Sept. 2, 2025; hire and termination reports; purchasing bids; August Financial Reports; memorandum of understanding with Alpine District regarding Suncrest busing; required “approval of consideration” for closing either Granite Elementary or Park Lane Elementary;  Innovation Center branding and naming; and TSSP/LAND Trust amendments for Crescent; Ridgecrest, East Midvale; and Life Skills Academy; and LEA-specific licenses and endorsements.

Policy Update

The Board of Education is considering updates to policies governing copyright, emergency and safety procedures; named gifts and memorials; evaluation of licensed personnel; evaluation of administrative personnel; technology resources-electronic devices and network acceptable use; and school attendance.

Open Meetings Act Training

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

Superintendent, Business Administrator

Dr. Robins remarked on the spirit of civil discourse, exchange of ideas, and participation in the public process that has been seen in the Boundary and Enrollment Study.  He expressed appreciation to the CSD parents who advocate for their children, support their schools, and become invested in the success of school communities.

Business Administrator Leon Wilcox remarked on Utah law governing school closures and boundary changes and noted the Student Information System change from Skyward to Qmltv, plus the switch of the software CSD uses to ensure public access to Board-meeting documents.

Ms. Karen Pedersen remarked on the public-input process of the Boundary and Enrollment Study. She noted the discussions during the conference of the Council of Urban Boards of Education. She also commented on the video message from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox that is being sent to all high school students and parents in the Canyons District.

Ms. Amanda Oaks thanked parents for their kind and respectful participation in Patron Comment.  She encouraged continued empathy, recognition of different opinions, and reconciliation.

Mr. Andrew Edtl remarked on the polite and articulate comments that were made during Patron Comment, particularly about the Boundary and Enrollment Study and recommendations.

Mr. Jackson Lewis thanked parents for participating in the process and advocating for their neighborhood school. He issued a statement condemning violence in the political process. 

Mrs. Holly Neibaur said she took a lot of notes from comments made during Patron Comment, remarked on last week’s events at the UVU campus, endorsed the idea that teens and young adults should spend less time online, and supported digital citizenship lessons. She challenged students, parents, and personnel to make this a year of kindness and respect. 

President Shill remarked on the input from patrons regarding the recommendations and commented on a letter that will be sent explaining CSD’s position on Sandy City’s proposed Housing and Transportation Reinvestment Zone.