Board Approves Tentative Agreement
The Canyons Board of Education unanimously approved the tentative agreement with the Canyons Education Association. The tentative agreement includes giving school-based employees a one-time 3.5 percent increase in compensation, funding for lanes on the salary schedule and 3.5 professional development days. The District and educators will equally shoulder the increased cost of health insurance premiums.
CEA members will hear details of the tentative agreement later this week and subsequently vote whether to accept it. Superintendent David Doty commended the CEA for its hard work to reach agreement and foster a positive and respectful relationship with the Board. Jordan UniServ Director Laura Black said she appreciated the Board’s efforts as well.
Kindergarteners Leap in Reading Achievement
Kindergartners showed a 21 percentage-point gain in reading achievement over the past school year, reported Amber Roderick Landward, Director of Evidence-Based Learning in Elementary Schools. In the 2009-2010 school year, 65 percent of Canyons kindergartners had learned what they need to know before moving on to first grade, AIMSWeb reading test data showed. Following 28 hours of intensive professional development and 1,964 hours of teacher coaching in the 2010-2011 school year, the number of students meeting benchmark rose to 86 percent. Park Lane Elementary teacher Susan Homer and Silver Mesa Elementary teacher Maria Bailey said the professional development on using test data and follow-up coaching enabled them to help students to achieve new heights. Park Lane and Silver Mesa achievement coach Susan Henry said the efforts have helped her to cultivate evidence-based, master teachers.
The assessment, professional development and coaching model aims to address student achievement gaps before they take hold students in Title I schools show tremendous gains under this model and immediately start preparing kids for college and career. This year, the efforts will be replicated in first grade classrooms. A More For 4 program also has been launched to help parents prepare children for kindergarten at home. LINK?> Board members praised the work as giving childrens keys to success. To hear the presentation, click here http://www.boarddocs.com/ut/canyons/Board.nsf/Public and select agenda item 2A.
Assistant Principals Named for Copperview, Midvale Elementaries
Jethro Jones, an education technology specialist in the Canyons Office of Evidence-Based Learning, was named assistant principal of Copperview Elementary. Jones replaces Chanci Loran, who is now principal of Copperview Elementary. Additionally, Justin Pitcher, an intern assistant principal at Jordan High School, was named assistant principal of Midvale Elementary. He replaces Julie Mootz, who is now working as principal of Brookwood Elementary. Both will assume their new assignments within the next week.
Hazardous Busing to Continue; Other Study Session Items Postponed
The Board received information that hazardous busing will continue for the next two school years to children in a Crescent Elementary neighborhood due to extensive TRAX construction and yet-to-be completed sidewalk and other improvements for pedestrians.
The Board postponed a presentation on ACT scores and discussion on the Jordan Resource Center Building, potential air conditioning and cooling projects for spring 2012, the District drug policy revision process, and Board planning.
The Board met in closed session for the purpose of discussing the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual.
Patron Comments
Royce Shelley, a Crescent View Middle School teacher, said heat became an issue in schools when the school year started extending further into August. He asked the Board to consider addressing the issue at no cost by moving the start of school to September, and removing one week of winter break and days off of spring break.
Patron Steve Van Maren commended the Board for making District information available to the public on the Web.
Board Reports
Mont Millerberg attended the Midvale Elementary groundbreaking ceremony earlier this month, and was touched by the cheers students gave principal Shad DeMill. He noted the District had its first Safety Committee meeting, and will meet again Sept. 27. He attended the Copperview Town Hall meeting on the search for the new principal. He thanked Jordan Principal Tom Sherwood for organizing the Administrative Conference’s Healthy Lifestyles Day golf event and securing so many donations to cover the costs. He also noted the close relationship Canyons has with the Midvale Boys and Girls Club. He noted the Canyons School District Education Foundation golf tournament is Sept. 19 at Wasatch Mountain State Park, and invited Board members to join him.
Paul McCarty commended the kindergarten report, and suggested forwarding it to the State Office of Education to show the benefits AIMSWeb data is having in Canyons.
Sherril Taylor attended the UHSAA meeting, in which concussions management in high school sports was discussed, and said further discussion would be forthcoming.
Tracy Cowdell commended the start of the new school year, and praised the District’s back-to-school call center and red carpet events for students. He praised construction projects’ progress over the summer. He noted the next Board meetings are Sept. 6 and 20, and that the District’s Apex Awards event is Sept. 13.
Kim Horiuchi represented Canyons at the National Civic League event in Kansas City. The National Civic League nominated Cottonwood Heights as one of America’s best cities, and she presented information about the efforts to launch the new school district. She also participated in the Butlerville Days parade, enjoyed the students’ participation in the Midvale Elementary groundbreaking, and noted the Butler Middle School groundbreaking is Sept. 8 at 5 p.m.
Steve Wrigley was impressed with the Canyons Virtual High School launch; thanked the CEA for its involvement on advisory boards to assist the school district in policymaking; and praised Dr. Doty’s Facebook postings.
