Air-Conditioning Coming to Canyons Schools
The Board voted to make sure all schools in Canyons have air-conditioning. The action will place evaporative cooling at Alta View, Edgemont, Midvalley, and Peruvian Park elementary schools, and Midvale, Mount Jordan, and Union middle schools. Indian Hills and Crescent View middle schools will receive central air conditioning. The projects will cost $2.95 million to implement, and $260,000 a year to operate. The district will move forward immediately on the projects to complete them as soon as possible.
The nine schools receiving cooling are among 12 Canyons schools that do not have air-conditioning. Two of the 12, Butler Middle and Midvale Elementary, are being rebuilt now and will have air-conditioning, and Cottonwood Heights Elementary is providing temporary housing to Albion during its renovations. While eight of the schools to receive coolers are to be renovated or rebuilt under the $250 million bond, temporary evaporative cooling is needed to provide relief in the meantime. The money will come from that already scheduled in the bond and from the District’s capital projects fund. For details, please visit BoardDocs and click Agenda Item 2C.
In related news, the Board received information about how the District might best approach renovations to Brighton and Hillcrest high schools. Concepts presented aimed to promote optimal use of the campuses and buildings and facilitate potential future upgrades. The schools are being renovated to accommodate ninth-graders in fall 2013.
Students Pick Corner Canyon High Colors, Will Vote on Mascot
The students have spoken: Corner Canyon High Schools’ new colors are navy, silver and white. Now, the Board is inviting students to select a mascot from a list narrowed by the December vote. Students will receive ballots in the coming weeks, and receive the following choices: Cougars, Diamondbacks, Falcons and Raptors.
Last month, about 4,300 ballots were distributed to students in Corner Canyon boundaries; 1,186 cast ballots. The colors navy, silver and white received 501 votes, followed by navy, crimson and silver with 368 votes and navy, gold and white with 316 votes.
The votes for the mascot were spread more thinly, with Cougars receiving 273 votes, Diamondbacks receiving 180 votes, Falcons receiving 171 votes and Raptors receiving 141 votes. Other choices, ranked by popularity, were: Mountain Lions, Chargers, Bears, Cavaliers and Broncos.
Board members expressed concern regarding the choice of Cougars, which received just 23 percent of the vote and is used as a slang for women, and is a mascot for three other Utah high schools and Brigham Young University, whose colors also are blue and white.
Cottonwood Heights Officials Detail Proposed CDA
The Board received a presentation about the proposed Canyon Centre CDA Project Area from Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore and developer Chris McCandless of CW Management Corp. The property is located at Wasatch Boulevard at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon (site of the old Canyon Racquet Club). Under a CDA proposal, the property would include residential and commercial developments, a public park, trails and public parking currently unavailable in the area. Under the proposed CDA, Canyons School District would invest 100 percent of its tax increment for 20 years, but then receive 30 percent as an annual rebate to generate about $12,000 a year for the District through the life of the CDA. Mayor Cullimore said the city supports the CDA because it enhances public amenities, boosts the area’s taxable value and would avoid placing additional costs on Canyons School District. The Salt Lake County Council voted unanimously to participate in the CDA, and other taxing entities also have expressed support, the Mayor reported. The Board plans to discuss and vote on the CDA proposal in the next meeting.
Curriculum Policy Adopted
The Board OK’ed Curriculum Policy changes that would allow the District to select curriculum materials needed to implement the Common Core State Standards. The Board in October approved an ad-hoc advisory committee to review current curriculum policies and make recommendations. The committee, which involved parents, staff and the Canyons Education Association, recommended consolidating and revising existing policies to align with state and Common Core standards. Proposed revisions include a review committee, standards for approved texts, and provisions for implementation, approved curriculum challenges, and waiver requests. For details, please visit BoardDocs and click Agenda Item 6B.
Board Action
The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which includes the Dec. 6 minutes; purchasing bids; November financial reports; 2012-13 moratorium schools; Midvale City Interlocal Agreement; and appointment of an Ad Hoc Committee for Drug and Alcohol Policy Review. The Board also approved student overnight travel for Jordan Dance Company, Softball and Boys Tennis.
CFO Report
Canyons School District has received the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, Chief Financial Officer Keith Bradford said. The award reflects the District’s commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting for the FY 2011-2012 budget, the association reports. The award follows the District’s receipt of the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International. Board President Tracy Cowdell praised Bradford and his staff for their excellent work.
Board Reports
Mont Millerberg attended the International Baccalaureate graduation ceremony at Hillcrest High School on Monday. He lauded the program and outstanding participating students.
Vice President Sherril Taylor and President Cowdell thanked the Board and the Administration for their hard work in preparing for and working together in tonight’s meeting.
Closed Session
The Board met in Closed Session for the purpose of discussing the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual.
