Naming the New High School: Community Input Wanted
The Board invited Canyons students, parents and patrons to submit their ideas for the name, mascot and colors of the new high school in Draper. The Board also would like to receive input from PTAs, SCCs and other groups including the Draper Historical Society and Draper City. A committee of school employees and parents will be established to propose finalists to the Canyons Board of Education on Nov. 15. After that, students in the boundaries of the new high school will vote to determine the new school’s mascot and colors, and the Board will determine the school’s name. To give input, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/name-the-school. The District in April 2011 broke ground on the new high school in Draper, one of the first five construction projects under the $250 million bond voters approved in June 2010.
New Elementary Boundary Proposed; Board Deliberations Begin
The Board received an Adjusted Elementary School Boundary Proposal based on public input received over the summer. The proposed adjustment affects Midvale schools and Sandy Elementary. The proposal was created from the final recommendations of the Boundary Steering Committee, which submitted its final report to the Board in spring 2011 following nine months of study. The presentation marks the first of the Board’s deliberations on proposed districtwide boundary changes. The Board is expected to discuss the Boundary Committee Recommendations for middle and high schools in its Tuesday, Oct. 18 Study Session, and draft a final proposal. The final proposal will be posted on the Boundary Proposals page for public input. The Board is expected to vote on the boundaries Nov. 1. Click here to view Board Meeting agendas, posted at least 24 hours in advance of the Board Meetings.
PTA Presentation: Volunteer Hours Valued At $2.5 Million
The Region 17 PTA presented the Board with a nearly $2.5 million “check” representing the value of volunteer hours logged by its members in Canyons schools last school year. PTA volunteers donated 141,302 hours to improve education for children in Canyons District. The Board applauded the PTA for its service.
Board Action
The Board named Bruce Young as the new Director of Transportation. Young has served as Acting Director of Transportation since June. Additionally, Diana Wallace was named Elementary Assistant Principal for Lone Peak and Sprucewood elementary schools. She has been working as an administrative intern serving those schools.
The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which includes the Sept. 20 minutes; purchasing bids; the Sandy City CDA Interlocal Agreement; property tax reimbursement plan for former Granite patrons; and policy changes directed by legislation, and administrative hires. The Board also approved student overnight travel for Hillcrest Drill and Brighton Boys Basketball, Cheer, and Model United Nations.
The Board agreed to meet Nov. 1 instead of on Nov. 8, which is Election Day. It also directed the District to begin asbestos abatement and then demolish the old Jordan Resource Center, which now stands vacant to the east of Midvale Elementary School. The half dozen Canyons students needing services for behavioral and emotional disabilities are being served in a new building under an agreement with the Jordan School District.
The Board directed the Administration to create ad hoc advisory committees to ensure input on policy decisions. The committee meetings will be open to the public. The Board also assembled another committee to draft Board bylaws that would include a code of conduct, rules of civility, ethics and discipline. The Board Governance Committee will include Canyons Policy Coordinator Jeff Christensen, Chief of Staff Charles Evans, and Board Members Steve Wrigley and Paul McCarty, Board Vice President Sherril Taylor, who will serve as chairman. The Board also assigned Kim Horiuchi to serve on the Utah School Boards Association Executive Board. The position had been held by Board Member Kevin Cromar.
Patron Comments
Thirteen patrons addressed the Board about proposed boundary changes. Eight patrons who live west of I-15 in Draper asked to be drawn into the new high school’s boundaries. One couple asked to stay at Eastmont instead of Mount Jordan to ensure safer passage for their children. Another asked to go to a new high school feeder middle school if her high school boundary were to change from Jordan to the new high school. Two asked to be able to continue having their children attend Granite Elementary, Albion Middle and Brighton High School, which they said made most sense for their neighborhood; another from the same neighborhood asked if the Board could have a map to better illustrate their point, and received assurance that school choice as allowed under Utah law will remain an option when boundaries change.
Board President Tracy Cowdell thanked the patrons for their input, and said all public feedback is being taken very seriously in the Board’s deliberations. To hear the comments, please click here and click on Agenda item 5B.
Board Reports
Board Member Mont Millerberg reported on the second meeting of the District’s School Safety Task Force and the meeting of the Utah School Boards Association, and praised the training and social opportunities USBA provided.
Cowdell commended the Board for its productive Study Session.
