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Pause and Reset: Canyons Announces COVID-19-Related Emergency Remote-Learning Day

A steady rise in student absences and COVID-19 cases, and worsening staffing shortages, have prompted Canyons to call for an emergency Remote-Learning Day.

On-campus instruction will be suspended at all Canyons schools for one day on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, which is being set aside for at-home learning. The plan is to resume in-person learning on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have committed to keeping students and employees safe while preserving in-person learning. This stated commitment hasn’t changed. What has changed are the mounting operational challenges we face amid the omicron surge,” said Canyons Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins.

The temporary shift to remote learning was approved by the Canyons Board of Education in consultation with the Utah State Board of Education, state elected leaders, and the Salt Lake County Health Department with the understanding that this will better meet students’ academic, safety, and wellness needs.

Because the remote learning day falls after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend and an already scheduled no-student day, this will give Canyons schools five consecutive days to pause and reset in line with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s new five-day isolation and incubation guidelines.

“We’re hoping the timing of this reset, falling as it does on a holiday weekend, will help disrupt transmission of the virus, while keeping the disruption to family schedules at a minimum. But we need the community’s help in strictly following the health safety measures that have been recommended by health authorities,” Robins said.

Schools will use the five days for deep cleaning and to host another vaccine clinic to make it easier for our employees to get their booster shots.

To provide teachers and school staff with additional planning time to support the needs of the growing numbers of students who are out sick and learning from home, the Board also approved two additional remote-learning Fridays, bringing to eight the total of Remote Fridays for the year (see calendar below).

Despite implementing new COVID-19 prevention measures — the countywide face mask requirement, ramping up coronavirus testing and school cleanings, and sponsoring after-school vaccine clinics for students and employees — case counts are reaching new heights in the Canyons community.

Meanwhile, student absences are rising steadily along with employee absences, worsening an already prolonged labor shortage.

“We had a day where 17 percent of our full-time employees were absent for health or personal reasons, causing up to hour-long delays on some bus routes and depleting our available pool of substitute teachers,” Robins said. “It is becoming more difficult to cover classrooms with our pool of trained and approved subs, forcing schools to get creative to cover the classes with onsite staff.”

Parents were notified Tuesday evening of the pivot to online learning via email.

Emergency-closure and remote learning expectations:

  • On remote-learning days, elementary students will work independently with a parent or guardian to complete the assignments and learning expectations communicated by their teacher using instructional packets or by logging in to CSD’s Canvas learning portal.
  • Middle and high school students will log in to the Canvas dashboard for each of their classes and work their way through their regular course schedules.
  • Teachers will be available on remote-learning days via email and connect with students through Canvas and Zoom or Google Meet.
  • There will be no disruption in extracurricular activities. Sporting events and practices, and theatrical rehearsals and performances will continue as previously scheduled.

Remote-Learning Schedule

Tuesday, Jan. 18
Friday, Jan. 28
Friday, Feb. 4
Friday, Feb. 11
Friday, March 25
Friday, April 22 (All schools except Brighton High)
Friday, April 29 (Brighton High only)

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Board Meeting Schedule

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Education for Canyons School District will hold a regular study session and public business meeting at the Canyons District Office building, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, UT each month unless otherwise posted. The Board may determine to conduct some business during a study session. All business meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. unless changed by the Board and appropriately posted for the public.

Please note that ALL DATES, TIMES and LOCATIONS listed on this scheduled are TENTATIVE and are subject to change at any time.  Please check this schedule often to be informed of any changes.

Unless otherwise specified, all meetings in the schedule below will take place as the Canyons District Office located at 9361 S. 300 E. in Sandy, Utah.

District Leaders

Dr. Rick Robins

Superintendent

Dr. Rick L. Robins is the superintendent of Canyons School District. Dr. Robins, who was selected by the Canyons Board of Education after a national search, brings 24 years of experience as an educator to his role as the chief executive officer of Utah’s fifth-largest school district. Prior to joining Canyons, Dr. Robins, who earned an Ed.D. from the University of Las Vegas, for six years was Superintendent of the Juab School District, based in Nephi, Utah. While there, Dr. Robins, who also was the Juab High School Principal from 2009-2013, helped oversee efforts to improve the district’s graduation rate to 97 percent, a double-digit increase over a 10-year period. Other innovations he led in Juab included a partnership with Arizona State University for blended-learning opportunities; the launch of a districtwide competency-based personalized learning model driven by a 1:1 technology initiative and standards-based reporting system; and the construction of the STEM-focused West Campus Innovations Center, funded largely through private and corporate sponsorships. Dr. Robins began his career as a history teacher at Copper Hills High in the Jordan School District and has worked as an assistant principal and principal in the Alpine, Nebo and Juab school districts. He was the 2012 Utah High School Principal of the Year for the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals, and in 2014 earned the Lexington Institute Superintendent Fellowship Award presented to innovative superintendents across the country. Dr. Robins was starting quarterback for the football team at Southern Utah University Thunderbirds from 1991-1995, and in 2013 was inducted into SUU’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He has four children and one grandchild.

Leon Wilcox

Business Administrator and CFO

Leon Wilcox is a seasoned professional with 20 years of governmental accounting experience, with an emphasis on financial reporting, budgeting, and auditing. As Canyons District’ Director of Accounting from 2009-2013, Wilcox was intricately involved with the 2009 division of $1.5 billion in assets of the former Jordan School District, and was responsible for establishing Canyons’ original and subsequent budgets. Wilcox, a certified public accountant who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Utah State University, also has worked nine years in the Granite School District and six years in the State Auditor’s Office.

Supervises:  Accounting and Budget Services, Facilities and Maintenance, Insurance, New Construction Budget, Nutrition Services, Purchasing, Payroll

Dr. Robert M. Dowdle

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and School Performance

Robert Dowdle has a Doctor of Education degree with an emphasis in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah, and more than 31 years of experience as a teacher and educational leader. He began his career at Mount Jordan Middle School, where he taught Earth Science, English and Social Studies. He later taught Advanced Placement Economics, U.S. History and World History at Bingham High School, and served as Principal of Jordan High School and Assistant Principal for Alta High School and Brighton High School. Dowdle has served in the District office for 11 years as Assistant Superintendent. This role has included various leadership responsibilities, including Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Dowdle currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and School Performance.

Lucie Chamberlain

Alta View Elementary

If a movie about super teachers were ever made, Lucie Chamberlain would be a prime candidate for a leading role. Fortunately for her kindergarten students at Alta View Elementary, she already thrives in a supporting role for them. Parents thank her for being a “super teacher.” She is also described as an “amazing colleague.” Whether students need help in the classroom or from home while sick, Lucie goes above and beyond to help them learn, overcome fears, and feel important and cared for. Lucie is the reason a number of kids went from hating school to loving it, according to parents. The way she exudes patience, sweetness, positive energy, and love for her students with special needs melts is appreciated and admired. One parent noted: “Both my kids wish she could be their teacher forever.” Another added:  “She treats every student like their learning and their feelings are her priority.” Super teacher, indeed!

Specialty Schools

High Schools

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Canyons School District is committed to making this website compliant with the ADA. At this time, we recognize that not all areas of this website may be ADA compliant. We are currently in the process of redesigning and creating new website content to be compliant with the W3C Level Two guidelines. If you are experiencing issues with this website, please contact us here communications@canyonsdistrict.org

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