Note: Recordings and documents for agenda items can be accessed via Diligent by clicking on the corresponding agenda items.
Long-Range Planning
Proposed residential housing at The Point —the former site of the Utah State Prison that is slated to be the next hub of Utah’s tech-industry — would be inside the current boundaries of Alta High, Draper Park Middle, and Willow Springs elementary schools. Plans call for 840 units to be built on 50 acres, Business Administrator Leon Wilcox, told the Board of Education in a report about the District’s long-range planning efforts. This could bring an estimated 200 new students to Canyons, he said. In all, developers plan to start building 160 detached homes, 370 townhomes, and 310 condos in 2027, according to the development plan. The Draper-area development is expected to be completed by 2029. Another planned development in Canyons District boundaries is the Miller Group’s proposal to expand around Jordan Commons and America First Field in Sandy. Wilcox said about 700 units, with most located north and west of the stadium, may attract 3,000 residents. Most will be one- or two-bedroom residential units. The full buildout for this project could be eight to 10 years. Wilcox also presented enrollment data to the Board of Education. At last count, CSD has 30,365 students, a decrease of 2,566 students since 2022-2023. CSD is not alone in experiencing a dip in enrollment, which stems from the dropping birth rates, not just in Utah but around the country. Across the state, according to data, school enrollment has decreased from roughly 675,000 in 2022 to approximately 661,000 this year. If enrollment trends continue, public schools will count some 577,000 students in 10 years. The District’s Long-Range Planning Committee will meet Friday, Oct. 9 to review the residential-development plans and current enrollment figures, among other issues.
Demographic Consulting
A demographic consulting firm may be retained by Canyons to produce independent reports and recommendations as the District continues its examination of boundaries and enrollments of Canyons schools. MGT Impact Solutions, which is headquartered in Tampa, Fla, but has worked with several Utah K-12 districts, was been identified through a competitive process as the preferred vendor to complete demographics studies and make recommendations regarding facilities, attendance patterns, and stakeholder input, among other pressing issues. If the company is retained, the consultants would complete a 10-year examination that may inform decisions regarding boundaries, school consolidations, facility uses, program placements, and renovation or construction projects. The District’s Long-Range Planning Committee has been tasked with evaluating MGT’s proposal to produce the independent studies.
Calendar Survey
Three key trends emerged in the results of a survey taken to gauge employee and community sentiment about Canyons District’s academic and work-contract calendars. Human Resources Director Tiffany Midgley told the Board of Education that, excluding the trimester-schedule Brighton community, 65.8 percent of all respondents said they would prefer first semester to end immediately before the start of Winter Recess. Midgley noted that 44 .4 percent said they would prefer the District adopt a fixed A/B schedule. This means that “A Day would occur every Monday and Wednesday, “B Day” would be every Tuesday and Thursday, and Fridays would alternate between “A Day” and “B Day.” Some 26.4 percent preferred the rotating schedule and 29.2 percent did not have a preference, according to the survey. The majority of parent respondents said they preferred the fixed while students were nearly evenly divided, according to the 5,000-responded survey. Employees prefer a fixed schedule but had the highest rate of “No Preference” responses at 37 percent. The survey also asked for input on whether professional-development days—when students do not attend—should be scheduled adjacent to holidays and breaks. Fifty-seven percent of parents preferred attaching PD days to existing breaks. Of students who expressed a preference, Midgley said, 67.5 percent favored distributing PD days throughout the year. Employees were split, with 52 percent preferring distributing the days and 48 percent preferring attaching PD days to existing breaks. The Administration is moving forward with the proposal to move the semester end-date change, starting in 2027-2028. Upon confirmation of the 2027-2028 calendar, formal proposals for the proposed 2028-2029 calendar and tentative 2029-2030 calendars will be presented to the Board.
School Spotlights, Recognitions
Middle Schools Director Angi Holden reported on recent School Spotlight visits to Indian Hills and Midvale middle schools. The aim of the “spotlight visits” is to interact with faculty, observe classrooms, and ask employees their ideas on how CSD can improve operations, policies, or practices. Holden also noted that Midvale’s assessments show growth in English Language Arts, and there’s been a notable jump in ELA achievement for Trojan sixth-graders. The school also is focusing on increasing attendance levels. In addition, Holden noted the “good gains” of seventh-graders, who have fewer failing grades and office referrals and are coming to school more often. At Indian Hills, the Warriors are achieving at increased levels, according to assessments. The RISE science scores for eighth-graders also are on the upswing. Holden said sixth-grade students with disabilities and multi-language learners are passing more classes, attending more consistently, and improving their behaviors. The Board and Administration spent time today at Jordan High and will visit Sprucewood on Oct. 13, CTEC on Oct. 19, and Willow Springs on Oct. 27.
Student Advisory Council
The Board of Education welcomed the newly empaneled Student Advisory Council, a group of high school students who provide input to the Board of Education about the operations of the District. All CSD high schools are represented on the council, which meets monthly with the Board and Administration.
School Highlights
Jordan Valley Principal Matt Nelson considers it a privilege to work alongside parents to educate and care for the children who attend the school for students with severe disabilities. He also applauded the hard work of teachers and Education Support Professionals who not only provide academic instruction at Jordan Valley but also work with students on their behaviors and social skills. Nelson also noted the school’s arts inclusion focus, which includes the work of a music therapist.
Patron Comment
The following patrons addressed the Board during Patron Comment. Recordings of the remarks can be accessed on BoardDocs.
- Celeste Pearson
- Drew Pearson
Consent Agenda
The Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda, including the minutes for the Board meeting on Sept. 15, 2026; hire and termination reports; purchasing bids; and LAND Trust and TSSP amendments for Alta View and East Sandy elementary schools.
Policy Update
The Board of Education approved policies governing nondiscrimination and student attendance. The Board will continue to review proposed changes to the policy that covers access to public records and retention and the Government Records Access and Management Act.
Superintendent, Business Administrator Reports
Superintendent Robinson remarked on the School Spotlight visits, which were discussed during the Recognitions portion of Board meeting. He congratulated Jordan, Hillcrest, Brighton, Corner Canyon and Alta theater, music and dance students for their wins at the 50th annual Shakespeare Competition at Southern Utah University. Dr. Robinson also reported on attending a recent visit to Alta High by two state legislators. He also thanked personnel in CSD’s Student Wellness Services, particularly because September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
Mr. Wilcox thanked teachers for their efforts to prepare for Parent-Teacher Conferences. He also reported on attending the Canyons Education Foundation’s announcement of its partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. He lauded the efforts, like the recent Utah Read-a-Thon, to encourage children and their parents to adopt reading as a pastime or hobby.
Board Reports
Ms. Karen Pedersen remarked on the Canyons Education Foundation’s partnership with the Imagination Library. Ms. Pedersen expressed appreciation to the Administration for arranging the School Spotlight visits. She welcomed the members of the Student Advisory Council.
Ms. Katie Dahle noted the positive feeling surrounding the School Spotlight visits and thanked custodians for Custodian Appreciation Day. She noted the hard work of teachers to prepare for Parent-Teacher Conferences and the individualized reading plans. Ms. Dahle also attended the inaugural Canyons District Marching Bands Showcase, Lastly, she thanked the Foundation for planning the Mont L. Millerberg Classic, the successful, annual fund-raising golf tournament.
Ms. Amanda Oaks reported on attending the day at Alta High with members of the legislative delegation. She also lauded the coaches and students who participate in the CSD mountain biking clubs. Ms. Oaks also attended the Foundation’s launch of the partnership with the Imagination Library, which provides free books monthly to children from toddler-age to five years old.
Mr. Andrew Edtl encouraged community attend Meet-the-Candidate Nights and participate in the Nov. 3 General Election.
President Shill remarked on being able to participate in meetings via technology while she was out of the country to attend to family business. She also thanked CSDtv crews for live-streaming events so she could watch from overseas.
