March 23, 2021 Board Meeting Summary

Celebrating Copper Hills High School
Shayla Nham, Student Body President, said the theme for this year at Copper Hills High School is “Live in the Now,” encouraging students to create moments and live in the present. She talked about “Senior Sunrise” held on the first day of school which was a huge success and a great start to the school year. Shayla said CHHS has an amazing administration which has worked very hard to enforce COVID rules to keep everyone safe and in school. Despite the pandemic, Shayla said students have been very grateful for the opportunity to attend sporting and club events keeping school spirit high. In a year that has been hard, she said students have been resilient and there have been many things of which to be proud of including academic achievement.

Special Business Item
The Board approved the 2021-22 student fee schedule.

Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools, recognized the public-school partnership with BYU and talked about how the BYU Partnership helps to elevate practices and the work of educators in Jordan School District. He introduced Gary Seastrand and Barry Graff with the BYU Partnership and thanked them for the impact BYU has on attracting great teachers to the District. Dr. Seastrand called Jordan School District a “first rate organization,” which helped BYU receive a high honor from the National Association of Professional Development Schools for its “Exemplary Partnership Across the United States.”

• Patron Comments
• Janet Blackmer, West Jordan resident, asked the Board to help resolve issues some Copper Hills High School neighbors have with stadium lights on the playing field which she described as disturbing the peace of homeowners.
• Jennine Watson, a substitute teacher and parent, said she would like to see a return to in-person learning on Fridays next year because students are losing too much time in the classroom.
• Lois Glenn, 9th grade student, expressed concern over some Language Arts curriculum at Oquirrh Hills Middle School which she says does not offer an opportunity for students to challenge or disagree with ideas that are presented.
• A number of parents asked the Board to update the District’s Controversial Issues Policy stating that it is not current and not being followed. They asked the Board for transparency in what is being taught in our classrooms and they want parent input in curriculum before it is taught.
• Several parents of students with special needs asked the Board to support their efforts to integrate special needs students into their neighborhood schools rather than spreading them out in schools across the District. They said keeping students with special needs in their neighborhood schools leads to greater understanding and acceptance.
• Kelsey Brown, a 9th grade student, asked the Board to consider allowing more people into the auditorium at Elk Ridge Middle School so that more families and members of the community can enjoy the school’s musical production of “Matilda.”

• Board Comments
• Marilyn Richards thanked School Community Council members for all the work they are busy doing at this time. She attended Bingham High School’s musical production of “Mamma Mia,” which she described as fabulous.
• Jen Atwood thanked West Jordan City for working with schools to develop safe walking routes. She said the West Jordan Elementary School Community Council is doing a great job of being more inclusive and she attended the Oquirrh Elementary School Community Council meeting where they shared memories of rebuilding the school after a tragic fire in the 1995. Ms. Atwood congratulated Joel P. Jensen Middle School for being recognized by the State Board of Education as a school which supports multi-language learners.
• Niki George helped to judge “We the People” at West Hills Middle School and was blown away by the knowledge of student participants.
• Tracy Miller congratulated Marilyn Richards for receiving the Daughters of the American Revolution “Women in American History” award.

Closed, Study Session
In closed session, Board members discussed personnel, property, potential litigation, and negotiations.

In open session, the Board received a report on Title I and EARS Funding, the Friday schedule and discussed adding a DLI program at Mountain Point Elementary School. They reviewed field trips, Board Policy GP103 Board Members’ Principals of Operation: Conduct & Ethics and received an update on the pandemic response.

– Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications