Aug. 28, 2018 Board Meeting Summary

Special Business Items
The Board approved amendment no. 2 to the Interlocal Agreement between the District and the Riverton City Redevelopment Agency for the Riverton Western Commercial District Community Development Area.

Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Patrice A. Johnson, Superintendent of Schools, thanked the Board for investing in health, wellness and safety training for teachers. She recognized the national speakers, South Jordan Police and Unified Fire for presenting such valuable information at the trainings. She applauded administrative staff for organizing the professional development day and making arrangements to provide lunch for participants. The Superintendent congratulated Mindy Lokey for being the Utah Art Education Association’s Art Support of the Year recipient. She attended a collaboration lunch meeting with the District’s Health and Wellness Specialist and local mental health providers and expressed appreciation to the Board for looking at Ends Policies to help the District achieve and meet Board goals and expectations.

Elected Official Comments
Mayor Dawn Ramsey, South Jordan City, expressed safety concerns regarding the parking lot at South Jordan Middle School. She urged the Board to consider upgrades to ensure student, staff and parent safety.

• Patron Comments
• Joel Sundquist, Copper Hills High Baseball Coach, thanked the school community, including parents and boosters for raising $110,000 for a baseball field upgrade. He urged Board members to approve the project.
• Jeff Green, a parent, asked the Board to reconsider the bus route policy regarding who is eligible to ride the bus to school.

• Board Comments
• Bryce Dunford said he loves the buzz associated with the beginning of the new school year, which he experienced in meeting with Copper Hills High School faculty. He reported the Finance Committee applied for seven grants for counselors in Title One schools and received five. As a result, they are moving forward with hiring five counselors in addition to hiring two clinical social workers who will work in the high school setting. Mr. Dunford said the Finance Committee is recommending a summer project budget of up to $15,000,000.
• Jen Atwood attended Back to School nights and met with principals and assistant principals at her schools. She read a letter to the Board inviting members to attend the West Jordan High School homecoming festivities including the football game, which will be the KJAZZ ‘Game of the Week.’ Mrs. Atwood reported the Facilities Committee will present the Board with a priority list for safety upgrades at schools and she read a letter from Salt Lake County Emergency Management and Unified Fire Division Chief Clint Mecham, who praised the District for being proactive in school safety and safety training working closely with local police and fire agencies.
• Tracy Miller met with elementary school principals who reported very little turnover in staff this school year and the principals conveyed appreciation for mental health support in their schools. She attended the Bingham High School staff breakfast and Eastlake Elementary School’s ‘Superhero’ assembly where they shared a great message of kindness, something Mrs. Miller says she is seeing throughout the District. She reported that the Legislative Breakfast will be on November 27, at Copper Hills High School and said the Legislative Committee met with Austin Cox representing ‘Our Schools Now,’ who explained details of the ballot initiative.
• Marilyn Richards attended the Bingham High School faculty breakfast where she experienced a great level of energy among teachers and staff. She also visited several schools on opening day where things appeared to be going smoothly with lots of excitement in the air. Ms. Richards invited the Board to attend the permanent lighting of the Bingham Miner’s ‘B’ on the mountain on September 20, which she says will be an amazing sight to see. She reported that the UHSAA will finalize realignment in mid-November or December.
• Janice Voorhies thanked Copper Hills High School for inviting her to their faculty meeting and the Jordan Education Foundation for providing food and hygiene kits for Principal’s Pantries.
• Matt Young asked the Board for direction on where the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program will be located in Jordan School District. He reported that applications will be accepted in late October through early November for the program.

Closed, Study Session
In closed session, Board members discussed personnel. In open session the Board discussed safety and security and food concerns for classrooms. They received an update on health and wellness teams, discussed boundary realignment, an Innovations Sub-Committee proposala and reviewed the Riverton RDA agreement. They also discussed Board participation on various committees.

– Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications