Nov. 27, 2018 Board Meeting Summary

Celebrating Copper Hills High School
Elvis Amin, Student Body President, said there is a spirit of unity at Copper Hills High School. He said the theme for this year at the school is “We Are One.” Elvis told the Board there is a high level of academic and athletic achievement at Copper Hills High with diversity that brings the community together as one. He said Grizzlies are always there for one another and they unite when it comes to battling obstacles and challenges which students may face.

• Special Business Items
• Recommendation to Adopt the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
  The Board adopted the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. Paul Winward of the auditing firm Squire & Company said the District’s financial statements conform with state and federal accounting principles. Because of this, the firm has issued an unmodified opinion (clean opinion) that the statements given to the Board accurately reflect the business that has taken place this past year. Mr. Winward concluded by saying the District is in a good financial position.
• Approval for RDA Projects
  The Board approved an extension for a Tax Increment project with South Jordan Redevelopment Agency for Merit Medical. In public comment, Rusty Cannon, Utah Taxpayers Association member, said the Association supports the tax increment project because of the increased economic activity and jobs it will bring to the area.The Board also approved a Tax Increment project with West Jordan Redevelopment Agency for PayPal.

Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Patrice A. Johnson, Superintendent of Schools, stated how much they appreciated State Superintendent of Instruction, Dr. Sydnee Dickson’s visit as part of her ‘Listening Tour,’ stopping at schools in districts across the State. Dr. Dickson spent time observing Professional Learning Communities at Fort Herriman Middle School. She was impressed with courses offered at the JATC North and experienced how technology is being used in classrooms at Midas Creek Elementary School. The State Superintendent also toured the area to see new schools under construction and the amount of growth in Jordan School District.

Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent, gave the Board an update on Teacher Grants.

He thanked everyone who worked so hard to make them a success toward the goal of rewarding teachers for exemplary work they are doing or want to do in education. Dr. Godfrey said there was a total of 1,021 applicants for the $3 million in grant money. The average grant request was for $2,402.72 and 71.6% of requests were fully funded. He said projects funded by the grant money will be shared with teachers throughout the District so everyone can benefit from new ideas and innovations in education.

Elected Official Comments
Mayor Dawn Ramsey, South Jordan City, thanked the Board for all the effort put into the boundary change process and for listening to patrons. She also thanked them for approving the EDA extension for Merit Medical in South Jordan City. Mayor Ramsey asked the Board to work together to find a way to have a pool for the Bingham High swim team.

• Patron Comments
• Vicki Olsen, JEA President, said teachers are feeling more pressure to increase test scores. She asked that individual teachers be given the ability to make teaching decisions they feel are best to achieve student success.
• Heather Reich, a teacher, asked the Board to consider keeping Majestic Elementary School open for the students it serves in the community.
• Amee Rock, a parent, asked the Board to come up with a solution to provide a swim facility for Bingham High and South Jordan area students in light of the decision to close the Marv Jensen Recreation Center.
• Alyssa Froerer, swim coach, said she is excited to work with Jordan School District and Salt Lake County to find a solution for a new swim facility.
• Mitchell Sorensen, a student, said he hopes everyone can come together to build a new lap pool in South Jordan so he and others can continue to enjoy being on the swim team.
• Scott Gilchrist, a parent, said he has always encouraged his children to participate in team sports, which he believes helps them to better succeed in life. He hopes a solution can be found to bring a new swim facility to South Jordan.
• Chris Richards-Khong, Bingham High School Principal, said she supports the building of a new pool for students and members of the community.
• Matt Cheek, a parent, said he recently relocated his family to the area and was surprised to see his daughter has to leave Bingham High School to participate in the swim program.
• Mark Walker, grandparent, said his grandson has excelled on the Bingham High swim team and it has been a confidence builder.

• Board Comments
• Janice Voorhies, thanked the Copper Hills High Pro-Start team for providing a lovely breakfast for the Jordan School District Legislative Breakfast and for interacting with local elected officials.
• Marilyn Richards also said the Pro-Start breakfast was amazing and she thanked Copper Hills High for hosting the legislative meeting with local lawmakers. She attended the Bingham High School and West Jordan High School musicals, which she said displayed amazing talent. Ms. Richards also attended a moving Veterans Day program at South Jordan Middle School.
• Tracy Miller attended several School Community Council meetings and was pleased to see some making extra efforts to welcome students who will be attending new schools as a result of boundary changes. She also thanked everyone who made the Legislative Breakfast such a success where she said the District received very high compliments.
• Matt Young extended his thanks to parents and teachers who get involved in School Community Councils. He attended a Veterans Day celebration at Midas Creek Elementary School, which he described as phenomenal. Mr. Young also said it was a pleasure to attend the ‘Hamilton-style’ musical at Riverton High School.
• Bryce Dunford congratulated Terra Linda Elementary School for being selected as ‘Cool School of the Week.’
• Darrell Robinson recognized the hard working support staff in JSD. He said his visit to the Transportation Department was an awesome experience where he learned that our buses drive 293 routes a year, covering more than 2 million miles. Mr. Robinson toured the new high school under construction in Herriman and said it is looking great.

Closed, Study Session
In closed session, Board members discussed personnel, property,  potential litigation, and security.  In open session, the Board received the Middle School Credit Committee report and an update on Jordan School District Health & Wellness progress. They talked about integration of Innovations Subcommittee proposals and received an update on summer capital project estimates. They listened to a presentation on proposed 2019-20 school calendars and held a discussion on permit implementation. The Board directed staff to move forward with plans to build a new elementary school in west West Jordan.

– Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications