April 26, 2022 Board Meeting Summary

Celebrating Hidden Valley Middle
Student Body Officer Nikolai Daniel talked about how much students love Hidden Valley Middle and the caring and supportive administration leading everyone into new adventures every day. He shared their pride in school programs like Portuguese DLI, Books and Hooks, Esports, Robotics and STEM. In the Hidden Valley Middle holiday fundraiser students collected $5,000 for the Jordan Education Foundation and collected 500 pounds of food for the Utah Food Bank. The school had an “Unplugged Week,” where students tried to reduce their screen time by fifty percent. Students also celebrated a successful musical production of “Footloose.”

  • Recognitions
    Region 6 PTA Director Karen Beebe and Awards Specialist Ann Howden presented the 2022 Region 6 State PTA Awards to the following employees:
  • Devon Murphy – State Winner
  • Heidi White – State Winner
  • Jessica Ellison – State Winner
  • Miriam Rowley – Spirit of PTA
  • Sarah Williams – Elementary
  • Sonja Delaney – Spirit of PTA
  • Sandra Starley – Support Staff
  • Karina Taylor – Volunteer
  • Chris Fish – Secondary
  • David Lloyd – Support Staff

Norm Emerson, Fine Arts Consultant, thanked the Board for support of education programs in schools throughout the District. He thanked music teachers for using their creativity to keep music alive during the pandemic. Mr. Emerson said he is grateful for the Jordan Youth Symphony and the talented directors who lead the symphony. He explained that research has proven some of the benefits of the Arts are helping students with a growth mindset, building confidence, and less bullying among students who participate. Mr. Emerson said lives are being transformed through music in JSD schools.

Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools, thanked the Jordan Youth Symphony for an awesome performance prior to the Board meeting. He reported that the Cook Center for Human Connection will be offering a bullying prevention seminar for parents and employees on Tuesday, May 3. The seminar is being led by Dr. Melissa Lopez-Larson, an adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Special Business Items
The Board approved the amended budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year and New Administrative Policy A13 School Consolidation Closure.

Elected Official Comments
Mayor Lorin Palmer, Herriman City, wanted to reach out as the new mayor of Herriman City and show his support for the District and what is going on in our schools. He said we are in this together and he looks forward to working with the Board and District administration.

  • Patron Comments
  • Jadiahne Ioane, a Valley High student, said allowing cultural attire and flower leis impacts graduation in social equity. She said what students wear at graduation represents who they are and creates pride in the Polynesian community.
  • Yadhira Zavala, a student, asked the Board to embrace diversity and allow students to wear attire that represents who they are at graduation to give them a sense of pride in individual cultures. She said graduation is a place where we can represent our cultures with pride.
  • Jasmin Rogue, a student, encouraged the Board to allow students to wear cultural attire at graduation. She said allowing students to wear cultural attire would advocate for more diversity and cultural acceptance in our schools and community.
  • Steve Haslam, a teacher, said he is a fierce advocate for teachers and asked the Board to stand up to support teachers making a living wage. He asked that teachers be paid for the hard work they are currently doing. He thanked Dr. Godfrey for the “What I Wish I Knew” diversity training which he described some of the best diversity training he has received.
  • Kiersten Glenn, a parent, said the District’s Literature Selection and Review Policy respects the rights of parents to protect students from books that are inappropriate. She said parents want to pass on their values to children and this will only be done by enforcing good District policies.
  • Stacy Wise, a parent, said she heard that the District’s Diagnostic Kindergarten program is being dissolved and she asked the Board to look into it.
  • Board Comments
  • Tracy Miller said the Jordan Education Foundation Awards banquet was a wonderful event and she encouraged people to participate in the JEF Fun Run to benefit teachers.
  • Marilyn Richards reported on several items regarding the Finance Committee including tax increment project considerations and extensions and a strategy for release of information regarding District taxes and finances.

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

In open session, the Board reviewed potential start and end times for schools for the 2022-23 school year.

– Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications


  1. Study Session – Open Meeting – 24:00
    1. Motion to go into Closed Session – 24:52
  2. Closed Session
    1. Character and Competence of Individuals (Personnel)
    2. Property
    3. Potential Litigation
    4. Negotiations
    5. Security
  3. Jordan Youth Symphony
    1. Jordan Youth Symphony
  4. General Session – 3:55:17
    1. Pledge of Allegiance – 3:56:41
    2. Reverence – 3:57:16
    3. Presentation – Celebrating Hidden Valley Middle School – 3:59:03
    4. Resolutions of Appreciation – 4:03:19
    5. Recognitions – Region 6 PTA Awards – 4:04:21
    6. Comments by Elected Officials – 4:20:23
  5. General Business – Approve Consent Agenda – 4:26:55
    1. Board Minutes
    2. Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) Plans for 2022-23
    3. School LAND Trust Plans for 2022-23
    4. LEA-Specific Educator Licensing
  6. General Business – Accept Consent Agenda – 4:27:49
    1. Expenditures
    2. Financial Statements
    3. Personnel – Licensed and Education Support Professionals
    4. Certificates for Home Instruction
    5. Non-compliance Report
  7. Bids – 4:28:21
    1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) – School Computer Labs
    2. Facility Services – Security Camera Servers
    3. Teaching & Learning – Building Fact Fluency Classroom Kits
  8. Patron Comments – 4:33:40
  9. Special Business Items – 4:50:55
    1. BUDGET HEARING: Recommendation to Approve Amended Budget for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year – 4:51:22
    2. Recommendation to Approve New Administrative Policy A13 School Consolidation/Closure – 5:03:14
  10. Information Items – 5:13:58
    1. Superintendent’s Report
  11. Discussion Items – 5:17:14
    1. Committee Reports and Comments by Board Members
  12. Study Session – Open Meeting – 5:35:02
    1. School Start and End Times for 2022-23
  13. Adjourn – 5:36:09
    1. Motion to Adjourn to Closed Session
  14. Potential Closed Session
    1. Character and Competence of Individuals (Personnel)
    2. Property
    3. Potential Litigation
    4. Negotiations
    5. Security

Board of Education
Tracy J. Miller, President – Precinct 3
Bryce Dunford, First Vice President – Precinct 5
Marilyn Richards, Second Vice President – Precinct 4
Jen Atwood, Member – Precinct 7
Niki George, Member – Precinct 6
Darrell Robinson, Member – Precinct 1
Matthew Young, Member – Precinct 2