June 13, 2023 Board Meeting Summary

• Summary of Board Actions During Study Session on June 13, 2023

Budget Hearing
Business Administrator John Larsen presented the proposed 2023-24 budget of $839 million to the Board of Education during the District’s annual budget hearing. The Board adopted the 2022-23 final amended budget, the 2023-24 proposed budget and authorized any budget adjustments necessary to reflect funds received from the Certified Tax Rate and the Truth in Taxation hearing.

Superintendent Godfrey thanked Mr. Larsen and his staff for their hard work preparing the budget and for taking good care of public tax dollars. Dr. Godfrey said the budget reflects Board and District values and it really is a strategic plan for how the District seeks to provide the best education possible for students and the communities served. He said “we take stewardship over funds very seriously.” Superintendent Godfrey thanked the community and legislature for their support of Jordan School District.

Mr. Larsen summarized four main points of the 2023-24 budget, which were: 1) Proposed Negotiated Salary Agreements; 2) A Certified Tax Increase, and 3) Construction Projects 4) Increased Meal Prices

Mr. Larsen then reviewed the following aspects of the 2023-24 proposed budget:

• Enrollment: Student enrollment is projected at 58,389 students.
• WPU increase of 6%.
• New Elementary School in Herriman will open for the 2024-25 school year.
• Truth in Taxation hearing on August 1, 2023 at 6 p.m. at West Jordan High School to raise the certified tax rate.

• Patron Comments
• Linda Crane, a resident, urged the Board to find ways to save money instead of increasing taxes. She said paying for a Health and Wellness Day lunch for all employees is wasteful and suggested the District take away Board member insurance benefits.
• Tracy Halvorsen, a parent, expressed frustration over another Truth in Taxation after the Board approved a 23% tax increase last year.
• Lisa Gayler, a resident, said patrons have to cut their budgets in difficult times and the District should do the same. She asked Board members to remember where District money is coming from.
• Terry MacArthur, a resident, said the Board needs to remembers elderly people are impacted most by tax increases.
• Jolene Norton, a resident, said she is retired and on a fixed income and another proposed tax increase will make it difficult for her to pay bills and make ends meet.
• Terry Sorensen, a resident, told Board members to stop throwing money away.

Special Business Items
The Board Approved the 2023-24 negotiated agreement for licensed employees, the 2023-24 negotiated agreement for education support professionals and revisions to non-negotiated policies.

• Patron Comments
• Dave Bullock, President of JESPA, expressed gratitude for this year’s negotiated agreement which he said reflects how highly the Board values employees. Mr. Bullock said he is proud to be part of the JSD team.
• Gretchen Zaitzeff, a resident, expressed gratitude for the Board, Administration, teachers and staff for their service to the nearly 60,000 students in Jordan School District. She said she appreciates all the sacrifices made to help students succeed and said as a taxpayer she is grateful the District makes the most of what it has.
• Erik Wieben, Vice President of JEA, thanked the Board for listening to feedback from teachers on the tentative agreement.
• Michael Parker, a parent, thanked Board members for their service and expressed concern over the practice of using involuntary teacher transfers within a school.
• Wendy McConnehey, a parent, advocated for building a brand-new state of the art school at the site of the old West Jordan Elementary School or she said the Board should consider implementing a fair District split.

• Board Comments
• Tracy Miller congratulated everyone on graduation ceremonies, which she said were so well done. She attended the GED graduation ceremony at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy saying it was a great experience.
• Marilyn Richards congratulated graduates and those who put so much into the graduation ceremonies, of which she attended four. She congratulated Robyn Bullock and Angela Allen for being recognized by the Utah School Employee Association and the Bingham High School softball team for being State champs. Ms. Richards reported on the Facilities Committee which she said is working on a summer projects list for next year and will bring it to the Board in August. She also reported that Bingham High School is moving forward with the last phase of its renovation project.
• Lisa Dean thanked JSD cities for hiring outstanding crossing guards to help students get to and from school safely.

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

In open session, the Board continued a discussion on Portrait of a Graduate and reviewed a Request for Proposal for Literacy Instructional Materials. They discussed busing for the Western Springs Development, reviewed updates and revisions to non-negotiated policies and received a report on buildings and enrollment impacting the Ongoing Building Plan.

– Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications

1. Study Session – 15:04
   1. Portrait of a Graduate Follow-Up Discussion – 16:03
   2. Review of Request for Proposal (RFP) for Literacy Instructional Materials – 33:02
   3. Review of Updates and Revisions to Non-negotiated Policies – 1:04:09 
   4. Discussion on Busing for the Western Springs Development – 1:15:43
   5. Report on Buildings and Enrollment Impacting the Ongoing Building Plan – 1:26:44
2. Budget Hearing for the 2023-24 Budget – 2:12:08
   1. Pledge of Allegiance – 2:13:18
   2. Reverence – 2:13:47
   3. Budget Presentation – 2:14:58
   4. Patron Comments – 3:27:18
   5. Action by Board of Education on Budget Adoption – 3:41:40
3. General Session – 4:04:40
   1. Resolutions of Appreciation – 4:04:48
   2. Board Recognitions – 4:05:39
4. Public Comments – 4:10:15
   1. Comments by Elected Officials
   2. Patron Comments
5. General Business – Approve Consent Agenda – 4:22:31
   1. Board Minutes
   2. Mountain Point Elementary School – 2022-23 School LAND Trust Plan Amendment
6. General Business – Accept Consent Agenda – 4:23:02
   1. Expenditures
   2. Financial Statements
   3. Personnel – Licensed and Education Support Professionals
   4. Certificates for Home Instruction
   5. Non-compliance Report
   6. Fraud Risk Assessment
7. Special Business Items – 4:23:26
   1. Recommendation to Approve 2023-24 Negotiated Agreement for Licensed Employees
   2. Recommendation to Approve 2023-24 Negotiated Agreement for Education Support Professionals
   3. Recommendation to Approve Revisions to Non-negotiated Policies
8. Bids – 4:29:13
   1. Child Development Center – Apple Computers & Licenses
   2. Information Systems – Palo Alto New Firewall with Three-year Support and Professional Services
   3. Special Education – Literacy Curriculum for Self-Contained Support Classroom Settings Grade K-12
   4. Special Education – Literacy Curriculum for Resource Classroom Settings – Grades K-12
   5. Central Warehouse – White Copier Paper
   6. Central Warehouse – Truck Cab & Chassis
9. Discussion Items – 4:49:45
   1. Committee Reports and Comments by Board Members
10. Adjourn – 4:56:43
    1. Motion to Adjourn to Closed Session
11. Potential Closed Session
    1. Character and Competence of Individuals (Personnel)
    2. Property
    3. Potential Litigation
    4. Negotiations
    5. Security