Nov. 26, 2024 Board Meeting Summary

• Summary of Board Actions During Study Session on Nov. 26, 2024

Celebrating Hidden Valley Middle School
Piper Hagman, student body officer, said the theme at Hidden Valley Middle School this year is “Together We Belong, Together We Achieve.“ Piper talked about many things in which students and staff take pride at Hidden Valley like the annual Sunrise Salute and service projects like a recent one led by National Honor Society students where 20,000 hygiene kits were collected for the community. Students are excited about this year’s holiday fundraising drive with a goal of raising $3,000 to $4,000 to support HVMS families in need over the holiday season. Piper said they are seeing an increase in student belonging and a sense of community at the school where unity and leadership are priorities. She said everyone at Hidden Valley takes joy in health and wellness along with high achievement, always in pursuit of academic progress.

• Special Business Items
• A Public Hearing was held to consider of a boundary change potentially impacting Aspen, Bastian, Butterfield Canyon, Herriman, and Oak Leaf Elementary Schools.
• The Board appointed Suzanne Wood to fill the midterm vacancy in Board District 3.
• The Board adopted the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Kyle Greene, of the auditing firm Squire & Company, said the District’s financial statements conform with state and federal accounting principles. Additionally, 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.
• The Board approved an additional overnight travel request.

Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools, said there are many great performances taking place at schools throughout the District right now. He attended the Veterans Day performance at Blackridge Elementary School where they sang the new Space Force song. The Superintendent also attended Riverton High School’s musical “Hadestown” and said there are many wonderful holiday performances coming up. He thanked everyone involved in making the performances possible.

The Superintendent thanked John Larsen and the Accounting team for always making the best use of taxpayer resources and saving the District money. He said they do an incredible job with a high level of transparency over finances. He also applauded the Board of Education and Finance Committee for their hard work when it comes to District finances.

• Patron Comments
• Mikayla Miller, a teacher at Aspen Elementary, asked that Board members listen to staff and how much they are impacted by decisions regarding overcrowding at the school where they work. She expressed frustration over how long a decision regarding boundary changes has taken. She hopes any decision that is made benefits all students.
• Aubrey Hurst, a student, talked about how much she loves Aspen Elementary and said she lives in the oldest neighborhood at Aspen. Aubrey asked that her area please be allowed to stay at Aspen.
• Linda LaPutka, an employee, talked about the new tiered 1 math curriculum and said loading us down with non-stop new programs is impacting teacher wellness and causing burnout.
• Mysti Hedquist, a parent, said she is a proud Community Council member at Bastian and has serious safety concerns regarding proposed boundary changes at the school. She said the safety of students should be a top priority. She said the diversity at Bastian is something to be embraced.
• Nate Winters, a parent, said he lives in Sunstone Village and asked the Board not to move his children again and allow them to remain at Aspen Elementary. He worries about the impact of having his students forced to start over again.
• Kara Winters, a parent, lives in Sunstone Village and asked the Board to allow children in her subdivision to remain at Aspen Elementary saying she strongly opposes moving them again to fix the growing pains.
• Raquel Lubbers, a parent, talked about ADHD and how it impacts students. She said there needs to be a new program in place that addresses teacher burnout and helps them support students with ADHD.
• Jordan Hansen, a parent, said he is an Oak Leaf Elementary Community Council member and asked that Oak Leaf students not be asked to move again calling it heartbreaking. He said students at Oak Leaf have been moved too many times and they need stability.
• Chantay Stringham, a parent, asked that her neighborhood be moved to Butterfield Canyon if a boundary change is needed.
• Rebecca Christiansen, a parent, said she is PTA president at Oak Leaf Elementary which has become a strong community over the past three years. She asked that students at Oak Leaf not be moved to another school at this time.
• Shantel VanWagoner, a parent, said she has a student at Oak Leaf Elementary and opened a student Wellness Center at the school as a member of the PTA. She said if Oak Leaf students are moved, it will be the third time and will impact student wellness. She said students need stability and not disruption.
• Mindy Bush, a parent, and said she lives in Sunstone Village and expressed concern over the possibility of having her students move again. She asked that Sunstone students be allowed to stay at Aspen Elementary.
• Ezra Bush, a student, asked the Board to vote for Option B to keep his Sunstone neighborhood at Aspen Elementary School.
• Paige Moore, a parent, expressed concerns over safe walking with the potential boundary changes involving Bastian Elementary School.
• Brett Terpstra, a parent, said he is a member of Sunstone Village and expressed support for boundary Option D.
• Michelle Franks, a parent, expressed concern over the potential social and emotional health impact that moving schools multiple times can have on students.

• Board Comments
• Tracy Miller attended the Rosamond Patriotic Program saying there is nothing better. She said it showed so much patriotism. Ms. Miller reminded everyone that the Jordan Education Foundation’s Christmas for Kids event is Saturday, Dec. 7 and they still need volunteer chaperones.
• Niki George attended the Copper Hills High School performance of “Anastasia” and congratulated everyone involved for their talent and their commitment. Ms. George attended a Region 6 PTA meeting and said it is always inspiring to see the amount of effort from fantastic volunteers who are doing a great job.
• Bryce Dunford congratulated the Herriman High School cross country team for winning the Nike Regional tournament.
• Lisa Dean recognized the West Jordan High School girl’s tennis team for being selected as the 2024-25 Academic State Champions by the Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. She attended the West Jordan High School musical “Annie” and thanked everyone for giving students the opportunity to try something new.
• Marilyn Richards attended Bingham High School’s performance of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” calling it amazing with 300 cast members involved. She attended UHSAA meeting where they are discussing realignment but Ms. Richards does not believe JSD will be impacted.
• Brian Barnett attended the dedication ceremony for Juniper Elementary School and said he was happy to participate.

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

In open session, the Board conducted interviews for the District 3 midterm vacancy and continued a discussion on the applicants. They reviewed survey results for potential boundary changes at Aspen Elementary School and options for renovating West Jordan High School. The Board received an update on 2025 summer projects and discussed Board Policy GP117 Travel and Other Board Expenses and reviewed Administrative Policies DP338 Reimbursement of Licensed Employees Elected to Public Office and DP338B Reimbursement of Education Support Professionals Elected to Public Office.

– Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications

1. Study Session – 7:48
   1. Potential Interviews for the District 3 Midterm Vacancy on the Board of Education – 8:28
   2. Continued Board Discussion on the Applicants for the District 3 Midterm Vacancy – 54:12
   3. Survey Results for Potential Boundary Changes at Aspen Elementary School – Part I – 1:06:31
      Survey Results for Potential Boundary Changes at Aspen Elementary School – Part II – 5:57:26
   4. K-5 Mathematics Curriculum Adoption Process – 2:15:46
   5. West Jordan High School Renovation Options – 5:12:34
   6. Update on Summer 2025 Projects – 5:45:15
   7. Review of Revisions to Board Policy E400 Mission Statement – Tabled
   8. Review of New Board Policy E405 Ends – Tabled
   9. Calendar Committee Representatives – 6:41:26
   10. Discussion on Board Policy GP117 Travel and Other Board Expenses – 6:43:11
   11. Review of Administrative Policies DP338 Reimbursement of Licensed Employees Elected to Public Office and DP338B Reimbursement of Education Support Professionals Elected to Public Office – 6:50:51
2. General Session – 2:46:20
   1. Pledge of Allegiance – 2:48:30
   2. Reverence – 2:49:13
   3. Presentation – Celebrating Hidden Valley Middle School – 2:49:48
   4. Board Member Recognitions – 2:53:25
   5. Superintendent’s Recognitions – 2:59:21
3. Public Comments – 3:00:21
   1. Guidelines for Public Comments
4. Special Business Items – 3:08:09
   1. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of a Boundary Change Potentially Impacting Aspen Elementary, Bastian Elementary, Butterfield Canyon Elementary, Herriman Elementary, and Oak Leaf Elementary Schools
   2. Recommendation to Appoint a Board Member to Fill the Midterm Vacancy in District 3
   3. Recommendation to Adopt the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024
   4. Recommendation to Approve Additional Overnight Travel Request
5. General Business – Approve Consent Agenda – 4:33:45
   1. Board Minutes
   2. LAND Trust Amendment – West Hills Middle School
6. General Business – Accept Consent Agenda – 4:34:07
   1. Expenditures
   2. Financial Statements
   3. Personnel – Licensed and Education Support Professionals
   4. Certificates for Home Instruction
   5. Non-compliance Report
7. Bids – 4:34:35
   1. Teaching & Learning – Tier I Math Curriculum
   2. Custodial Services – Kitchen Grease Trap & Barrel Waste Disposal
   3. Facility Services – Boiler Replacement at South Jordan Middle School
   4. Facility Services – Roof Replacement at Jordan Hills Elementary School
   5. Facility Services – Roof Replacement at Rosamond Elementary School
   6. Facility Services – Roof Replacement at Riverside Elementary School
   7. Nutrition Services – USDA Commodity Processing of Chicken
   8. Nutrition Services – USDA Commodity Processing of Beef
   9. Nutrition Services – USDA Commodity Processing of Pork
   10. Nutrition Services – USDA Commodity Processing of Fish
   11. Nutrition Services – USDA Commodity Processing of Chicken Legs
   12. Nutrition Services – USDA Commodity Processing of Liquid Egg Product
   13. Nutrition Services – USDA Commodity Processing of Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
   14. Nutrition Services – USBA Commodity Processing of Dehydrated Potatoes
8. Information Items – 4:52:07
   1. Superintendent’s Report
9. Discussion Items – 4:55:36
   1. Committee Reports and Comments by Board Members
10. Adjourn – 7:17:34
    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