Liz Dickenson

The board meeting included a pledge of allegiance led by a student. A new board member, Mr. Russell Fiser, was welcomed and took the oath of office. The board recognized National Merit Scholar semi-finalists. Mount Logan Middle School highlighted their focus on schoolwide literacy, response to intervention (RTI), and social-emotional well-being, including a mountaineer point system for positive behavior. The cross country and volleyball teams were also recognized for their achievements and contributions to the school's athletic programs.

The board meeting included discussions and presentations on various topics. The superintendent presented a report highlighting the district's mission to prepare students for a positive future, emphasizing the portrait of a graduate. The report included data on staff positions, new teachers, education support professionals, and administrative roles. Enrollment data as of the previous night was shared, showing an increase in students, particularly at the secondary level. The board also discussed efforts to promote positive attendance, including parent outreach, empathy interviews, and communication strategies. Behavior support was another key focus, with discussions on conscious discipline training, school RTI specialists, school operations specialists, behavior support aids, and the creation of wellness rooms to help students develop emotional regulation skills. The meeting also touched on creating a positive environment and responding to behaviors that do not contribute to a sense of belonging.

The board reviewed several bills from the legislative session. Discussions included Senate Bill 107 regarding thresholds for schools to start test-to-stay programs, House Bill 42 concerning the education agency report process amendment, and Senate Bill 160, which allows the legislative auditor to perform audits on appropriations received by LEAs. Additional bills discussed included SB 178, allowing LEAs to convert a percentage of restricted funds, and HB 425, which codifies state funds management standards and creates a charter school closure reserve fund. The board also addressed concerns about enforcing mask mandates in schools after April 10th, considering the impact on students and staff.

The committee meeting included discussions on the continuation of rules related to the seal of biliteracy and procedures for the Utah high school completion diploma. Key points included technical corrections to the biliteracy rule, the purpose of the rule, and the number of students availing themselves of the biliteracy program. The committee also discussed fee waivers for the high school completion diploma, accessibility of the application process, and the possibility of changing vendors for the high school completion diploma.

The meeting included a welcome message, employee introductions, and a superintendent's report. The superintendent's report highlighted the heavy lift with licensing upgrades and the retooling of the Cactus system, acknowledging the efforts of the C ractice team and teaching and learning departments. Discussions also covered reopening requirements, focusing on seven characteristics to consider for mitigating risk in schools: movement, duration, proximity, group size, respiratory output, touch, and congestion. Feedback from advisory groups, including teachers, principals, and district superintendents, was shared regarding concerns and communication strategies. Webinars were held to provide templates, tools, and guidance on navigating various scenarios related to the virus.