Board Report for February 18, 2025
The Board of Education discussed a report on the district’s Magnet Gifted and Talented program, including information on enrollment trends, class sizes, how students are tested and identified for the program, and how the program works in elementary and middle schools. The name of the program was recently changed from Extended Learning Program to Magnet Gifted and Talented to increase recognition of the program and the services it offers. (Watch on YouTube)
The board recognized two teachers who recently won awards:
- Todd Vawdrey, math teacher at West High School, won the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching. (Watch on YouTube)
- Laleh Ghobti, 4th grade teacher at Mountain View Elementary, won the Karl Jones Award from the Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (Watch on YouTube)
The board also enjoyed a terrific performance by the Highland High Steppers to celebrate Black History Month. (Watch on Facebook)
The board heard the following reports from district staff:
- A review of proposed changes for 2025-26 student fees and fee waivers, along with a review of the policy and administrative procedures governing student fees. (Watch on YouTube)
- A look at our middle schools, including schedules, class offerings, after-school programs, and graduation configurations. (Watch on YouTube)
- The history and status of the partnership between the Salt Lake Center for Science Education and Bryant Middle School. (Watch on YouTube)
- A review of how the district makes its enrollment projections and when it has hired outside companies to study district demographic projections. (Watch on YouTube)
The board discussed the following items:
- Proposed changes to the Administrative Procedures for Policy G-5 were sent back to the Board Policy Subcommittee to answer questions from board members.
- A list of the district’s immediate property needs – professional development space and testing center, expanded career and technical center, enhanced programming space for students with special needs, and athletic field space. (Watch on YouTube)
- Two options for placement of athletic fields when West High School is rebuilt and options for athletic fields during the reconstruction of Highland and West High Schools. (Watch on YouTube)
- Changes in student enrollment since the board’s decision to close four elementary schools and a review of enrollment patterns, class sizes, and school responses to last year’s school closures. (Watch on YouTube)
- Three items from the agenda were tabled due to the lateness of the meeting.
The Board approved one of two site options for the West High School rebuild. The approved option will place nearly all classroom buildings on the east side of 300 West and the athletic facilities on the west side of 300 West. This option will save approximately $20-25 million in construction costs when compared to the other site option. The final design work for the new school will continue over the next six months or so.