District Newsletter – October 4, 2024
Dear Salt Lake City School District families,
This election season, voters will have the opportunity to make their voices heard on a number of issues. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to register to vote. You can register online at https://vote.utah.gov. You can also use this website to learn about candidates and issues and to track your ballot after returning it.
If you happen to be the parent of an 18-year old who can vote this year for the first time, I encourage you to help them participate in this election. Research shows that those who vote in their first election at a young age are more likely to become lifelong voters and to remain civically engaged throughout their lives.
One of the issues that will be on your ballot this year is a $730 million general obligation bond for the Salt Lake City School District. If approved, the bond would pay to:
- rebuild West High School and Highland High School,
- construct a modern athletic field house at East High School, and
- fund sustainability projects across the district.
You can learn more about the bond on our website or at one of our upcoming open houses on October 9 and October 23. (More details below)
Wherever you stand on the issues of our day, thank you for participating as a voter and modeling for our students what meaningful civic participation can look like.
Thank you for being involved in our community and in our schools.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Grant, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Salt Lake City Schools
Bond Open Houses
Utah Teacher of the Year
Did you know our 2025 District Teacher of the Year is now the 2025 Utah Teacher of the Year? Congratulations to Sayre Posey, who teaches history at Northwest Middle School! Truly, we have amazing teachers in our schools!
Ms. Posey started her teaching career in the Baltimore City Public Schools teaching ninth grade social studies. She majored in history education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. After moving to Utah, Ms. Posey taught in the Youth in Care program at West Jordan High School before joining the faculty of Northwest Middle School. You can read more about Ms. Posey’s career in this KUER article.
Celebrating Teacher Excellence
Salt Lake City School District is fortunate to have an incredible team of educators who are deeply committed to helping our students reach their full potential. Two-thirds of our teachers hold advanced degrees, we have more Nationally Board Certified teachers than any school district in Utah, and eight of the last 17 Utah Teachers of the Year have been Salt Lake City School District teachers.
Our teachers go above and beyond to create engaging, dynamic learning environments that inspire curiosity and foster a love for learning. Our students' growth and success are a direct result of the passion and expertise that our educators bring to the classroom every day.
We are proud to have such talented and committed teachers in our district, and we celebrate them for the incredible work they do.
School Safety
The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. While there has been a rise in anonymous threats against schools in Utah and nationwide, most of these threats are not credible. However, we take each one seriously and follow strict safety protocols in coordination with Salt Lake City Police and our school resource officers to assess each threat.
These threats are often meant to cause fear, but we want to reassure you that our schools are well-prepared. We have detailed emergency plans and regularly train staff and students on how to respond.
We also need your help. If you or your child sees or hears anything suspicious, please report it immediately, either to school staff or through the Safe UT app. Even minor concerns should be shared so we can keep our schools safe together.
College and Career Pathways
Every student deserves a clear pathway to success, whether they are headed to college or straight into the workforce. One of the key ways we are preparing students for the future is through our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and apprenticeship opportunities. These programs provide real-world skills in industries such as biotechnology, healthcare, hospitality, and advanced manufacturing, giving students hands-on experience that can lead to meaningful careers.
Through CTE and apprenticeships, students are not only gaining technical skills but also building essential life skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. Our students are equipped to succeed in college and the ever-evolving job market, and we are proud of the role our district plays in supporting their ambitions.
These programs are shaping the future of our students while also contributing to the growth of our local economy. By offering pathways that meet the demands of today’s industries, we are opening doors to a wide range of career possibilities, ensuring our students are prepared for whatever comes next.
If you’d like to learn more about our CTE and apprenticeship programs, contact the CTE coordinator or counselor at your school.
Team SLCSD in the News
We wanted to share with you a few stories highlighting our team last month:
- KUER did a story highlighting Northwest Middle School teacher and 2025 Utah Teacher of the Year, Ms. Sayre Posey.
- Andrea Seminario (Principal, Northwest Middle School) spoke with KSL 5 TV, Deseret News, and KSL Newsradio's Dave and Dujanovic about how Northwest MS has brought their chronic absenteeism rate down from 42% four years ago to 10-13% last year (about half the state average!).
- September was Attendance Awareness Month, and Superintendent Grant and Mayor Mendenhall shared an important message about school attendance on Instagram.
Board Reports
As we try to keep you informed without overloading your inbox, we have changed from emailing every board meeting report to posting them on our website (as always) and on ParentSquare. If you miss them, we will include links here in our monthly newsletter.
Upcoming Calendar
October 9 – Bond Open House
6:00-8:00 PM at Edison Elementary in the Multipurpose Room (430 South Cheyenne St., SLC, Utah 84104)
October 15 – Board Meeting
5:30 PM in the Board Room at the district office (406 East 100 South, SLC, UT 84111)
October 17 & 18 – Fall Break
October 21 – Non-student Day
October 23 – Bond Open House
6:00-8:00 PM at Highland High School in the Dean Collett Commons (2166 S. 1700 E., SLC, Utah 84106)