001You ready? >> Yes. You are. >> All right. I'm going to bring the Gron County School District Board of Education. uh regular board meeting to order. It's Wednesday, September 10th, 2025. It is 3:32 p.m. We are at the district office. We are also available via Zoom. Um please silence your cell phones or turn on your box, please. And if you are here to address the board, um to do that, you will need to fill out a speaker card, um surname. Also, there is a clipboard. So please sign in with your name as well. >> Happy to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music] Dave, will you read the mission statement? >> Our mission is
002to put each student first every day. >> Thank you. All right. First on the agenda is approval of the agenda. I'll accept a motion. I need a motion to approve. >> There second. >> Jenna uh Woodbury makes motion. Laura Lee Green seconds to approve the agenda. All those in favor say I. >> I. That passes 5. Um next on the agenda is public comment. Just I'm going to read the guidelines for public comment. Um the board appreciates the opportunity to hear from the public during the the comment portion of its meeting. Before we begin, a reminder that the public comment period is to allow members of the public to provide input to the board in its capacity as a legislative body. The public comment period is not a forum for discussion or debate between the
003board and members of the public. The board does not engage in discussion in discussion during public comments, but may later follow up on comments made during public comments. Each individual will be allowed up to three minutes to provide comments to the board. The board will not allow public comment during board meetings that are slanderous, obscene, or otherwise violate state or federal law. Employees and or their representatives may not use the public comment period to address issues that should be raised through existing form of communication channels or establish grievances grievance or negotiated procedures. All right. And we will just I'll just go by are there any more coming up? We'll just go by order. When you ask a particular person for a clarification on a point, >> the board's not going to uh engage in in
004discussion. >> It's not discussion. It's just like a yes or no answer. >> I can't answer that with because I don't know the question. >> Okay. >> Um sorry. >> No, that's all right. I just want to make sure that I don't step out of that. Well, if you ask the question, we might then just not answer it and follow up if we can answer that question. It's not a a personal app. >> Okay. Dr. Mike McFalls, you pass, please. Thank you. >> Good evening. I'm Dr. Mike McFalls. I want to thank the board and the community for the uh awesome opportunity and experience leading this district. It truly was my dream job. I am humbled by the prayers and support that I received from my family and I cannot express our gratitude enough. This
005evening you will vote on accepting my forced resignation which you asked me to give without warning and stating no reason or cause only. It's not a good fit. I was told I was not meeting board expectations without specifics or opportunity for mediation. Your vote will not even be a standup vote, but a consent determining a man's career, family, future, and direction of the district without having to go on the record. I would like to be clear that I am not leaving. I am leaving at the behest of the board, not my own valition. I have done nothing illegal, immoral, or unethical. I am proud of the work I have accomplished and begun. I was retired in Texas, but for years I looked for the job postings in Grand County as this was my dream job.
006I love this area, this district, the students, and the staff. I was excited to come here even though I was leaving behind home, family, friends, and a good job teaching high school. I anticipated this being my last position before complete retirement. Grand County is a district facing significant challenges. declining enrollment, student performance near the bottom among Utah's 41 districts, yet it ranks in the top 10 for per pupil spending. I've always made decisions in the best interest of students, and my goal has always been to provide a quality education in a safe environment, preparing students for life after graduation. My intent was to build better systems, establish strong structures, and encourage accountability. I would love to continue in this capacity, but that is in the board's hands. When you start to make changes, it's sure
007to ruffle feathers, and believe me, I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea. But I was all in on Grand County. The staff, students, and community are solid and deserve a district that reflects that. As a team, I wanted to build something special and grow county to become the top rural district in Utah. I serve at the will and pleasure of the board. To this day, I've not had any clue why the board is forcing me to resign. My evaluations were good. My progress substantial. The direction we were going was up. We had purchased curriculum, develop progress monitoring, begun multiple new initiatives, and put a solid team into place to begin to take this district to the next level. I am a Christian. I love Jesus, and I do my best to honor him. This
008is not a pleasant situation, but I must thank him for the opportunity to trust him. Therefore, I will not burden myself with grudges, ill will, or an animosity toward anyone. If I have offended or hurt anyone, I sincerely and humbly apologize. I lift the district, students, and staff and school board in my prayers, asking for blessings. I wish the best for the board and the district going forward. I will cherish the friendships and the adventures I have enjoyed. We do not wish to leave Moab, and I'm not yet ready to utter the words that Davy Crockett uttered when he left Tennessee for Texas. So, we will remain for the time being sincerely seeking God's will in our path forward, remembering Jeremiah 29:12. I know the plans that I have for you, to give you a
009hope and a future. In Romans 8:28, we know that God works in all things for the good of those who love him. It was my honor and pleasure to serve and I wish and pray nothing but the best for the board and the district. >> Thank you. >> Next is Elizabeth. I'll try to speak quickly. Um to the members of the school board, I am writing to you not only as the spouse of your former superintendent, but also as someone who has served in education myself and understands the deep commitment and personal investment that this work requires. I understand that according to the terms of his contract, my husband could be terminated without cause. However, the manner in which this decision was carried out without warning explanation or the opportunity for a conversation feels unnecessarily
010harsh and deeply impersonal. Regardless of what may have led to this decision, the lack of communication denies someone the most basic professional courtesy, the chance to understand, to reflect, or to course correct. To remove someone from a position of such responsibility and impact without first engaging in open, honest dialogue is not only unjust but cruel. [Music] My husband gave his full energy, time, and heart to this district. He deserved a conversation, deserved a chance to know what was expected of him and the opportunity to respond. As a former kindergarten teacher, I taught my students the golden rule. Treat others as you would want to be treated. If young children can understand the importance of fairness, kindness, and accountability, I believe we as adults, especially those in leadership, can and must hold ourselves to the same
011standard. Decisions like this send a message far beyond the individual affected. They shape the culture of the district and define what kind of organization we are choosing to be. I urge you to reflect on whether the process followed in this case aligns with the values we hope to instill in our students, staff, and community. All we are asking for is common decency and professional respect for those who serve. The contract agreement agreement you have created is not voluntary. He was given no other choice. My husband will never know what, if anything, he could have done differently, and that is a burden no dedicated professional should be forced to carry without explanation. Thank you. [Applause] >> Next is Bernard. Well, I'm Bernie Rack and I have taught in this district for over three and a half
012decades and I really enjoy teaching in this district. It bothers me tonight to have to come here. I I support Dr. McFalls. I've known him just for a year and that year I know he's a dedicated man. He's a he's a child of God and loves everything. found this article in the newspaper that drew my attention from the business administrator here. Matt talk about Mr. McFall has done a good job keeping a tight reign on the district finances. It's pretty awesome the job he's done. If I had an athlete that did an awesome job such as that, I'd want to keep him on my team. My question I wanted to ask is, has this changed? I would be happy to discuss that quote with you outside of board meeting. Okay. >> Um, you should know
013that it's not representative of a comment that I made and that I did talk with the Times Independent about correcting that. It's actually a quote from Dr. McFalls talking about me keeping a tight rain. If you read the commas, um, uh, it >> okay, >> it reads that way. So, that's just a >> I just read it from the newspaper. Let's let's print it. Okay. Um, as I said, I've served in this district a number of times in different positions and I've got to know most of the superintendent that have been here. And by far, I really appreciate what Dr. Pauls has done. Um, it bothers me when I see that he was dismissed just a few days into the school year because one thing that really upsets me as professional is when teachers come
014in two days before school starts and says, "Oh, I'm not coming back. I'm going some other place." To me, that is the most unprofessional demeanor. And I get I really do get upset. Having that rug pulled out from under Dr. Paul feels like that's unprofessional. >> I really don't like doing that. And after hearing some of the things I hear things are changed. I hear I hear a phrase he doesn't fit in. I'd like to know why. If you guys later on like want to discuss that. I think he fits in well with this community. I'm proud to know him. I'm proud to know that if he was in this district when my kids were here, I'd be happy too. I think if there's one mistake that we need to recognize is if we have
015made a mistake and don't correct the mistake, that's even worse. I ask that you correct that that mistake. [Applause] >> Thank you, Diane Benel. I am Diane Ben Arsdale. I do know some of you. Good afternoon and thank you for allowing me to this opportunity to speak for a couple minutes. I come before you today because I feel a grave injustice has taken place. Dr. Mike Mthal has asked was asked to resign or he would be terminated. There have been no facts known to why Dr. McFall was asked to resign. Yet the damage has been done. This is not just about one person. It is about fairness, integrity, and the values that I hope that this school district stands for. As elected board members, you are entrusted to uphold justice and protect both individuals and
016the reputation of our Grand Can school district. Allowing someone's career to be cut short, a false claim undermines trust, not only for those directly involved, but for everyone who looks to you for wise leadership of this school district. I respectfully urge you, the Grand County School Board, to take action to correct this wrong. That could mean reinstating Dr. Macall as superintendent. Like he said, he's done nothing illegal, immoral, or unethical. I've known him to be a caring individual for his schools and for his students. I know these decisions are never easy, but the right path is clear. Truth and fairness must guide your actions. None of us in this room would want to be treated this way. I thank you for your time and commitment in doing what is just. Thank you. Next is Kyle
017Benal. I actually have a letter from Pastor Cole. I can say first. He wasn't able to come. This is the pastor at Moab Baptist Church. Dear school board members, it is with concern that I read the August 27th, 2025 issue of Moab's Times Independent newspaper that the Grand County School Board placed Dr. Mike McFalls, Grand County School District Superintendent on Administrative Lead. According to the same Times Independent article, business administrator, I think it's referring to the same quote, uh, Matthew Keys and board president Melissa Bird both issued identical statements saying that the Grand County School Board of Education has no comment. The district does not comment on personal matters or personnel um circumstances of our employees, neither responded to follow-up questions about what when the board intends to take up the matter. Dr. McFall has
018stated also according to the Times independent article, "What I can say is I've done nothing illegal immoral." as a parent of three Grand County High School alumni and as the pastor of a church congregation with scores of Grand County High School alumni and former employees and even more who are current students in and employees of Grand County School District. Dr. McCall's dismissal just days into the new 2025 2026 school year leaves this district leaderless when such leadership is desperately needed with the roll out of the high reliability schools initiative ongoing construction at Hell&M Knight Elementary the road construction in front of Margaret El Hopkin Middle School and tight finances the times independent also quoted business administrator Matt Keys in its August 12 issue McFalls has done a good job keeping a tight rain which is
019on the district finances. It's pretty awesome the job he's done. To name just a few of the challenges facing this school district without any real substantive explanation to Dr. Mcfalls, this appears to be nothing more than bullying by this board. Furthermore, your silence is very much a condescending assessment to be very to be a to a very qualified educator with close to 40 years of stellar experience. The decision of the board to treat Dr. McFalls in this way, even though it is without the spectrum of his written contact contract with them to go for any reason, is a horrible reflection on you as individual members of the Grand County School Board, on our school district, on our community. This was placed, this has placed unreasonable and extreme financial, emotional, and professional hardship on him and
020his family. He deserves far better. members of Gran County School Board. While you represent the people of your respective districts in this decision, I believe that you do not. I implore you to immediately reverse your decision with apology to this very qualified and capable superintendent, Dr. Mike McFall. Respectfully sign Cole J. How want this? You know, I know you guys are a lot of you are my friends and know I think we're all in this um together. I just appreciate what you guys do and what you sacrifice what you do to make school better for for my kids. I think you can't talk about the personal things and there's there's things you can only hear what we want to say. I guess you know just to to make it personal for me know I this
021guy's my friend. I just want the best for him. just want you guys to reconsider if you could. [Applause] >> Are there any other uh public comments? Moving on for items for discussion. Um we have the shine policy which is DFE highly needed educator salary supplement that uh DF is linked at the bottom your action items. >> Yeah. Matt, do you want to >> So, this policy is coming back again. Uh, we've looked at it a number of times, but just a a reminder, the the policy in and of itself, basically the uh recommended policy from Utah School Boards Association that just meets the legislative requirements. Really, what the board has been discussing and we've been discussing for the last couple of months, several months, is the exhibit, which is the last page of the
022exhibit. And just a just a reminder um of our approach. Our approach is kind of my approach that I recommended to the board and the board had discussion over that has been to basically follow the the structure that was set up by TSSP um in the categories that we're looking at. We had some discussion at negotiations in the previous board meeting about looking at hard to fill positions and and how to balance the recruitment side with the hard to fill positions with the retention side of keeping people in those potent those positions. You've heard me say uh in the past that this is the state passing their headache on to us um because it is it's a difficult uh decision or or identifying those high needs areas is complicated and comes into play and then
023when there's a limit limited amount of money that changes too. Ultimately um what the final recommendation is and this is an action item so that you know we'll be asking you to approve this uh later on in the meeting is that our high needs areas for the shine policy be special education which includes speech language pathologist uh secondary math and secondary science. Um and that would be a starting place where we would go very much in line with what TSSP did. However, we have I don't want to say lessened the requirements, but made it more flexible um when it comes to degrees and transcripts and things like that that we have more discretion at the local level. Um but those would be the positions that would be um designated as eligible for this stipen. The
024allocation is there below. It talks about an estimated that estimated is because it's subject to uh based on actual qualifying indicators and then what hard numbers we receive after the major allocation updates. Um, right now that would approximately roughly be about 20 teachers in our district that are eligible for this. Um, and then don't forget this is a treat that you will get to do every year. We'll be circling back. You have to review this exhibit every year and decide if we want to make tweaks or modifications or or alterations to it. But that's the the only change since you've seen it last is that updated uh dropping dropping the term integrated out of the science and just going all secondary science and then uh speech language pathologist is part of our special education department
025questions on that >> question is the is the stipend um paid out uh year like a one >> so it is it's one of those things where we we being the legislature may have put the cart before the horse. They want it to be paid out on a 12-month basis so that it's not your typical because in the past it's been paid either on the trimester, the semester or one time end of the year payment. And they wanted that to be more of a regular thing. I don't know so that employees could see that in their paycheck every month. Uh but then the deadline for submission is September 15th which is after the fiscal year has started. So really are we talking we just want it over 9 months or 10 months or so it's
026there's some confusion there. It will continue to be ironed out. Um I I I was just thinking about you know if we have to revisit this every year um and making sure that um that our employees don't necessarily expect it and so how to make sure that if that's a ideally we'll be bringing this back in the summer months as we're as we're turning this >> as a board yes but even as making sure that you know the employees that get it have to apply every year that it's you know this is not a given end thing >> and that could change like exhibit A could change >> and just it's going to be an education piece on my part. Again, it's a headache that's being handed to us >> gracefully by the state. >>
027You have a question, John? >> It's actually September 1st. >> But do we need to put a revised date? >> No. This this policy we're playing catch up. I'm I'm open about that, but um we need to notify, but the deadline I was talking about is our internal reports to the state have to be by the 15th. So, >> but we don't need to specify in this policy or like an addendum. >> No, they're giving us forgiv any questions. Kathy, Dave, >> no. All right, moving on. Did we get or we didn't we didn't get any we posted it. We didn't get any comments. >> Not received any I did have one discussion with the staff member, but yeah. Okay. Uh, next is construction update. >> So, construction update, good news. We are making good
028progress on the alternates, the outside of HMK. Uh, cautiously optimistic that that could be finished um, three to four weeks early. So, wrapping up here very quickly. Um, we are I don't know if you've seen that the shade structure poles are in now. That's quite quite impressive. If you haven't had a chance to look at them, they're bigger than I thought they would be. Um, that being said, uh, we've got the foundation ready for synthetic synthetic turf in the back. We'll be moving that to the southside and hopefully wrapping up, um, most of the the exterior, like I said, by the end of this month, first part of of October. The substantial completion deadline for the inside um, has been pushed back due to some supply issues, um, submittal issues, uh, things of that nature
029right now. and I'm I'm holding them to it. I've asked that we don't even consider pushing back again, that we be more creative. Um that'll be substantially complete the latter part of November. So, we'll be looking at a punch list right around Thanksgiving. Um and then coordinating with staff about when the best time to transition in there is um likely uh my intention would be that preschool would start in in the the new facility uh after Christmas break at the start of next school year. Um, so again, still chugging along along there, but good news that we are making up ground on the exterior. The never ending roof replacement project is getting closer to wrapping up, I hope. Um, they're finishing up on the T-AC right now. We've got to put some cap on HMK
030and the siding in the front of HMK's been waiting on some material delays, but should be finished up really quickly um so that we can have that looking good um as soon as possible. So that's where we're at on construction. >> What about middle school? >> That is middle school. >> Well, the road that is the city obviously and and I can't I can't point a finger because deadlines and things shift with us and deadlines and things shift with them. We were hoping that it would be completely finalized by now. I haven't had an update recently. We still have the two entrances that are being maintained open during during the school day and going from there. >> But it does look like >> Yeah, they're getting the final grade on that. >> Yeah, good. >>
031Carrie's talking about back there like her information. >> Hi. Yes. Um they're paving the road tomorrow. So, we're actually going to um have a very interesting traffic in the parking lot tomorrow in that our booth is going to be a two-way street um >> tomorrow. So, the out the um uranium app is they're going to be exiting and entering one way >> for tomorrow pick up but not the buses will be fine. Okay, any other questions about construction update? Moving on to TSSA plan for school year 256. So, teacher student uh success act plan. This is just updated for this year. We're putting it on the agenda today as an information item. Um it'll come back next week on on the agenda as well to be passed. And I don't know if Jill wants to
032speak to any of the timelines, but this is uh mirroring what we did what we've done in the past and just continuing it on. So it breaks out here how we're allocating that that money teachers uh school nurse instructional posts and then there is some of the board local levy that that that makes up a piece of that. So this is what you guys have approved um the last two years. Jill, same thing. Two years. So uh really it's just an information piece. so that we have it on there for the minutes so that we can jump through our hoops and get it taken care of. So, if you have any questions about that now or if you're thinking about it and again, it'll be on the agenda um next week as an action item.
033Any questions? Next on the uh agenda is the transent agenda. On this agenda we have personnel. So the personnel list we have the ratification of superintendent separation waiver and release agreement. We have the final or financial report is from July which is the detailed checker expenditure report and revenue report. And we also have an out of state travel from the wrestling team. >> And I do have a signed copy of that out of state travel because I hadn't signed the one when I got >> Oh, your signature. >> My signature. >> Um, I will accept a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent. >> Second. >> Kathy Williams makes a motion. Dshide seconds to approve consent agenda. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. That
034passes by Sarah. Next are the action items. This would be the shine policy. Um this is what we just talked about 10 minutes ago. The board previously reviewed this shine policy as presented by the business administrator Matt Kais. Um, we now may approve the policy. Someone want to make a motion to approve the sharing policy. >> Jenna Woodbury makes a motion. Laurely Green seconds to approve the sharing policy. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. This is 5 Z. Um, we did have a statement here. Um, with the ratification of the superintendent separation waiver and release agreement, Gran County School District business administrator Matthew Kais will assume the duties of acting superintendent of education effective immediately and until such time as the board identifies an interim superintendent or a new superintendent is appointed.
035The acting superintendent will oversee the day-to-day operations and the management management of the district and will be accountable to the board of education for the implementation of board policies and state statutes. >> All right. Uh >> does anybody need an executive session? All right. I'll accept a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make a motion to >> Kathy Williams makes a motion. Day bearshide seconds uh to adjurnn. All those in favor say I. >> I. 5 Z. We are journed at 406. [Music]