001we'd like to get moving on our meeting. Uh, welcome. We are, this is November 18th, 2025. This is our 700 p.m. board meeting. Uh, we're going to begin by indicating who's here. Julie, >> Julie Jackson, Kim Chen, >> Connie Burgess, >> Chris W, Karen Winder, >> Clark Nelson, Todd Hub, >> Nicole McDermott. Um, Superintendent Ben Horsley is here. He is out, I think, with the media right now, so he will join us as soon as he can. Um, we're going to go ahead and >> Sorry, I apologize. Let me get to the right one. Um, first of all, recognize um any visitors that we have here today. If we could first, let's start with our PTA. Do we have PTA representatives here? Please stand and introduce yourself. >> Liz, your council president. >> Thank you.
002And GA President Karen Bird Ga directors um granite office professionals president hourly secretary representative >> um do we have any middle managers uh GESPA uh Granite Education Foundation I didn't see anybody but I can remember someone um do we have any elected officials um and then any could We just ask our administrators, any administrators who are here to stand and be recognized. Any school administrators? Thanks, Mandy. All right, we're going to go ahead and do our pledge pledge of allegiance. We're going to invite Tiffany Malumba up to uh with I think Okay, I don't know if your child is coming up too. Please stand. and begin. I pledge allegiance 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
003for all. All right, we're going to go ahead and move on to our um sorry agenda again our reverence and magnet invite Magnus up >> our magnet music makers makers >> makers First step. Can I get you? So, board and superintendency, these are our students from Magnus Academy. Um, the these are our magnet music makers. Uh, led by one of our second grade teachers, uh, Mrs. Heidi Cford. I'll let you, Mr. Cford, introduce the song that our be singing tonight. Thank you. We're going to go ahead and sing I'd like to teach the world to sing with old and then uh this land is your land in celebration of all of our veterans. I like to build the world and burn a shame with love. I like to see the world. I like my arms.
004Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. HEAT. YEAH. HEAT. YEAH. HEAT. We have Now we recognize your Thank you so much. That was amazing. >> We're going to go ahead and move on to our good news minute. Um, and we'll go ahead and start with Clark if that's okay. >> Sure. Uh, I wanted to celebrate a couple of events I went to just this past week and they happened to be at the same school and they happen to be back toback, but I had the opportunity to attend, uh, the wonderful play, my son, Pinocchio Jr. at Crestview Junior High. I went to the very late hours of the night and it was spectacular. Uh, and the very next morning, the same school hosted a Ruby Bridges walk to school day. And it was awesome
005to see the kids out walking together to school and the symbolism of walking together and walking uh with a purpose uh to be inclusive and and to be uh um the kind what was stated by one of the PTA representatives there was that to be the kind of person that will reach out to somebody that needs to hold hands with somebody else uh or walk with somebody else as they walk into school. So two great events and I was grateful to be a part of them. >> Thanks Claire. I was invited to West Karns to um help out with some spe the special classes. They um Halloween being on a Friday, some of the pair educators um weren't able to make it and so I got to kind of hold hands as we paraded those
006kids throughout the school um in their Halloween parade. And it was really fun to to um feel the energy in that classroom on Halloween. And bless our teachers because Halloween there was a lot of energy in that in that entire school. Um I had the opportunity just this last sa Saturday to go to the foundation and put together some Santa sacks um for these are kids in u more uh needy areas who might not have a Christmas otherwise and I asked the director over the Santa sex there Kathy Newton is a wonderful human being um and they plan on doing over 5,000 this year. So it was fun um for some of us. Uh Chris was there with me as well to to put those together. I also was able to pop over to Karns
007Jr. They had a literacy night um a couple weeks ago. It was fun. They had everything from grammar games to classic cars out in the parking lot. And so there was something for everybody. And last but not least, I was able to attend the Veterans Day concert. This was a combined um granite choir concert and it's at the tabernacle. It was a little bit different this year because you didn't have the National Army band because of the federal stuff and so we had a volunteer band instead and they showed up and the concert went on and it was fantastic. Thanks. Go ahead. All right. I just want to highlight a couple things. We've had such a busy month. Um I we were invited to the Magnus Steam night. It was very well attended. The kids
008made these balloon cars and then they raced them. And what probably was the best part is we had so many families come and so many dads and moms there. We had parent involvement and it just made my heart happy because I know those educators at Magnus team are putting so much time and effort into working on what they what are they, you know, their goals. And this was such a well attended night. I was so happy to be there. Um, also I went to the not so scary Halloween pleasant green party, which is my perfect kind of Halloween party because I do not love scary. Um, they had such a fun little the kids went around and they got to pick a book, they got a treat, they had pizza. It was a very fun
009event put on by the PTA at at Pleasant Green. Um, a little scarier was uh the haunted escape room at Cypress High. So, one of our math teachers, uh, Sydney Moser Price at Cypress invited, um, I think the superintendent got there a little late, but she put on the most fabulous haunted escape room and the students were in groups. They had to solve math problems to open the locks on their different boxes. They had flashlights. They had to get the secret code and um they had one team do it while I was there. They they escaped. Um and the other ones were very very close. So she rewarded them anyway. But I was very proud of my sticker that I escaped the math room um the haunted escape room. So I was such a fun
010event. Sometimes I think we think in high school they don't want to celebrate the same way, but they love they love some of the same things our elementary kids love, which is prizes and treats and and fun. Um the second Karen mentioned Santa Sach so I won't mention that but I think it's such a privilege that we have a foundation who cares so deeply about our students that they want to make sure that we have some basic fun things for them at Christmas time and also they're they're look Kathy she's amazing and she works all year long on those Santa sacks. Um the last thing I just want to highlight is um the Cypress High held a student prevention suicide walk at their football field. It was a really neat event and what I think
011was my favorite thing is there was so it was mostly student driven. This was students helping students know that someone's there for them, someone cares about them and they sign pledges and they just it was such a great group of students there and I felt like they are trying to change change the world and I and I think that gives me hope. So, thank you honey. Thanks. Um, so it is fall time for musicals in the high schools. I went to see Mean Girls at Taylor'sville High. Wonderful performance musically. Wow, they sang well. And the choreography was out of this world. Um, I really enjoyed the play. I was also able to visit uh Fremont for their buddy breakfast and be introduced to the new community center that they have in the school. And thank
012you to all the employees for the extra work that it takes to have guests come into the school and communities to come in and just so appreciative of all the parents that came to the buddy lunch and um made it a real special day for their kids. >> Thanks Connie. Kim um I would like to highlight two things in particular this month. one being the monthly SPO um meeting that I attended. The student body officers meet with our district leadership on a monthly basis and I just really enjoyed the meeting just because those student body officers who were there are just so they're uplifting. Um they're very positive, they're energetic. Um they represented their schools well. We had an enlightening discussion about their views on PBL. It was just it was a great meeting. So
013just wanted to highlight that. Um, but second, the Veterans Day programs that I know took place across many of our schools this month. I attended the program at Wright Elementary and they had all the veteran family members of the students attend and they seated them up on the stage. I think usually when I've been to these programs, performers are up on the stage and the veterans are down with the crowd, but this time they had them up on the stage like the, you know, place of honor um, in their event. And I thought that was really fun to see that the students sat down below and then each grade took turns singing a song that they had prepared honoring the veterans. Um we had veterans of the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, and the
014Marines present. And just to see their reactions as the children sang, I honestly had goosebumps watching. Um the kids then lined the halls as they exited and cheered them all on their way out. It was just really um I think a great program and a great way to show um appreciation for our veterans and I hope that they continue this tradition going for years to come. So, thank you to Wright and to all the other schools who presented. >> Thanks, Kim, Julie. It's been a busy month, I would say. Um, it's been fun to be involved in the school musicals that have been going on. And by the end, I think, um, I will have hit almost a musical every other night for the last few weeks. Um, which is so thrilling. It's been like
015it's really brought a lot of joy, um, as I've been able to do that. Um, Steam night at Oakwood was fantastic. They had a great thing where they wrapped the kids up in a little bag and they put a a um a vacuum cleaner in it to make them take out all the air and they felt the pressure of what it could feel like if you were standing on Jupiter and um all kinds of different things. But it was just so spectacular. I had a great time. I wanted to highlight also um that we have had a lot of lawmakers uh pay attention to us lately and I really appreciate that. Um, we a bunch of us board members got to go and make literacy kits for our kindergarteners, first and first graders with the
016governor and his staff at our foundation, which I thought was really a great opportunity to talk to them and and help them understand the types of things that we are um the types of needs that we have here and also the great things that are happening. Um, we also got to talk with Senator Curtis and and we also had um Senator Bluan um come and visit. Was that Jefferson Jr. with you, Connie? He was there. Yeah. Oh. Oh, he was at elementaryaries. So, I I think that's worth celebrating. I think anytime that we have um our elected officials uh paying attention to what's going on here, that collaboration gets better. >> Thanks, Julie. Um I I don't have anything different than what has already been mentioned. Um I did want to highlight the Veterans Day
017concert. It was pretty spectacular. It always is. Um and I don't know how many people are aware what happened was the uh the 23rd Army Band was not because of the government uh shutdown. They were not able to play for it. Um but a significant number of those people that were up on stage were actually from the 23rd Army Band. And so they were just donating their time which I think is something to be um recognized and acknowledged. Uh the rest of the people that filled in there were community members. Um a large portion of them were people from our own district for they were teachers that that teach here with our our students. Um which shows you the absolute talent that we have here. Um but also other community members that they just they
018said and these are people who normally get paid for their services all of them. Um but they said this is something that is so important that it we are willing to do this for free for these students and it was amazing. It was really amazing um to hear that. And I did want to also highlight I I have also been to a few musicals and plays. Uh it is starting most of them um are just starting and I look forward to to seeing a few more. I did get I did get out of the escape room by the way. I helped some students and which makes me feel really good about my math skills and um and it was a a wonderful opportunity to be able to join the governor as well as his staff
019in in um packing those literacy kit kits for our kids and hearing that they really are making a difference because we are seeing results and in our achievement in our young kids as we are handing out these literacy kits and they are being distributed to our our students. So, I think that's a significant um significant thing to acknowledge that we have that. Um so, thank you. Um we're going to go ahead and move on to our recognitions. We're going to first invite a Who's Erin? Sorry. Sorry, Erin. It's not on here. >> All right. Board President uh McDermott, members of the board, Superintendent Horsley are going to announce uh the fall recipients of academic all state for for the fall season. Uh this is an award given by the Utah High School Activities Association for
020people who play a varsity sport but maintain a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. And so as I call down your name, uh please come on down and and uh meet the board and meet the superintendent and stick around for a photo. We ask that everybody hold their applause until late after. And if I don't name your name, please come down and and kind of kick me and we'll make sure you're mentioned. So the 2025 academic allstake team for fall for girls cross country, Audrey Edwards from Olympus, Tresa Slight from Olympus, Alexis Larson from Skyline. For football, Scheler Garlets from Cypress, Chase Taylor from Olympus, the guy Cash Grandon from Skyline. For girls soccer, Anna Nef from Olympus, Colette Fischer from Olympus, Greta Gardner from Olympus, Zoe Lang from Skyline. Girls tennis, Gracie Carter from Cyprus,
021Grace Winder from Granger, Da Zeta from Skyline, and finally from girls volleyball, Amelia Okasen from Granger. So, let's give them a round of applause. Thank you. Congratulations. >> And then after your photo, if you guys will come on out, we have a a gift of appreciation for you guys from the district. All right, everybody look right here on three. One, two, three. You guys look like a smart kid. >> Oh, right. Uh, who do we have? Our our parents also stand up if we have any parents here in the audience with our students and any coaches. All right. Thank you. Um, we're going to go ahead and turn this time over now to Dr. Mandy Chapel. Invite her up for a recognition that we have for our GTI and Grant Education Center. Awesome. President McDermott,
022Superintendent Horsley, members of the board, and superintendency, thank you so much for giving us a moment tonight to uh celebrate an important milestone for our district. Uh 20 years ago, visionary board members and administrators made a bold decision to purchase and repurpose an old hospital, creating what is now uh known as the Granite Education Center. Today, the GEC is home to the Granite Technical Institute, Woodro Wilson Elementary, and administrative offices, which is a campus that supports students and the community it serves. Uh, I'd like to take a moment and have two of my ambassadors for the GTI talk about what the GTI means to them as far as their academics. So, let's go with Diana and Derek. >> Hello, my name is Derek Robertson. I'm attending Skyline High School right now. And one thing I
023love about the GTI is the main purpose to empower students with the vision and purpose to seek learning after high school. And what that is to me, I am taking biotechnology at the GTI right now. And I am currently studying to learn more about the medical science pathway and specifically the medical laboratory science pathway. and I am grateful for the work my teachers put in to make that possible and provide that to all students who um attend the GTI. Thank you. Hello, my name is Diana Doe and I am a senior at Taylor High School. I am currently taking criminal justice and chemistry and then medical forensics and biotechnology internship next semester. I appreciate the GTI as I've been taking classes since freshman year, but I truly fell in love with it when I discovered
024biotechnology my junior year because I want to become a forensic scientist. I through all the classes I've taken through my four years, I've taken steps towards my desired career that I wouldn't have been able to do without the GTI. As I graduate this spring, I hope every Granite School District student has the opportunity to find and explore their future career through the GTI just as I did. Thank you. As you can tell, we have amazing students at the GTI. Currently, our enrollment for the GTI is at 3,400 students from eight high schools. So, we service all of our our students and stakeholders in across the uh community. So, um, we'd like to show a short video which reflects on the vision of this campus, uh, celebrates the impact of the GEC and honors those who
025made it possible. >> For more than a century, Granite School District has been part of Utah's story. The foundation built on learning, community, and progress. Founded in 1904, Granite's name reflects the strength and resilience our district has demonstrated for generations. That same strength shaped one of our most innovative achievements, transforming a former hospital into the Granite Education Center. Now, 20 years later, we celebrate the vision and leadership that turned that bold idea into a thriving center of learning and excellence. Today, the GEC is home to the Granite Technical Institute, Woodro Wilson Elementary, and the district's administrative offices, a campus that continues to strengthen and support our entire district community. The Granite Technical Institute or GTI was created to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real world. It's where education meets innovation and where
026students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for college, career, and life. Inside the GTI, every hallway tells a story of discovery. Students explore engineering and robotics, health science and biotechnology, culinary arts and hospitality, information technology, skilled trades, and more. Through partnerships with local colleges and industry leaders, students learn from professionals, work with advanced tools, earn certifications, and bring their ideas to life. The GTI is more than a building. It's a community of learners, mentors, and innovators who help students discover who they are, what they love, and what they're capable of achieving. But the impact of the Grand Education Center extends beyond the GTI. Woodro Wilson Elementary provides a warm, supportive place for young learners, often serving some of the district's most diverse and resilient families. Its classrooms are filled with curiosity, creativity, and opportunity. Within
027the administrative offices, dedicated professionals support every school in the district, managing operations, finances, human resources, technology, curriculum, and much, much more. Together, this shared campus reflects Granite's commitment to serving students from kindergarten through graduation. The Granite Education Center stands as a proud reflection of Granite School District's legacy, rooted in service, innovation, and opportunity. As we look to the next century, the Granite Education Center remains at the forefront of learning and collaboration. Because here, students don't just dream about the future, they build it. Thank you to the Granite School District board members and administrators who had the vision for the Granite Education Center 20 years ago and took bold steps to make this all possible. We have many board members and district administrators in attendance tonight uh who were with the district 20 years ago when
028the GEC was purchased. We would like to invite them to come forward uh to receive a token of appreciation and stand for a photograph. If we could hold our applause until everyone has been read. Uh my student ambassadors have a gift for them as well as a a medal that shows the 20-y year anniversary of the GTI as well. Uh first we have Julene, if they are here tonight, if we have Julene Jolly, please come up. Connie Burgess, Patricia Sandstorm, Strom, excuse me. Sarah Meyer, Carol Cannon, Judy Weekes, Henry Bertosh, Lynn Davidson, Steven Roninamp, David Garrett, and Dave Gurley. If we could give them a round of applause. Come on over. As we head to standing All right. >> Perfect. In the back, could you two just scoot over a little bit? Perfect. Right. >>
029Too tall. >> All right, everybody. On three. One, two, three. >> And I just like to say something really quick. I came to Brandon School District 17 years ago and it was my understanding this facility was purchased for about $9 million. Is that correct? With all the conversion all this cost about 60 to 70 million retired but yeah 60 to7 million >> yes and now we host 3800 34 >> 3,400 >> and our our elementary school and our facility here um to build an elementary school right now would have cost us about $40 million and and a high school is roughly $200 million. So the investment made um all that time ago and the vision from these individuals and and others who are not with us today is just unprecedented. This is the premier CTE
030facility in the entire inner mountain west and Davis is trying to catch up and pretend that they did it first but we did it right here school district thanks to you wonderful folks. All right, we're going to You guys want to hang out? We got some stuff we want to vote on, but you're welcome. >> You know, you miss the 4hour meetings. All right. Next item on our agenda is our granted elected officials participation. Uh I did not see any elected officials here unless I miss somebody. Um so we're going to go ahead and move on. Our next item is patron participation. I want to be clear if you have signed up for participation in um speaking to the study that will come later. This is for other participation, patron participation. And as we have
031none that are signed up and that I'm aware of, uh we are going to go ahead and move on to our consent items. So, next we have our consent items. These have been uh items that we've been able to look at over the last few days. If we've had any questions or anything, we've been able to ask questions. Uh if there's no further questions, I will entertain a motion. >> Approve the consent agenda. I'll second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. Are there is there any further discussion on this? All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Um the next item on our agenda is our information item for student enrollment report. This is our student enrollment report. Uh so we're going to invite up
032Mr. Steve Hogan to give us an update on our enrollment report. >> Uh board president, if I might just This is an annual report we're required to provide under state statute. So, uh, we, uh, Steve's does this for us and, uh, we're going to try and be as brief as possible knowing that there's some other items on the agenda that, uh, members of the public are interested in. >> Thank you again, uh, board president, vice president, board members, superintendency, and others. Um, my name is Steve Hogan. I'm the director for planning and boundaries. And superintendent mentioned tonight's undercard, if you will, leading up to the main event is the annual enrollment report. I'll give just a brief report, and this again what I do each year to give um uh kind of a thumbnail sketch
033of where we're at. What I want to do is just cover quickly some main factors contributing to uh what we know is a drop in enrollment, the three-year regular ed enrollment summary and individual schools that are listed on here. Uh just a reminder there, this is a regular ed summary. We of course have numbers um if you look at all numbers for the district uh for all programs, those are programs that uh we certainly count and they count at the state level. But most of the time when people are asking me for reports, they're talking about regular ed in the schools. And so because the total the total number will be somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 more than this total. So quickly, what are the main factors contributing to a drop in enrollment? Things that
034we've talked about quite often. birth rate specifically this year the coy year kinder group which was significantly down the birth rate of co year we know we have more charters in granite district than any other district in the state and in fact I I'll mention a few of these that are very specific to granite and maybe have an outsized impact on our enrollment online schools of course the Utah fits all quote scholarship monies um program uh the last two are big and I think very specific specific to our district. The demographics of our district are in fact older combined with escalating housing costs. Those two factors are significant for our district as a more mature in age district. And of course, uh one thing that's impacted us significantly this year are our combination of newcomer
035refugee and immigrant population. That is down by just over 900 students this year. That's a significant drop just in that category. And so and that that's that's one reason we went from closer to what was expected around a 3 to 3 1/2% up to 4 1/2 plus% was in that group. I think some good news there. One piece of silver lining in that number is that we believe like in in my conversations with counterparts around the country that those many of those students are still here in the state. they have not moved away, but they are choosing for different reasons to to not attend right now. So, um we're hopeful that many of those will come back. The three-year enrollment summary, as you can see there, the past from o these are October 1 numbers.
036That's kind of the official date for uh around the state and uh the October 23, 24, and 20 25 comparisons and how much we've been down just over the last couple of years. I'll stop board as always if you see something you want to discuss. Um I wanted to make note I always list every school here but I think this year's even more than most years we had so many changes in last year between you can see the arrows um pointing to the schools that have been impacted by either reconfiguration, a boundary change, a special program change or a school closure just in the last um year to two years. Those are typically the ones that have the most dramatic changes one way or the other and they do skew our numbers for this year
037especially. But again, you can see what those numbers are. I have that last column on the right for those that are more than 5% one way or the other. There are a lot of red numbers there, but again, you really have to stop and look at each one and understand how each has been impacted over the last several years. And finally, of course, just a 20-year snapshot. This is the bar graph that you see often. And of course, uh we are continuing this downward trend, and we're watching this closely. I know that the latest uh ChemC Gardener Policy Institute uh demographic information came out today. I think was released even today with some updates to state demographics. We're watching that closely. Um I don't think it's changed dramatically for us, but uh I have another
038appointment with with some of the representatives from that group to look at some things even closer for our district. And so we're eager to talk to them and get even more detailed information. Do you have any questions? >> I have one quick one hopefully. Um you mentioned a main factor UFA scholarships and you mentioned that in your next presentation too. So I just wanted to ask is that just a assumption albeit a reasonable one is an assumption or do we have data? >> I don't have hard numbers. It's based mostly on a comparison with other districts and what I'm talking for other districts. Um most when students leave the district whether that's some sort of home school and sometimes that fits in that same category with the Utah fits all they're supposed to sign an
039affidavit that does not always happen and uh we know that and so um that number is hard but it's a factor. I don't think it's the factor. is just lumped in typically with the charter school numbers. >> I would I would just simply add when the initial program was rolled out, there was an estimate that about 245 kids had applied from Granite School District boundaries. So, it's not a significant amount. We've not seen, as Steve has indicated, an outsized amount of um increases. We actually haven't seen increases really very much at all in our homeschool affidavit. And so it's safe probably to assume that that's not an outsized number. And by and large, those recipients or those applicants were already homeschooling in the first place, if that makes sense. But it's clearly a factor and
040will be a factor moving forward. So we wanted to include it. >> Yeah. I was just wondering if we actually had a way to gather data on it. We would sounds like so one related question and this is a follow-up for later just if we've had any followup on the approved vendor for UFA conversation. >> Say that again. The approved >> the approved vendor like being an approved vendor for UFA. >> Oh, correct. So, we actually looked at the the possibilities of becoming an approved vendor under Utah Fitzall. And frankly, um I don't know if this was intentional or not. it's very difficult and uh ownorous for us to do so. And so uh looking at the constraints and the the hoops we'd have to jump through. I'm looking at Todd kind of peripherilally, we
041didn't feel like it was prudent to move forward given this small amount of individuals who were participating. Is that safe to say, Todd? >> Thanks. Any other questions? Okay, go ahead and move on. This is our um Steve is still in the hot seat. Population analysis committee as they he pulls this up. This is the first reading for the recommendation on the pack study. So again to make it official uh board president, vice president, board members, superintendent, superintendency, and uh to my many um if not fans at least followers behind me here tonight. I'm glad they're here. I came prepared, of course, to discuss uh tonight to present the PAC's recommendation as part of a public hearing and first reading, but I also understand that board president that you have a statement first before I
042present anything else. Could you just remind the board with respect? PAC met last week, last Wednesday I want to believe for the final meeting. Was there any adjustment to the facts recommendation at this time? >> No, superintendent. There was not an adjustment at this time. So, the the recommendation remains as it has been. >> Put it in the mail. >> I don't know if you want me to review that quickly or just to um yield the floor back to board president. >> I think we're all familiar with the recommendation if that's okay. Um, I just our board members, we have spent many, many, many hours um, reading emails, attending meetings, talking to people, and asking questions. Uh, and having conversations with the board. We have serious concerns about the study. I want to be clear,
043we have complete confidence in the pack and the process that they have followed this year as they have other years. However, there are extenduating circumstances in regards to this particular study. We are also aware of a potential legislation that could impact our district and make us and makes us hesitant. As such, I have asked Superintendent Horsley to give us an alternative to what we have before us. So, I'm going to turn the time over to Superintendent Horsley. We're going to see if this loads up here really quick. >> All right, we're counting down, Luke. Here. I see it behind me, so that will be more than sufficient. Thanks, Luke. Um, thank you board president and uh members of the board at at the request of the board. Um, I I do want to also reiterate
044uh our appreciation to the population analysis committee and the work that they've done. Um, they've carried out the the study as they typically do um with earnestness and a desire to improve outcomes for kids. And I I want to reiterate that everybody in front of me and everybody behind me I believe has the same goal and that is to improve outcomes for our kids and make sure that our kids have everything that they need to be successful. That being said, um you have asked me to come up with some potential alternatives uh to the current recommendation and uh in consultation uh with Director Hogan and members of my leadership team um I'm presenting that information to you now. So for the first time um as I've indicated on this slide, we have a a rather
045unique study. We've not studied an area with such a significant amount of open enrollment permitting. Um, and we just got an update on that data again, uh, with the October one numbers. And currently we have an outsized amount of families in this particular area who special permit outside of their boundary school. And our typical process for analyzing data is based on how many students are uh, attending their neighborhood school in boundary, right? Um, and there's some nuances with this particular study and recommendation. So there have also been some questions obviously about our vision and uh for our programs particularly ALC and and DLI and we obviously have uh different uh types of competition that are coming into the marketplace um that are causing us pause. uh we have never been in a situation where we're
046uh facing the prospect of closing high performing schools and that in and of itself is is very challenging and difficult. So as we've indicated before and previously each study's fairly unique they they all take on a unique personality. Um again uh our vision with respect to the ALC and DLI continue to evolve. um and and more so recently, we want to make sure that those programs are actually meeting the needs of our families. And so as we looked at potential consolidation, we actually took a step back after listening to our families and going uh we need to to evaluate this a little bit further and understand this a little bit better. Additionally, we all know uh based on last year's recommendations and the pilot program of dose Mundo, we are stepping away from the DI
047traditional uh state recommended model and looking at alternative ways of providing DLI education that uh will help us better meet the needs of our families and don't impact our traditional programs the way the current state model does. Additionally, with respect to how uh Morningside hosts three uh those programs along with a traditional program, um there is a domino effect with this one school that impacts and reaches out to just about every other community in the area 5 study. So, we've never had one school that has such again an outsized impact and dominoes that could potentially impact so many other locations. Usually when we're looking at a closure situation, we're going okay, we can merge these two school locations and it's not going to have that much of an impact on surrounding schools and we're always
048looking to be the least impactful and disruptive to our students and families knowing the impact of the of these challenges and these circumstances. So that is a particular nuance of concern that I heard from the board and then that uh uh we've heard as well from our community members. So, we do have a recommendation that uh has has been indicated has left board members wondering if we need uh more than our typical extensive process that we've utilized in the past um that has worked well for us. Um we uh in order to be able to best identify the solutions that will meet the needs of our students and our families. So, uh with respect to that uh I've listed a few of those here. Uh you mentioned uh outstanding legislation that we became aware of
049uh roughly 6 weeks ago. We've had opportunities to communicate with the legislature uh legislators on this piece of legislation. But if this legislation proceeds, it could have a significant impact on how we make these decisions moving forward and whether we want to pursue school closures or not. Um there's some budgetary considerations with respect to this particular impact. uh perceptions. I said this at a a Morningside meeting a few weeks ago and also an Eastwood meeting. I have grave concerns when um there's a perception that there's some sort of wrongdoing or undue influence on our process and I want our community to have confidence in our decisions and our decision-m and our process. I think that's really critical especially as agents of of that represent the community are here to support the community. We want people
050to have confidence in what we're doing and why we're making the decisions we're making. Last but not least, and there are certainly other considerations of this, we're trying to solve a problem that frankly this community does not feel is a problem. And we could continue to show data about split classes and other challenges with supporting teachers. Um but again we have a situation where we're faced with uh closing high performing schools because we're not seeing those small school concerns having that outsized impact on this particular community. That's not to say that won't happen in the future. But that is not the case at this current time. And so trying to convince people that there's actually a problem with declining enrollment and it's not just a Granite School District problem has proved to be quite challenging.
051And I can see from our family's perspectives that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. As such, you have asked me to provide you with some additional uh alternatives to take into consideration as part of the study this evening. So your current options, there are more options than this, but this is what uh is my understanding that the board would like to take into consideration. We do have our current recommendation or some iteration of that recommendation right now, which is an Eastwood merger with the Oakidge community to create a new school in the Cove. Um and then uh but uh closing the traditional program at Morningside and shifting those families while continuing to study further placement of the DLI and the ALC program. That is the current recommendation that PAC has adopted at this time
052and has not been altered. Number two could be an extension of the study with uh the hiring of an independent outside consultant. And yeah, totally spelled that wrong and trying to update that slide. How embarrassing. I do know how to spell consultant. There's a T on the end. Um, this could be done uh to further the entirety of the study in light of some of these very unique challenges specific to this community that we have not experienced in other places. Uh we have a highly engaged community and that is a great thing. Uh that's not a problem. Um and when they ask questions, we need to be able to to answer those questions and again inspire confidence. Um and again, uh any perception of undue influence is is inappropriate. that perception is reality and we
053have to face the realities that we want to if we want to proceed with this community in confidence and with their trust then we need to uh work to uh enhance this process further uh to allow some some independence to the recommendations and an outside consultant could possibly do that for us. So this could be an extension of that study. I'll explain that a little bit further with a consultant. And lastly, a potential option to suspend the study indefinitely uh given the ongoing challenges of the legislature. >> We appreciate >> some unknowns with respect to >> to get our work done. So please let us finish with what we're doing. >> So we could potentially work through that uh given the the other challenges that we're faced with at this time that were unknown when
054the study was begun. So, let me uh expand on option two. Um, this would extend the portion of the current study through December of 2026. So, we would work through our regular cycle. We've all seen the flowchart that Steve uh knows word for word. Um, but in this case, we would hire an outside consultant to run that process. Um, to find some way to potentially engage stakeholders in a meaningful way. That would be all of our stakeholders including our community leaders and our patrons themselves. They would then review and make recommendations on that area that area in its entirety. We would expect that consultant to provide again credible stakeholder feedback and a formal report which uh we have received reports from outside consultants before. So something comparable to what we've received from MGT in terms
055of the Damis demographics in terms of the the future uh decline in enrollment something comparable in terms of those recommendations themselves. So this would again allow the remainder of our process to be completed. If that was done by August of 2026, we would then be able to proceed with the rest of of that of that study and that community engagement directly with the board at that time uh based on whatever that recommendation is. We would want to ensure again um to maintain uh the fact that we want our community to have confidence in this that there would be complete independence from the board and district staff. So there would be designated staff here at the district that could provide um information uh to the consultant and I would work with them on the scope of
056work to make sure that they were fulfilling the the request of the board if that is the direction the board would like to to to go. With respect to that there are some pros and there are some cons and we want to be very transparent. I have not put a comprehensive list. These are some of the things that we identified as potential challenges and advantages to um extending the study in any way, shape or form. Again, coming back to having confidence from our patrons and the public in that final recommendation with an independent evaluation and process. Again, making sure that that that would obviously follow through with our district's policy and state law in terms of how we engage with our stakeholders. This would again still allow us to follow our process uh uh and
057meeting the terms of of those legal obligations. And again uh from what I've heard from board members and concerns from the community, this would potentially provide a more comprehensive um recommendation. And what I mean by that is, and I've expressed in other meetings to the public, um, when it's called into question whether this current recommendation meets the criteria of our stated goals of the study. And the answer to the public at that time is no. If we were going to meet all the goals of our policy and of the study itself, we would need to look at additional school closures. So I am telling you as the board and with the public behind me that there is no way that uh a consultant is going to come and look at this information without that qualitative
058feature that we try to put into our process that we're not going to be looking at and considering a recommendation with potentially three to four school closures based on the numbers and information we've been provided for by our independent demographer. Now that makes me a little bit Larry because that extends the timeline and that final resol uh resolution which I believe we have put this community anytime we go through a study it's a significant challenge for the community and based on the numbers of individuals behind me there's a certain amount of uncertainty about what the board will choose to do tonight based on the current recommendation. So opening up this study again with a private consultant, an independent consultant, just starts that process all over again. And frankly, it puts all these schools and communities
059potentially at risk for closure, which I just want to be very frank and open about. If we're looking at an independent consultant and looking at what our options are long term, again, they're going to be opening this process up again from the start like we did last January and February with looking at every option under under the sun. And that's what we'd want them to do. That's what we'd be paying them to do. That is a significant financial consideration. Uh back when we did the engineering studies for the bond, it was roughly $250,000 to pay for an independent engineering firm to analyze all 90 of our facilities at that time. I think the board is interested based on the feedback you've given me in something a little bit more comprehensive and something that actually might
060be able to sustain us uh potentially for a process that could go districtwide. Um school closures are are difficult and challenging enough. I I'm still surprised that Steve Hogan is with us right now. Um given the toll that that's taken on him and other members of PAC, it is a timeconsuming process and I would much rather be spending our time focusing on improving instruction and other outcomes for kids. That being said, to get the the the type of recommendation that I think the board is looking for would require not just that an update to that engineering piece, uh a review of the MGT data and uh decline in the overall birth rate and other challenges that we're seeing. Um we also want to obviously have a comprehensive stakeholder feedback process that's tied to our current
061requirements and our policy and state law. So, we're looking at a half a million, a million dollars for potentially a year-long process to be able to engage in that type of work. So, I have some concerns given our our recent budget challenges and the fact that we're looking at a a 14 million budget shortfall due to funding changes at the state level over the next two years and the challenges we already faced this year. >> Can I clarify? I think you were saying a half a million to a million for an entire district study or for just an area. >> I think this would just be for this area given those other components that we would that members of the board have expressed to me they would like included. >> Okay. >> And frankly from
062the feedback we've received from the community right um so as such um I am providing the board at their request um two potential options. one to extend the study of area 5 through the 2026 calendar year or to suspend the study indefinitely. It is my personal belief that given the challenges of this particular study and the way that it was undertaken through no fault of anybody, there have been significant nuances and challenges that were not foreseen and we have done a disservice unintentionally. um to this community and I'm leerary about putting them through that again uh so soon. Given the costs of hiring an outside consultant and some of the other challenges that we've already discussed, it would be my recommendation to the board of education to suspend the study indefinitely and look at a
063broader down the road a few years when our budget uh is a little more stable uh potential districtwide um evaluation with the engineering piece uh with the with updated MGT data uh with a comprehensive stakeholder feedback process um that only an outside consultant can provide above and beyond what we have provided in the past. So with that, I'd be open to your questions. >> To clarify, that means that when you say I move to the motion being I move to suspend the study, I'm not making that motion, by the way. Just clarifying to suspend the study indefinitely. It doesn't mean that we won't revisit this area. It doesn't mean that we're not going to come back and try to solve the problems that we're seeing. It just means that for now, until we get this
064corrected data and until we get a comprehensive study happened, that we are we are suspending it. Is that what you're what you're indicating? >> I'm glad you asked that question and I'm looking behind me at our Eastwood friends in particular. Um, and I consider them friends because we spent a lot of time together, right? Um, with respect to that, yes, indefinitely down the road. I don't know when. Uh, we do need to see some stabilization in our funds to be able to expend potentially a million dollars on a comprehensive piece like this. And again, if we're going to spend that much money, I would prefer that it be done districtwide so that we can take care of um all those dominoes all at once. At this point in time, we've already closed 10 schools. Um
065but given the uncertainty of of some legislation that may impact whether we choose to school close schools down the road or not, I just don't know what that conversation looks like. And so I don't want to put our families through that at this point in time. So I'm assuming that that would probably be 3 to four years out. Are there any further questions? >> Sorry, I didn't answer the part um why I'm concerned about that. Um again, there are pros and cons to this approach, but I'm looking at my Eastwood friends with sincerity. Um I don't know what your enrollment looks like next year, but I know that we've seen a decline in our equitable distribution of teaching resources. They were given nine teachers this last year. If those declines continue to happen at the
066rate that we've seen them happen, I'm struggling to sh I don't have the ability to inequitably provide teaching resources to reduce class size at one school that I can't provide at all the other schools in this area, let alone the remainder of the district. And I'm really concerned about class sizes at Oakwood uh I'm sorry, Oakidge, Eastwood, uh and in the Morningside traditional program as well as some of the other schools in this area. We have an elementary school in the traditional track with with only a handful of kids in the second grade. Our enrollment projections, we up to the start of the year, one of our elementaryaries only had 17 kids enroll in kindergarten. There is a legitimate issue here, but I we need the community to work together with us and we are
067willing to work with them to identify solutions to that. But invariably that does look like school closures. The way the law is set up, the way that our resources are allocated to us. So, how do we do that in a way that uh that gets the community on board with the solutions? We're open to improving and enhancing that process. But again, that needs to we need a few years to do that. >> There any further questions? >> Do we have a motion on the table? >> I have a question first. >> Have public comment. >> Do you >> My question Do we have public comment? >> Yes, we will have public comment. >> So, the the procedure would be to make a motion and then we can open up the public hearing, hear comments, close
068the public hearing, and the board can have discussion surrounding the motion >> and make a decision at that point in time. I apologize. I should have spelled that out. I do have that information here. >> So, we can make a motion now or we can wait till after public comment for a motion. I prefer to have the public hearing before we >> make any motions, but okay. Everyone has their own right to do what they want. >> Okay. My apologies. So, we do have the action item listed after the public hearing. So, we will go ahead and do it the way that it is listed on our agenda. Um, so under state law, this is considered a public hearing. Therefore, there is no limit to the number of patrons who can sign up to speak.
069Uh, in the interest of time and to maximize the amount of patrons ability to participate, we'd like to ask that you keep your comments to a two-minute limit. um the for the comments that has been established and we appreciate your um your your uh your cooperation as we work to have that happen. Um we do have currently we have 41 people signed up for public comment. Um I would like to offer in light of the recommendations that we have in front of us. If you if we get to you and you would like to wave your right to speak, we uh will certainly be happy to um to move on. Uh but we also do want to make sure that everybody has the ability to to uh sign up and speak. You are still able
070to sign up out in the hallway. Uh we will go and grab that one. Um we're going to go ahead. Uh first up on our list is Kimberly Everson. Um, and then Robert Migran would be on deck. Um, as Kimberly comes up, um, I'd like to read this statement. As we move into public comment, I want to remind those who have signed up that they will have two minutes to speak and to be mindful of the timer, um, right there um that we have on Miss Michelle's desk. Uh, speakers will be called in the order which they signed up. The public may sign up to share public comment uh, just so you are aware at granitechools um.org. org. Once your name is called, please come forward and state your name clearly into the microphone. All
071comments are recorded, so please speak clearly into the microphone. Once the timer expires, we ask that you promptly return to your seat. Comments may express support or disscent for regulatory actions. However, public comment is not the appropriate form for personal complaints for attacking or defaming individuals. Doing so is a direct violation of our policy, and you will be asked to stop immediately and return to your seat. If you have a personal concern, personnel concern, excuse me, please contact a member of the administration or put your concerns in writing to the board. Please remember that children may hear your comments. Be thoughtful and professional. Keep your comments appropriate for a general audience. The board is here to listen during public comment. Um, we can we can't respond to you directly, but uh we will be having
072a discussion obviously after this. So, um, we're going to go ahead and get started. Kimberly. >> Great. Thank you. My name is Kimberly Everson. I'm one of over a hundred members of the Eastwood Community Advocacy Group. I'm a parent of three kids at Eastwood Elementary and I'm a scientist. And I urge the board to please vote for option three to suspend the study indefinitely because I we care deeply about public education in science, technology, engineering, and math. The Utah STEM Action Center has designated Eastwood Elementary as one of only four Gold Stem Elementary Schools in the entire state of Utah and the only such school in area 5. Now, it's possible that Granite School District can convince the Utah STEM center to transfer the the Gold STEM designation from Eastwood to Oakidge, but you can't
073transfer the actual resources that Eastwood's teachers and staff have built over years at Eastwood Elementary. If there is a closure or emerge of Eastwood, we're going to lose the network of teachers and their dedication to STEM. Teachers at Eastwood typically spend 1 to two hours a week on STEM activities over what's already required by the curriculum. A closure or emerge of Eastwood will also result in the loss of Eastwood STEMfest of Eastwood STEM fair, sorry, of Eastwood's Steamfest and of the uh dance pro the schoolwide dance program at Eastwood that combines science with the art of dance. Losing of Eastwood by closing it or merging it will also result in loss of physical resources. We'll lose the STEM labs that have been established at Eastwood and we'll lose physical equipment including several 3D printers that
074have been purchased through their own funds or through group fund accounts of teachers that will go with the teachers. So please, if you care about STEM education, actual gold STEM education, and not just the STEM designation, please vote for option three, suspend the study indefinitely and keep Eastwood open. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kimberly. Robert Merren, you're up next. And on deck after Robert is Daniel Houseman. Robert, are you here? Madam Madam President, may I respectfully request that we have a couple of folks kind of in the queue so that we can be expeditious. >> Apparently Dan um Robert is not here. Danielle um and then after Danielle, we have got Blake. Um I apologize if I say your name wrong, Beny. And then Jen Robinson, if you guys could come up and be ready
075to go. >> Okay. All right. Danielle Houseman. And I just rewrote my whole comment. And I don't know if I'm going to be able to read my handwriting, so bear with me. Okay. So, please choose to suspend indefinitely. Have faith in community councils and parents to keep our schools strong. This has been a huge wakeup call to parents. We need to deepen our involvement and being your allies in the success of the district. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never been to a board meeting until this study. You'll probably be seeing me regular. Sorry, but I promise to stop emailing you one to two times a week. So instead of investing half a million dollars in an outside study, invest half a million dollars in our schools. Invest in IBPYP STEM. Let's survey the community
076and find out how to get families back from charters, voucher programs, and public schools. If we have taken all of the energy that we just put into helping you realize that this was wrong, I think every single one of our area 5 schools would be shining right now. I can promise you that if we suspend indefinitely, we parents will not disappear. We'll make another analysis portal. Whatever you need, let's be successful together. >> Thank you, Daniel. And then we have Jen and then Anastasia. >> My name is Blake Beni. Good evening. Um, I'm a proud parent of two Upland Elementary students, soon to be a third, who's headed that way next fall. I'm here to voice my support for our school. I know we were not one of the schools directly impacted by the recommendation,
077but we care very much about this study and um while we appreciate the acknowledgement of the district tonight that there were issues and complexities in the study, um we also acknowledge that those enrollment figures that we saw earlier as part of the regular annual report are real and that there are real issues that are impacting all of our schools, not just the two that were slated. ated for potential closure or merger. For my family and for many others, Upland is more than just a school. It's a community. It's neighborhood feel and our incredible teachers have created a nurturing and supportive environment where our children are excited to learn and to grow. Our location provides a unique advantage. We have junior high and sky was junior high and skyline high school students that regularly come down
078and participate in our classrooms as math buddies or even as interns. their older siblings come and pick up our students after school. And one of the most remarkable things about Upland is our thriving special education program. We have multiple classrooms and talented, specially trained educators who invest and do a incredible job with our students who have unique needs. This program is an invaluable asset to our community and a testament that our district's commitment to inclusive education. Our community has serious concerns about bringing another special program like ALC or DLI to Upland as we feel another specific program could negatively impact our administrators and the cohesiveness that makes our student community so special. We're sympathetic to the enormous emotional toll that the PAC study has had on all those involved, all those here tonight on the
079committee and on the board. We understand and agree with the board's stated goals to make our schools stronger and to rightsize classrooms across our corner of the district. However, as acknowledged this evening, the current recommendation is not appropriately addressing the unique factors at play in the area 5 study. We appreciate your continued thoughtfulness on this issue and uh encourage you to evaluate the options, but recognize that real action will be needed as well. Thank you. We have Jen Robinson and then Natashia and Vanessa. >> Good evening. I'm Jen Robinson, a Morningside parent of two children with a third to join in a couple of years. On November 14th, Granite School's official Instagram account posted videos advertising open enrollment encouraging out of bounds and out of district families to join. Interestingly, they feature two school two
080schools currently a part of this boundary study. one of Superintendent Horsley at Upland Terrace and then a reposted Cottonwood Elementary video. This reveals a key district priority, attracting students from beyond boundaries. Based on pack data, the area 5 school leading these metrics with the second highest outofd enrollment, highest out-of-bounds enrollment, and more than 90% utilization is one proposed for closure as a neighborhood boundary school. In my marketing role, when an ad performs well, I don't tell my boss, "This brought in more customers than others at reasonable cost, but the copy wasn't perfect, so let's pull it." That doesn't make sense. When something works, we do more of it. We optimize and invest in it because we know it delivers strong returns. Granite District has a duty to ensure schools can maintain healthy populations long term.
081Yet, instead of replicating schools like Morningside Success, we're closing the only Area 5 school with organic enrollment growth year-over-year. Other schools with positive trajectories needed closures to boost population. Morningside stands in a category of its own. It's held steady during area 5's general decline. Parents across the valley choose Morningside over their boundary and district schools. These families could choose charter or private schools, but they do what it takes to be at Morningside. Its programming is a key differentiator. The PAC's task is daunting, but it's more complex when using a wrote lens of matching area 5 schools to district-wide criteria. I appreciate the recommendation to take a more strategic approach for an area with unique challenges. I urge the board to suspend the study until it can do so in a comprehensive way that ensures the
082viability of area 5 schools for years to come. Let's revisit area 5 with a comprehensive study considering leading success indicators, including the metrics the district prioritizes like out of boundary and out of district enrollment. Let's do more of what works, attracts families, and creates the stability that our children deserve. Thank you, Nasha. And then Vanessa and Natalie is after that, Vanessa Larson and then Natalie Teen. My name is Anastasia Mangone and I am an Eastwood parent, a East Eastwood alumni, and a member of the Eastwood Community Advocacy Group. Um, I had something completely different prepared, but rolling with the punches. Um, across Utah, communities are confronting a growing question. Will we treat public schools as cost centers or as civic anchors? Declining enrollment, aging facilities, and shifting budgets are testing the values that have long
083defined our state's commitment to education. The Granite School District now finds itself at the center of that test. Um, the board is now faced with a decision that extends far beyond one neighborhood, a choice that would could dismantle a thriving model of of success and send ripples through communities for generations. And what's at stake is not just the future of one school, but the direction of public education in Utah. Um, I would urge that you guys also choose option three. Um, but Eastwood's story is not a story of decline. It's a story of excellence, resilience, and a community that refuses to give up. Eastwood is not just a building. It's a promise that public education can both be exceptional and deeply human. Like many districts statewide, we are also facing declining enrollment, aging facilities, and
084increased pressure to do more with less. Our state's future depends on whether we preserve a places that connect us. The schools where children first learn what community means. When one thriving school is sacrificed in the name of efficiency, every community loses a piece of that shared trust. We ask Granite to listen not to the noise of the numbers, but to the voices of the families, educators, and children who live this every day. To see what makes Eastwood extraordinary is not something that can be replicated elsewhere. It's a spirit rooted in service, pride, and love. Eastwood doesn't need rescuing. It needs recognition, respect, and a future. Because defending Eastwood isn't just about saving a building. It's about protecting the promise that great public schools still exist in Utah and that they can still bring a community
085together over something bigger than itself. >> Thank you, Anastasia. >> Thank you. >> We have Vanessa and then Natalie's after Vanessa and then Sarah Safabi. I've been waiting a long time for this. Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening to us. My name is Vanessa Larson. I am a proud parent of a Morningside traditional graduate and a current traditional third grader. My family does not see this as a pack recommendation. This was prior rather as a sign/ push to start exploring other options. Charter and private schools are still being discussed in our home. Although that is not our wish, the amount of time I have spent at meetings and advocating for my school and the community in which it resides feels fruitless, felt fruitless. I've attended nearly every public meeting and meetings with
086the district in addition to emails to board members. I struggle to understand the idea that closing Morning Side is the right choice. Morning Side does not look like other schools and should not be graded like other schools. We have three very successful tracks that need each other and work cohesively together. The parents of Morningside are here to protect their community school and fight for its continued access success and success of the community at large. As for the subject of the subset of traditional parents, we felt we were left out of the process. This current recommenda current recommendation literally tears our community apart. Kids who live on the same street will go to different schools. Kids who eat lunch and play together at recess will no longer see each other. Yes, we live in the same
087neighborhood, but Morningside is the heart of our community. Can Granite School District continue to make decisions like this and survive? Charter and private schools are taking our students each year. And now I understand why. The metric being repeated is that inboundary enrollment is low and an indicator of declining enrollment. How can you say that when there is a school down the street that was $200 million that is made up of 40% of outofboundary kids? Why is it okay for the high school and not the elementary? The current recommendation does not reflect the views or wishes of Morningside parents, its students, and the greater community. Closing Morningside is today's band-aid solution to the gaping wound. It will not solve the problems we are facing. We've done our job. We've shown the success of our students. We've
088shown community support and we've shown you the data-driven results. We are not recommending other schools to close. We are asking to proceed as we are. Please let us continue to shine and show what success can look like in an unconventional way. Thank you. >> Thank you, Nessa. Natalie Tingi is next and then we have Sarah Savi and Maryanne Davies after that. >> Hello, my name is Natalie Tingi. I'm a parent at Morningside. I'm currently serving as PTA president this year there as well. And just like so many people in this building, I I love our school. um unpopular opinion probably in this room, but from the beginning I have supported the need for a boundary study in our area. I also accepted early on that if a strong plan required my own school to close,
089I would need to support that decision. I do not believe we can say it's okay to change other schools so long as you leave mine untouched. I hoped for a plan that would benefit all of our students and was solid enough that this board wouldn't have to revisit these issues again for many years. When the PAC's recommendation was released, my frustration was not about my school being affected. It was that these seismic changes were being made without solving problems and with every sign that this would need to be repeated again in the near future. The PAC's recommendation for Morningside was simply not a good plan. It's a plan that people in similar roles struggle to make sense of. With this proposal, many in our schools will be left with suboptimal numbers. It puts both Churchill
090and Skyline at risk and isolates traditional and special programs away from each other, requiring families to choose one child's needs over another. I come here tonight feeling torn. On one hand, this process has gone on far too long. The uncertainty has taken a heavy toll on our teachers and staff. Delay in our schools remain stuck in limbo, unable to retain students and staff, stabilize or move forward. That level of stagnation harms our students. On the other hand, I believe you shouldn't advance a bad plan simply because reversing course would be uncomfortable. The consequences of a poor boundary decision are long lasting and can exasperate exacerbate the problems that brought you here in the first place. This also harms our students. I must say I do not feel that anyone up here is the villain. Um
091I know everyone is hoping the best and trying to do the best for our students, but I need you to understand that this study has set us back. not moved us forward. You have heard us for seemingly nothing. This study has caused rifts between communities and even within our own buildings. While the choices have been made and damage done in our area, I urge our board to develop a stronger decision-making process for the future. Because the failure to design a strong for-sighted plan impacts students long after your vote. Thank you. Thank you. Sarah Sabb is next. Maryann Davies and Katherine Street after. >> Hi, thank you for your time tonight and for reconsidering the PAC's recommendation. We all love our schools. These are the top public schools in the state. All of them are highly
092ranked and loved. It's clear granite is up against many challenges. >> To best Sorry, we >> Okay. I I thought I was coming from over here for a second. Okay. >> Can you get a little bit closer to the microphone? I know it's okay for tall people. >> It's okay. >> I hope that when making these hard choices that the bigger picture is in mind and you can take the time to know what is what is working here and what should be supported and potentially expanded to other schools. Schools that take care of their neighborhood students and attract out of boundary students should be learned from. I'm concerned the pack study and recommendations are not solving the actual problems for the area. While virtually nothing is resolved for the north side of area 5, the
093south end is simply being dominoed into cottonwood. Sorry. The school the MGT study last year showed to have the steepest decline in the entire district over the next 5 years, a 27.5% decline. Even after the recommendations, the PTA of Cottonwood has pled for even more students be moved into their school by expanding the boundary further north. A 100 kids from Howard Driggs they admit will do nothing to fix their teacher student ratios. The steep decline that is predicted for Cottonwood in the next 5 years has not been mentioned at all. Where are the pros and cons of these recommendations? The district and PAC have stated that part of the general decline of students in this area is due to the high cost of living. The recommendation to close the two schools, Morningside and Eastwood, with
094the average lowest home price in the area is pretty wild. This is anecdotal, but I live one block south of Morningside. When we moved in 5 years ago, we were surrounded by retirees. All people that had lived in their homes for 35 plus years. Slowly, they are downsizing or passing away. And two of the six neighbors that we live between have turned over. The homes have turned over to young families. There are still many of these older people in this neighborhood. These are 2,000q ft homes built in the 1950s, homes more young families would be able to afford. Please consider consider the demographics and likelihood of where the turnover is going to be in this area and question the validity of judging a school by its in-boundary enrollment or a single combined class. Morningside is
095currently a thriving school, attracting the most out-of-boundary students, something Granite is currently supporting other schools trying to do. The votes you take should be to stabilize this area, create positive outcomes for students and teachers, and be part of part part of a solid 5 to 10-year plan. Parents could accept tough changes if the current reality and future of the whole area was being considered. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, we have Maryanne Davies next. Katherine Street is after and then Logan Franco. >> Yes, thank you for having us tonight and thank you for the opportunity to talk. Um I just want to start with a few comments about Morningside. So back in March, grant officials presented um about the benefits of consolidation. That consolidation would result in schools with an average of 550 students,
096more educational choices for different learning styles, more inclusion opportunities, and schools that are appropriately sized for programs. This describes Morningside. But since the beginning, the pack has wanted to close our school, but no one has been able to explain to me how closing Morning Side helps the problem of east side population decline. We have been told our traditional kids aren't served, but you didn't talk with traditional parents through the planning process. Neighborhood kids aren't served, but closing the school schools off to different um neighborhood children also alienates them. Does this also mean that out-of- boundary children like mine aren't valued by the district? Even after you foreclosed my daughter's opportunity for a neighborhood school with the last round of closures by choosing Morningside, you are eliminating the only area 5 school that meets a majority
097of metrics you sent out. We have been told the pack has been looking at the data that led to this decision, but that data hasn't been shown to us. Arbitrarily closing our school to reopen only as a magnet creates another half empty area 5 school that will eventually be shut down. I realize that the recommendation tonight may be to move forward with a different plan um and perhaps a plan that will suspend the study and look at a broader plan for the district. Um you know I would really encourage the board to look at upstream solutions. This is a problem that's not just unique to Utah, not even unique to our nation. we have seen these problems of school closures and populations decline across you know the all other nations in Europe and Asia. Um
098you know I think closures will probably have to happen. I can absolutely accept that. I think at the end of the day if parents can understand why a closure is being made and the overall vision you have for the kids that we will accept a hard truth over a dressed up lie. So not to imply anyone here is lying. That's a phrase that my mom always likes to say. So, you have to stick with the good ones. Um, but I do really believe in Granite um, school district. I think you've created many, many strong students and wonderful communities and I encourage you to continue in that tradition and, you know, work with us as a community to help create a vision that will equitably serve our children. Thank you. >> Thank you, CATHERINE. UM, Logan
099Katherine Street. >> Oh, I'm sorry. That was Marian. My apologies, Katherine. And then then we have Logan. And then we have Chelsea. >> Good evening. My name is Katherine Street and I have a third grade traditional track student at Morningside. I am asking the board to please preserve Morningside's traditional track program. The PAC's recommendation runs counter to what we so often hear from the district, the importance of keeping neighborhoods together. With this recommendation, many children in the ALC and DLI programs will stay at Morningside while traditional track students like my son who live in the neighborhood are being displaced. This will go against Granite's values of supporting neighborhood schools and keeping neighborhoods together. Morning sight traditional learners like my son are thriving as demonstrated through Morning sight's USB report card and from our recent traditional
100parent survey in which 91% of traditional families say their children's educational needs are being met and 88% saying the threetrack structure has improved their child's experience. Morningside has area 5's strongest resource and special education team dismantling it will cause harm to children. Furthermore, Morningside's grade level educator teams are strong with four classes per grade. Research shows that belonging improves academic success, mobility harms outcomes, and school stability builds strong communities. There is a large turnover after ALC testing in second grade with a smooth transition into the traditional track, letting students stay with their friends and keep their academic stability. But with the PAC's recommendation, that option disappears, leaving kids to face embarrassment and emotional stress instead. Furthermore, if children feel that the DLI or ALC program is no longer a good fit, they remain at Morningside
101and are welcomed into the traditional track. As a parent of a recent Morningside graduate who attended the ALC program, I want to advocate for families with children in multiple tracks. Families do not care about staggered start times. They care about keeping siblings together with one PTA, one SEP conference, one Halloween parade. I urge you to choose the option that keeps our children, our families, and our neighborhood together. Thank you, >> CATHERINE. Next up, we have Logan Franco. >> Hi, my name's Logan Franco. Given the recent changes here, I would like to wave my time if that's okay. My daughter has prepared something that she has signed up for later. Given that she's number 37, is it okay if she takes my spot for? Good evening. My name is May Franco and I'm a fifth grader
102at Eastwood Elementary. I'm here tonight to talk about why you shouldn't close Eastwood. As a fifth grader, a member of student council, and a leader in my school, I want to use my voice to speak for all the kids who are too little to be here tonight and who haven't had the opportunity to experience Eastwood the way I and all the other fifth graders have. At our school, we have a program where fifth graders get kindergarten buddies. We do fun activities with our buddies like puppet shows and crafts. This teaches the fifth graders to help support the younger kids and it helps the kindergarters adjust to a new school. They get really excited to see us in the lunchroom in the hall. This program helps build a really great community and creates special re relationships
103between grades. It's something that makes Eastwood really special. It makes me sad to think that my kindergarten buddy Daisy won't get to play Gim Kit in Miss Carlson's class, take care of a tarantula in Miss Whipple's class, or have an epic holiday party in Miss Reed's class. My brother Leo in second grade won't have the chance to make a class yearbook with Miss Galvix or be on student council with Miss Flintton. Most importantly, they would never get to experience being a fifth grader at Eastwood who gets to show the same care to a kindergartener that was once shown to them. Eastwood is a wonderful place where kids learn, grow, and make great memories. Please vote no to closing Eastwood cuz closing it would take away all these awesome things from my community. Thank you. Thank
104you. Got Chelsea here up and then Tara Thomas on the floor and Mary Brooks Townson after that. Yes, >> if it's all right. We have some letters from two mayors of uh Mil Creek and of uh Immigration Canyon as well as a letter from a uh local daycare in Salt Lake City. Um in light of the recent changes, I am not going to read my original comment. Um thank you for hearing our concerns. Um my name is Chelsea and I'm the parent of a first grader at Eastwood and a preschooler in Salt Lake City. We urge you respectively to suspend the study indefinitely. Um Sher Jackson was just sworn in uh about a week ago and I'm going to read quickly a letter that she submitted for us. I'm writing to express my strong support
105for keeping Eastwood Elementary School open in Mil Creek and for preserving neighborhood schools throughout the Granite School District. Eastwood Elementary is far more than a school. It is a vital community anchor that promotes stability, connection, and a sense of belonging for families all across Mil Creek. For years, Eastwood has consistently ranked among Utah's top elementary schools, placing the top 10 in according to the US News and World Report. Its outstanding academic reputation combined with convenient freeway access has made it a popular choice for families both within and outside of it its boundaries. District officials have stated that the long-term health of Church Hill Junior High and Skyline High School feeder systems depends on attracting out of boundary students. Closing Eastwood would remove a proven pathway for those students to enter the Skyline network at the
106elementary level, potentially weakening the entire feeder pattern. As mayor of Mil Creek, I'm deeply concerned about the broader impact a closure would have on our community. Neighborhood schools serve as an essential gathering places that bring families together and strengthen societal ties. When schools are close to home, parents can more easily volunteer, attend events, and stay engaged in their children's education. Eastwood embodies these values through its exceptional staff, inclusive culture, and decadesl long commitment to student success. Decisions about school closures have lasting consequences for both education and community vitality. Thank you, Chelsea. We have the letter and we can finish reading it. We appreciate your time. Terra Thomas is next. And then Mary Brooke Townson. And after Mary Brook is Naomi Kissen. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Tara Thomas and I'm a parent,
107community advocacy member, and community council member at Eastwood. I participated in the community council subcommittee meetings and I agree that they were there were significant problems with the way the pack study was conducted. I have voiced these concerns multiple times and I appreciate the way Superintendent Horsesley acknowledged them and I'm asking you to vote to suspend this study indefinitely. Eastwood is a diverse school that not only delivers strong academic performance, but also fosters the social emotional health our young of our youngest learners. It is a place where all students flourish and feel at home. Closing Eastwood would devastate our community and it runs counter to the goals you've set as a district. Please don't prioritize closures over students. recognize the many wonderful aspects of Eastwood, the dedication of our teachers and staff, and the vibrant,
108supportive community of students and families who make this school thrive. Please support our school by actively promoting the strengths that make Eastwood exceptional. We are small but mighty, and we would welcome the opportunity to continue doing what we do best, educating students from across the district. With a robust marketing plan, we can bring the in the outofd district students the district is seeking. I urge you to vote to suspend the study indefinitely. >> Thank you, Terara. Mary Brooke Johnson and then Naomi Ken. After that is Charlie Thomas. My name is Mary Brooke Townsen. I'm a member of the Eastwood Community Advocacy Group and I appreciate the board requesting alternatives to the PAC proposal. Um I want to go through some data that was presented at the October 21st study session that needs to be corrected.
109Um, if there was a merger between Eastwood and Oakidge, instead of an FTE from 19, it would actually be 18 teachers, which drastically affects class size. There would be three classes of 32 students in each fifth grade and two kindergarten classes with 29 students. Furthermore, um, a slide states at that meeting, smaller schools do not generate enough soft money. Their entire budget is not enough for 1.0 FTE. As a member of Eastwood's community council, I can inform you that this is just not accurate. This year, Eastwood had a total of over $94,000 in soft money, which would indeed be enough for a 1.0 FTE. In fact, Eastwood has used its soft money in the recent past to employ Mr. Misco full-time to teach STEM classes and enhance our gold certified program. Perhaps the most concerning
110assumption from those slides was that combining Eastwood and Oakidge would result in an averaged academic performance. Numerous academic studies completely disprove this. The results of the study longitudinal effects on student mobility on three dimensions of elementary school engagement found that consequences of changing schools include lower math and reading scores as well as an increased risk of behavior problems. The current recommendation displaces over 555 students, putting them at risk for lower test scores across the board. Moving quickly from estimates to reality, I collected data from recent school closures. At this point last year, Orchard Elementary was closed, moving students to Copper Hills, which currently has class sizes of 33, and it also has a split school split class. Similarly, Western Hills closure in 2024 resulted in sending students to Behive Elementary, which currently has two split
111classes. Finally, teacher work teacher workload must be addressed. Um, >> thank you, Mary Brooke. Thank you. >> Naomi is next. After Naomi, Charlie, and then Sarah Plameumber. >> Hi, my name is Naomi Kisson and I'm an Eastwood parent. First of all, I wanted to thank you for hearing us and asking for other options. That really feels great. Um, also just wanted to thank you for the general opportunity to comment and for the outreach you've done. As has been previously stated, there is no requirement for you to conduct to have conducted many of the outreach options undertaken during the study. The requirements around school closure are procedural and mostly address notice and comment requirements, which is the topic of my comment tonight. Utah code 53G4-402, which I'm sure you're familiar with, stipulates the requirements for notification
112of proposed school boundary changes or closures in subsection 24B. It states that before proceeding with these changes, a local school board shall on or before 90 days before the day on which the local schoolboard approves a school closure or at least 30 days before the day on which the local schoolboard approves a school boundary change provide notice that the local schoolboard is considering the closure of the boundary change to parents of students enrolled in the school using the form of communication that the local school board regularly uses to communicate with parents and also by mail using USPS to the parents at each known address. The board and the direct district's position seems to be that this requirement was wet through the met through the email and mailers that were sent in March of this year.
113Now, one could debate if a notification sent almost 300 days before the decision is in keeping with the spirit of this requirement, but let's move past that. Subsection 24BI states that before proceeding with this notification, the local schoolboard must at a local schoolboard meeting make and approve a motion to initiate the notification required under subsections BII through IB. Further, subsection 24D states that a motion made under subsection 24B shall name each school under consideration for closure in a separate motion. So, I have reviewed all of the meeting minutes from board meetings held in 2025 and I cannot find where the board made and approved motions consistent with the requirements of state code. The two motions regarding the pack study were February 4th motion. I move that we proceed with an area five study comma for
114the pack study next year for 2025 made by Julie Jackson in September 2nd. I move to accept the record. Oh, come on. >> I'm I move the commission. >> Okay. I appreciate I appreciate the work with happy to have you email us the rest of your comments because I think we're interested to hear them. So, thank you. >> You should make sure you complied with state code before you move forward. >> We're going to invite CHARLIE UP NEXT. AND THEN SARAH IS after Charlie and then Andy May. Uh >> my name is Charlie Thomas. I'm an Eastwood community advocacy group member and I want to thank you for listening to the parents. Um a lot of parents at Eastwood have been very involved in this. So thank you for listening to us and and hearing
115us out. We really appreciate it. Um closing Eastwood would knock out the foundation of Skyline by eliminating two of the five schools that feed into Church Hill. We'll be setting up Skyline for long-term decline. If Eastwood and Morningside close now, we'll be right back here in a few years facing the next step in the chain reaction, which is the potential closure of Church Hill. We all understand enrollment patterns weaken the feeder system and you weaken the school it supports. We have invested so much in strengthening Skyline. Let's now invest in the elementary schools which prop up Skyline. I also want to address the proposal to send Eastwood students to Oakidge and convert Oakidge into an IB school. It is not clear to me what community outre out outreach was done to show that families want
116this. At the February 2nd board meeting where the pack proposal was advanced, it was stated that teachers were overloaded and overwhelmed. In that same meeting, the principal of Oakidge was addressed directly with regards to overworked teachers. It doesn't make sense to add the burden of IB certification with all the additional work and cost it requires. I've researched IB and there's no clear evidence that IB at the elementary level is effective. Yet, it is costly and labor intensive to implement. My family chose Eastwood because we want a traditional school. Um I I'm canceling a lot of the other things I was going to say because I really appreciate um um the new proposal by President uh by Superintendent Horsley. So I agree with that and uh thank you very much. >> Thank you Charlie. Sarah Plamer
117is next. Then we have Andy May. We did have um Tim Valentine and Stephanie Balentine on the schedule, but they got crossed off out there. I just want to double check that you are okay if you're still here to not come up. Uh You're okay with that? Okay. Thank you. So, Sarah Harmon after that. >> Okay. Hi, I'm Sarah Plamer, part of the Eastwood Advocacy Group. I first walked into Eastwood in 2013, nervous to register my boys at a new school. Secretary Vicky Burrow, a smile in her eyes, said, "We'll take care of you." She inspired me to be invested in my roles as a parent first, a volunteer, then onto PTA president and executive board member ever since. also as a BHA and currently as a media clerk and always a friend. I've watched
118Eagles from 22 zip codes set their sights high because of stellar faculty and staff who believe in and teach them. In 2019, Principal Hop and I wrote our vision vision and mission statement. We are a welcoming community for all where countless aspects of learning and growth are nurtured and celebrated. Tonight, I ask you to suspend this study based on Eastwood's growth percentiles. We're not only high-erforming, but we excel in helping our lower performing students grow. We're the only elementary in the district to house a shiny trophy in our office every year since the district began awarding one for the highest proficiency gain. Please suspend based on your recently described obligation as a board to be fiscally responsible and accountable. Taxpayers voted to rebuild Eastwood. I hope you suspend because we do have choices within our
119brick walls and we are excited to add more and continue to grow. The morning after the pack recommendation, there was no smiling on the playground. There were tears and real fears shared at school, but every day since, faculty and staff have shown up for these worried students with hope. We adore these kids and we will continue to do so. Granite School Board, I thank you so much for your work. I invite you to join our vision. Invest in our children now and in the future. Let's do both. It will be incredible. Thank you. Thank you, Sarah. Got Andy. Andy May. misunderstood. >> They Oh, >> did you guys want to speak? >> Sorry, I did want to speak. >> You did? Okay. My apologies. >> We didn't cross it off. I did. I was unclear.
120>> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I'm sorry. I'm on phone with Senator Bluen. >> Um yeah. Um he called me and uh I I had to take that call. So I think I have talked to all of you uh on phone. We have exchanged emails. We have exchanged texts. Um uh I am not a um a traditional parent. I I'm the parent of uh uh you know in the gifted um program. But I do want to say that um we at Morningside we are so thoroughly integrated with each other uh the three tracks that it's like a table where if you take one leg off the entire table is going to fall. So I do not know how this idea came uh uh into consideration
121that we remove the traditional track and keep the other two tracks. There is significant circulation between the tracks. After second grade a lot of ALC uh students they end up in the traditional program. students who do not want to continue in the French program, they want to move to the traditional program and then the the students who are in the traditional program, a lot of them they take the test, they take the gifted test and then they end up uh in third grade or some some some uh some other grade level in the gifted programs. So if you take the traditional program away, this is going to cause a domino effect and it will also uh uh peel students away from the French DLI and the gifted program. So that is a major concern and
122then I want the district to live up to its promises and what it says. So on the one hand the district is saying we are going to the objective the goal is to consolidate. >> Thank you. And on the other hand they are deconolidating. So thank you. >> My apologies Tim I misunderstood. >> Yeah I appreciate that. >> So Tim and then we have Stephanie and then Sarah Harmon. >> Hello. My name is Tim Valentine and I'm also a member of the Eastwood Community Advocacy Group. vote to suspend the study because Eastwood is Grant's best option to compete. Many times throughout this process, Grant's leadership has brought up the goal of drawing in more out of district students. At the same time, they have said they cannot compete with charter schools or they do not
123want to compete with charter schools. In order to bring students in from other areas and stop losing them from our own, we will have to compete. Eastwood is our best chance of competing in the area and drawing in additional students. Eastwood has the best location, hands down. Easy access right off the freeway is a huge factor for traveling parents. Even schools that are only several blocks into a neighborhood are much more impractical when factoring in morning traffic and congestion from other nearby schools. Eastwood is by far the most practical location for parents who commute to or from Salt Lake City, the university area and immigration Canada. Eastwood is the only Granite School District area school that afterare programs will travel to for student pickup. Losing this will hurt working families. Eastwood has the most attractive
124academic program in the area with the combination of our test scores, gold STEM designation, and GT certified teachers. We outperform charter schools, including Canyon Rim, which is the closest elementary school to Eastwood and about to open a new campus. The combination of Eastwood's academic excellence, traditions, and unmatched location can be a draw if they are made known to prospective students and families. Closing Eastwood would be a massive mistake. Vote to suspend the study indefinitely because keeping Eastwood open is the winning option. Thank you. >> Thank you. Stephanie is next. Stephanie Valentine. Stephanie Mel. >> Hi. Thank you. Thank you for listening. Thank you for hearing our countless hours of research, brainstorming, meetings, lost sleep, emotional outbursts, and tears. Um, when I spoke earlier, I urged you to help us compete, and I still make that
125same urge today. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude regarding this new motion to indefinitely suspend the area 5 study. And in light of everything going on, this decision, this decision presented by Superintendent Horsley, thank you, demonstrates that this board listens to data and values its communities. By suspending indefinitely, we will choose to preserve a school that is not just a building, but a flagship of what public education should be, the heart of community. We'll secure the future of a Gold STEM school, a designation that represents the innovation and academic rigor families are looking for. We'll protect a school that consistently ranks in the top 2% of instate proficiency. We've spent recent weeks discussing deficits in utilization. Tonight, I want to talk about the asset we'll retain. Eastwood is a design a designation school. Our data showed that
126nearly 75% of our families were willing to leave the district to find this level of education somewhere else. Unfortunately, we've lost many families as a result of this study. My daughter alone has lost three friends during these recent weeks. It's taken a toll. By keeping our schools open, you will retain remaining families, their trust, and investment in the Granite School District. We are here because we believe in public education. We believe the district can help us. We want to help you compete against charter and private schools, not by closing doors, but by highlighting the excellence that already exists within them. >> Thank you, Stephanie. >> Thank you so much. >> Sarah Harmon is next and then we have Jennifer Tomek and Colin Olsen after. Um, I'm also a member of the parent advocacy group at
127Eastwood and I just want to truly uh extend my appreciation to you all for listening, for hearing us, and for allowing uh me to speak tonight. Uh, so we've been told repeatedly that an IB program is an early years IB program is is coming to area 5. Um, my concern with that is the inequitable impact it would have districtwide. Research shows that nationwide the IB program benefits families with higher socioeconomic advantages. The implications of granite paying for an IB program in area 5 would deepen inequities rather than working to correct them. Diverting resources and funding toward an expensive program that serves an already advantaged community when resources could be better used to serve schools with greater needs is not fiscally responsible or equitable way to spend our tax dollars. Um, you just heard May describe
128our kindergarten buddies program that we have at Eastwood. It's extremely successful. Um, and last week at the end of this uh, superintendent town hall, I quickly introduced an idea that we have at Eastwood to create a sister school program bridging a school from the east side with a school from the west side. Um we've already been putting that into practice um with West Karns Elementary. Principal Schoffen, Principal Graham are currently working on ways that we can create um a partnership, field trips, pen pen pals, that sort of thing. And as a community, in just a week and a half, we have created and built and delivered 164 weekend student food kits to West Karns Elementary. Um, we see this being a partnership that will enrich both of our communities, something that will lay the groundwork,
129um, give our students a strong foundation for civic engagement. And thank you for your time, >> Jennifer. Hi. Before I begin, we have a handout from the Eastwood Advocacy Group. Although um many of us have pivoted with our comments tonight, we wanted to still give you the handout that we prepared asking you to vote no on alternative ones so you would have the benefit of of those comments as well. Um so my name is Jennifer Tomshock. I'm a member of the Eastwood Community Advoc Advocacy Group. I'm a parent of a former current and dare I hope future student of Eastwood. I'm grateful for the board for asking for alternatives to the pack recommendation and I'm grateful for s to superintendent Horsley for giving us one. I want to speak in favor of option three to
130indefinitely suspend the study. As the district recently acknowledged, there are no safe walking routes from Eastwood to Oakidge. The proposed solution courtesy stops for all Eastwood students in the cove is just not feasible. We would need at least two buses at a cost of $220,000 each. And we've already talked about why that would that would be basically offsetting any cost savings we get from combining the schools. I've already talked at previous board meetings about this. I'm not going to beat a dead horse. It's in the comments on page three and four. There are also unfixable concerns about the length and safety of busing routes, especially for the immigration canyon kits. Some of those concerns exist even beyond this pack study and I hope we'll have a chance to address them later. But we don't need
131further study. What we need is for the district to use this engagement, these amazing parents and the energy that they've brought to this pack study to come up with a plan for expansion to turn our amazing schools into schools that are competing with charter schools because this is not a problem of declining enrollment. Canyon Room is at capacity and turning away students every year. It's a problem of making sure that we are putting our best foot forward and showing what Granite School Districts can do and this energy. We can do that. >> Thank you, Jennifer. >> Thank you. Next, we have Colin Olsen and then Sunnita Jennings is after that and Georgiana Petro George. Is that right? Oh, thank you. >> Uh, thanks for being here and for hearing us. Uh, my name is Colin.
132My family lives right here in South Salt Lake. That makes us an out of boundary family. And with a current first grader and a 2027 kindergartener, I want to share why we chose Eastwood. Our home's not close enough to the Eastwood boundary or not close to it. And here in South Salt Lake, we actually have a school within walking distance. As an urban planner, the idea of a walkable neighborhood school matters to me deeply. But Eastwood wasn't simply the next closest school. We chose it intentionally and have been willing to make the drive every morning because we believed it offered something essential for our son, a place where he would truly be seen and supported. Um, that's us voting with our feet. Griffin's a boy who behaves well in group settings, but goes quiet and
133sometimes gets lost in his own thoughts. In some schools, a subdued student like him can easily disappear and get left behind. We needed a school where teachers would truly notice him. East with word of mouth reputation for being a school with high standards, genuine care, and successful outcomes has held true, and his progress has exceeded our hopes. Shout out to Mrs. Downing and Mrs. Whipple. We've seen Griffin grow and develop a real interest in learning. We'll always be grateful that we made the decision to bring him to Eastwood. But this story is not exclusive to us. Grant its own data reflects it. Eastwood has 69 out approved out of boundary permits for this school year compared to 21 at the school we've unfortunately been pitted against Oakridge. 47% of Eastwood students come from outside the
134boundary. And when comparing student movement in and out, Eastwood gains 68 students. Families aren't choosing Eastwood for convenience. They're choosing it because it works for kids. Even as outsiders, our family has found real community and lasting friendships. >> Thank you. >> Sita Jennings is next. Um Georgian and then Jonathan Manium. >> Hello. I'm also a member of the Eastwood Community Advocacy Group. I'm a parent of two Eastwood students and I've lived in the neighborhood where the school is located for about a decade since before we had children. This property has been a special place for my family again since before we had children. Um and like others I've rewritten my comments in response to um Superintendent Horsley's recommendation. First, thank you. Thank you for hearing us. Um to the board, I urge you to sus
135to suspend the study indefinitely. Let us get to work channeling all this energy, all this time that we have spent over the last 6 to8 months to grow enrollment at our local school and support children with acute needs across the district. Until this study, I had no idea that enrollment was a challenge at our school or even the district. We are eager to ensure that Eastwood continues to be a high performing school and a thriving school. But without the spectre of closure, we can turn a whole bunch of this energy and passion towards supporting the district as a whole from west to east. Thank you. >> Thank you, Georgian. And then Jonathan, and I apologize if I said your last names wrong. Hi, I'm Georanne, a member of Eastwood Community Advocacy Advocacy Group. Um, I've
136changed my comments since the proposal to suspend the study. I was going to talk about the um school desert that would be created if Eastwood does close. Um but now I am going to change my comments to second what Sunnita and Jen have said about let's channel this energy that all the Eastwood parents and other parents have um showed and up our enrollment and show you what Eastwood can do. Um, thank you, Superintendent Horsley, for listening to us and um, again, I urge you to vote to suspend the pack study indefinitely. Thank you very much, >> Jonathan. And then Megan Medina and Larry Gellwick is up. >> Um, my, uh, daughter Scarlet Craropper uh, is also signed up to speak. I'd like to give her my time slot if that's okay. Hi, our name and
137>> Hi, our names are Scarlet and >> Ellie. Ellie and we are third grade students at Eastwood Elementary. Thank you for letting us share today. Eastwood is where I learned so many things, not just math and reading, but how to be a good friend and how to believe in myself. It's where I met my best friends and where teachers know us by our name and cheer us on every day. If Eastwood closes, it won't just mean going to a different building. It means leaving behind the place where we feel safe and where we belong. It means leaving behind the place we feel safe and where we belong. That means being separated from the friends we've grown up with since kindergarten. For kids, that's really hard because our school is a part of who we are.
138We've made memories here that will never forget from from recess games to class projects to school plays. We want to keep making those memories together, not apart. Eastwood is more than a school. It's our community. Wait, and it's where we want to keep growing. I know this is a big decision, but I ask you to think about us, the students. Please remember that Eastwood is not just a building. It's our home, our friendships, and our future. We hope you will keep it open so we can stay together and keep learning at the place we love. >> Thank you, Scarlet. All right, we have got Megan Medina and then G Larry Gelwix and Michelle Jones is after Larry. Hi, my name is Megan Medina. I am a parent to a kindergartener at Eastwood Elementary. I'm also
139a member of the Eastwood Community Council and a member of the Eastwood Advocacy Group. So, I've been busy. Um, first of all, I want to say thank you to all of you, um, for hearing us. That in and of itself, um, made me almost cry. So, thank you for hearing our concerns and bringing them up and addressing them seriously. I really appreciate that. Um, and I also, and this actually is going with I was what I was going to say was an encouragement um, to utilize this community that we have. So, we had over 160 people, parents, kids, community supporters, do a walking school bus. We have over 100 people in our community advocacy group. Um, we have over 1,700 signatures in a petition to keep Eastwood open. We have support. So, let's use that
140together to do something great. Um, I also teach community leadership up at the UVU. Um, and one of the things I talk about is transformational change. And a question I ask is, do you want to do you want to uh pick weeds or grow flowers? So, I want to encourage us together to work on how we want to grow flowers. Even if um I want to encourage you to go with option number three to consider suspending it indefinitely, but I think the messaging of that matters as well. And it's not like we should suspend it for 3 years and then talk about all the schools we should close, but let's talk about we're going to suspend this instead of keep on talking about the close the schools we're going to close. What is our plan
141for growth? What does this look like? What do we hope for? And let's make like a really tangible plan for what we want it to look like, where we want those goals to be, and then work together to get them. And yes, part of that might mean the closing then. But I think part of this feeling as a parent is that a lot of this process has simply felt like loss. It's pitting schools against each other. It's we're going to lose our our neighborhood school. We're going to lose all these things. So, let's work together to to grow some flowers. Thank you, >> Larry. And then we have Michelle and Brad Franco on on. >> My name is Larry Gellwigs and my wife and I are deeply rooted in the Granite School District. All of
142our five children having lived in the district 39 years. All five of our children attended area 5 schools. We currently have seven grandchildren enrolled at Eastwood, including four out of district. My wife served as the PTA president at Skyline High School, and both Kathy and I have and are currently doing volunteer work at Area 5 schools. We are deep into the Granite School District. I urge the board to vote yes in option three. And I would like to personally thank Mr. horsely whom I've disagreed with on some of these issues for a and his team for their thoughtful approach on option three and an open mind. You know, it's kind of interesting. I heard opinions of the hundreds of hours that the committee put in that of course we should adopt it because they have
143spent so much time researching it and looking up data and facts. Well, following that same logic, then we should adopt option three because those who put in the most time and are closest to the situation have had the courage to pivot and with an open mind. It's my understanding that in the last decade, Granite has closed six schools. Every one of them shared the same traits, located within a reasonable short walking distance of another school. not among the district's highest performing schools and generally not attracting outofd district students. The proposal to close crosses all of those patterns. As my time is up, I'll simply say board members, you're at the crossroads of leadership. Please show our community that you represent transparency, accuracy, facts do matter, and a willingness to pivot with better solutions. Thank you.
144>> Thank you. >> Got Michelle Brad is on the on the deck and Tiffany Lumba. >> Hi, I'm Michelle Jones, Granite Education President. Uh, in the past I have stood at this podium to express GA's concerns about district communication along with the consistency and transparency of district processes and decisions. That is not my purpose tonight. Tonight I'm here to to express GA's confidence in the clarity, consistency, and integrity of the process the district's pack committee and board of education have followed in the area 5 population analysis commit study. I want to acknowledge and honor the deep emotions present in this room. I have profound empathy for those who are advocating for their community school. I remember how heartbreaking it was when Brockbank Junior High, the school where I began my teaching career, was closed. A
145school is the heart of a neighborhood. It's where relationships form, traditions are rooted, and community pride is strengthened. The closure of a school breaks a community's heart. At the same time, we cannot ignore the realities facing Granite School District. Granite District is experiencing declining enrollment due to low birth rates and expansion of duplicative charter school systems. Public schools are also operating with diminished state funding. Granite receiving millions less in funding last year. Even as state funding for private school vouchers is increasing. These conditions require the district to be exceptionally prudent and ensure that its limited resources are used in fiscally responsible ways. Given these realities, the board is tasked with an extraordinarily difficult decision. Over the years, I have watched this board and the pack committee work to build and refine a process for school
146closures that is consistent, transparent, and grounded in community input. I can say with confidence that the board impact committee have listened authentically to patron concerns and suggestions. The process used for area 5 mirrors the same thoughtful, equitable approach used in other areas, including last year's 3500 South corridor study. I deeply appreciate the Granite Board of Education for making sure that students, educators, and your communities are at the heart of all of your decisions. Thank you. Thank you. Got Brad. Then we have Tiffany. And then Lily Claude. Is Brad. Is Brad first? >> Oh, okay. My name is Tiffany Malumba. I am an Eastwood parent, alumni, and a part of the Eastwood Community Advocacy Group. Thank you for finally listening to our community and we agree on the recommendation to suspend the study indefinitely because it
147would shut down a thriving school and send its students into a school that is clearly in crisis. The data could not be clearer. From 2017 to 2025, Eastwood lost only 46 students, a 14% decline over 7 years, about 2% per year, which is below the district average. Oakidge over the same period lost 161 students, a 37% decline, averaging more than 6% per year, which is double the district average. Eastwood's recent decline is tied to closure rumors. Oakidge's decline is long-term, severe, and has nothing to do with this process. The district has tried to explain Oakidge's attrition by pointing to DLI and ALC programs at Morningside, but that claim has no evidence evidence behind it. The mo mobility data shows only 26 students attending those programs and we still have no data showing they ever started
148at Oakidge. And because DLI entry stops after first grade, it cannot account for years of students leaving. The district has produced no research on why families are leaving Oakidge or where the 161 missing students went. Look also at staff stability. Oakidge's teacher retention is only 41% compared to Eastwood's 68%. Seven administrative assistants, including four secretaries, have left Oakidge this year alone, with another resigning just weeks ago. That level of turnover is not normal. It reflects serious internal problems that is that this proposal completely ignores. We keep hearing that the goal is to make the outcome feel like a win-win, but families are not asking for better optics. We are demanding honesty, transparent data, and decisions based on evidence, not narratives designed to justify a predetermined outcome. I also cannot ignore the number of people who
149have approached our group about racism at Oakidge. Concerns raised even in meetings with a board member. Eastwood is 20% diverse, so please suspend the study indefinitely. Thank you. We got Lily Claude and then Katie Dunkey and Emily Brammer. >> My name is Lily Malumba and I am a student at Eastwood. We students love Eastwood. It is our safe place. If little kids by kindergarten and preschool grow up to first grade, they will have a connection with the teachers. The teachers are very nice. Trust them and give them a hug. We all love Eastwood. Eastwood is a safe place we all belong. We belong at Eastwood and nowhere else. Except for our house. Eastwood is our home. We are eagles. Eagles never give up. And neither do we at Eastwood. I do not want to go
150to another school where I will be made fun for my the the color of my skin. That is not safe for me. At Eastwood are well, we are good. We love, we are home, and we can't go without it. It so vote no to closing Eastwood. We love Eastwood. >> She wrote that herself. I did not write THAT FOR HER. ALL RIGHT, next up we have Katie and then Emily Bremer and then Zachary Book on. That's a tough act to follow. I'll keep my comments brief. Um, my name is Katie Dumpkey. I'm a parent of an Eastwood alumnist, two current students, and one future student, and I'm also part of the Eastwood community advocy advocacy group. Um, I want to start by thanking you for taking our feedback um, seriously and reconsidering the pack recommendation.
151I know this has come after hours and hours of meetings and emails and I truly appreciate that um, and say thank you. Um, I've changed my remarks in light of the new proposal from Superintendent Horsley. Um, I the current pack proposal does not solve the problems of our area. Instead, it disrupts a school community, Eastwood, that is thriving and did not ask for intervention. I'm asking you to vote to suspend this study indefinitely and look forward to taking our collective energy into this community and our district to make sure we continue to serve all of our families and students districtwide. Thank you. >> Thank you, Katie. Emily Brammer is next and Zachary Book and Kyle Demire. Hi, I'm Thank you so much for your time. I want to reiterate that. We really appreciate it. Um,
152my name is Emily Brammer. I'm another member of the Eastwood Community Advoc Advocacy Group. Um, thank you for hearing and addressing our concerns. We do urge you to vote to um and definitely suspend the study. Um, Eastwood enrollment has declined, but a big part of that is due to the PAC study. As has been said, uh, many of our friends have proactively moved to other schools so that they could secure a spot before the Eastern CO closure, and I know that many will happily return if this study can be indefinitely suspended. Thank you for seeing our concerns and offering these options. Um, this gains my trust and a lot of others, I'm sure. And, um, thank you for hearing us, family, Zachary Book, and then Kyle Domer and Kate Bishop on deck. >> Uh, first
153to the Excuse me. Can you hear me? >> Can you move that? Yeah. As high as Yeah. >> Sorry. It's a pleasure to see you all again. Uh, first to the board, uh, Mr. Horesley and Mr. Hogan. Thank you so much for all your efforts and your hard work. Uh, I'm Dr. book. I'm a board-certified emergency physician. I also hold a uh psych degree from the University of Utah with an emphasis in early childhood education. Uh I'm an Oakidge alumnist and I moved my family back to Utah to attend Oakidge and experience the same amazing education that I had as a child. I could also say that about my two nephews as well as uh multiple other family members that went to Oakidge and have amazing experience through the Grant School District system. Uh during
154my time, Oakidge was an advanced learning center and had GT programs. I've reviewed the area of five pack study in depth and uh first and foremost, it's my hope that no schools uh in our community close. Every school holds value for families and local history. I'd like to acknowledge that uh all schools in the study are amazing and uh many statements have been made tonight regarding Morningside and Eastwood. Uh the same statements of loss and disappointment would be reiterated by the Oakidge community and family uh if they were allowed to speak in depth uh similar to the other members. Uh that being said, I advocate for Oakidge and to be practical about these matters, I'd like to say a few things. Oakidge has a central location at a large and has a large capacity that
155makes it ideal for a community and students to uh learn efficiently and be transported efficiently. Oakidge is a historic landmark. It's an amazing building, a mid-century modern marvel that uh brings joy to all students with its environment and views across the city. It would be a tragedy to lose it. Uh Oakidge has potential for future remodeling and modernization to serve all students, preserving community heritage and identity. Has potential for future cost savings via renovations versus building a new school, which I think is quite an advantage. Our community supports >> Thank you, Zachary. Sorry. Thank you for coming and representing our community. >> Thank you everyone. Um my name is Kyle Domire. I have two kids at Eastwood and uh one more in the pipeline. I had prepared remarks but I'd like to share an anecdotal
156story. Um, Eastwood might be a built just be a building, might just be a school, but as a former atrisisk youth myself, uh, I had the benefit of attending our area 5 schools, Eastwood, Church Hill, and Skyline. Uh, my home life was a little challenging and, uh, at one point ended up living, uh, far on the west side. I would wake up at 5:00 in the morning and take the city bus to make it to Church Hill for a 6:45 band practice taught by no one else but Miss Nicole McDermott. Um, so while I was untethered at home, uh, I was not untethered at school and I'm here today before you and I'm back with my kids at Eastwood because of the success of these schools and uh, they're not just buildings. It's beyond that.
157Um, I wouldn't be here today but for Eastwood, Church Hill, and Skyland. So, thank you. >> Thanks, KYLE. I DO remember him by the way if anybody he was a great kid. Um Kate Bishop is next and then we have Rob Badger. Hi, good evening. Thank you guys for being here and your patience and listening to each and every one of us so intently. Um good evening. My name is Kate Bishop. I'm the mother of two daughters. one who is currently enrolled in third grade at Eastwood and one who is a future Eastwood student. Uh she starts kindergarten next year. Given the updates this evening, I as many have altered my comments. Um throughout the PAC study, our community has rallied and offered numerous creative solutions that directly address the challenges the district says it's
158facing. Creative solutions require courage. Real innovation requires brave leadership. leaders willing to step away from the default option of closures, willing to explore new models and willing to stand up for what serves the children rather than what feels safest on a spreadsheet. I urge the board to pause the pack study indefinitely and step forward to find a new path to lead the conversation on the challenges facing facing the foundations of public education in Utah. Thank you. Thank you. Rob Badger and then we have Havana Costa and then Azie Costa. >> I appreciate Superintendent Horsley's willingness to listen throughout this study uh for the first time. It feels as though our concerns are being heard. I strongly urge the board to suspend the study indefinitely or at the very least delay it until it can be
159conducted properly without the biases many in the community perceive are taking place. The goal of any changes in area 5 should be to provide long-term stability for the families and for our students. Based on the enrollment numbers we went over tonight, the PAC's current proposal does not accomplish this. When Holiday Elementary closed years ago, many of those students were sent to Memormore, which then just a few years later closed. As parents of Driggs students who are going to be reassigned to Cottonwood under the pack's current recommendation due to domino effects from closing Morningside, I cannot risk repeating this pattern for my children. We want stability for our children. We will not move to Cottonwood only to be moved again a few years later when Cottonwood's enrollment continues to decline. I will move my children where
160we can find stability. Families deserve better long-term planning than what the PAC's current proposal offers. Again, I urge the board to dis to suspend indefinitely and give our families the stability we want and deserve. >> Thank you. We have Havana next and then Azie and then on deck Jenny Gellwix. >> Hi, I'm My name is Havana and I am a student at Eastwood. The reason I don't want to close Eastwood is because if I go to a different school, the teachers maybe won't get how smart I am. And I'm amazed about all the amazing teachers and forcing me to go to a different school is wrong. And I love being an Eastwood Eagle. Please keep my school open. I think you would be very sad if people tried to close your kids school. I've done
161a lot to of work to keep Eastwood open. Mr. Graham, Miss Wolfenberger, and Miss Meccraftoft are amazing. My little brother is in preschool at Eastwood. And if you close Eastwood, my little brother George won't get the experience of being an Eastwood Eagle. And you've closed six schools. Do you really want to close a seventh? My And if you close Eastwood, I will miss my best friends forever. Thank you. Savannah Azie. Hi, my name is Aussie and I am a student at Eastwood and I think closing Eastwood is very wrong and the teachers there are so fantastic and we um have a top 10 Golden STEM school and I think it and um if anyone's kids that went to a school and someone closed them I don't know how you would feel but if I was
162an adult I'd feel kind of sad and mad. mad at everybody. Um um my friends are from all over the valley and Eastwood is special and I want my sister that's in second grade, I want her to be in my teacher's class. And my brother that's in preschool, I want him to have a kindergarten buddy. So, let's keep uh Eastwood open. Thanks. >> Thank you. Just to preface, those are my amazing kids and they wrote those speeches themselves. I just helped with spelling, so I'm really proud of them. >> Um, Jenny Gilwix is next. And we have Kate Mi or Miyagi. Um, I also changed my comments from just anxiety crying for two minutes to uh I'm the type of person that if I think something positively about somebody or something, I make sure that
163I say it. I am feeling a sliver of hope that I have not felt since the study was announced. Um, this has been the hardest teaching year of my 21 years teaching and I was I had an entire pregnancy teaching and had a baby two days after school got out. So, that was the hardest until this year. Um, um, thank you for hearing our community and thank you for offering an option to pivot. Um, I am hopeful that our small, what I like to call a boutique school, um, will continue to thrive as a safe and strong learning environment. And, um, I hope that our students that have already left in anticipation of a closure and asked if they could come back, we'll start doing so. Um, we have had people want to come to
164our school for the 12 years I've been at Eastwood that end up not coming because of rumors over those 12 years. So, um, I'm hoping that that will help us rebound. Um, I don't know if it's possible as well, but, uh, perhaps you accept gifts of some sort and our 16 3D printers at Eastwood will be hard at work for with gratitude crowns for you all. So, uh, I just wanted to say thank you for listening and offering an option. >> Can we request colors just >> Oh, we have many. We just used our PTA funds to buy more um filament. So, I just wanted to say thank you. >> Thank you, JENNY. KATE. And then after Kate, I think it's I believe Linda book. Is that correct? And then after Linda, Alex Takahashi. Well,
165we're hopefully getting towards the end. Um I hate to um pick up on kind of a negative note, but I wanted to um follow on to what Naomi um Kaizen started to tell you because I had the same comment, so I'm glad she was able to start that. Um I have um two legal concerns that I wanted to enter into the record. The first was as Naomi was saying, the board failed to notify um area 5 families um according to what is required in Utah code. As Naomi said, um the motion made under subsection 24B, this is um title 53G, chapter 4, section 402, subsection 24 of Utah State Code. Um um 24D of that section says a motion made under subsection 24B shall name each school under consideration for closure in a separate motion.
166You have not done that to my knowledge. Um the two motions that have been made, one was in February. Um Julie Jackson moved that we proceed with an area 5 study for the pack study next year for 2025 was the motion that was made in February. And then the motion that was made in September um uh regarding the pack study also made by Julie Jackson said I moved uh to accept the recommendations to continue the study with the focus as presented. That's it. You have not followed Utah State Code and that's on the board. Um my other concern, there's more about that but I'll send you the details. Um my other concern is that the recommendation of the pack at least as far as closing Morningside could easily be considered arbitrary and capriccious. The objective
167data if you compare Morning Sid's enrollment and inboundary population numbers to neighboring schools for example Cottonwood Elementary compares favorably on all the objective measures. So there is an arbitrary and capricious argument. Thank you. Invite Linda up. And then we have Alex and then finally Amy. Good evening. Thank you for paying attention so long. My name is Dr. Linda Book. I am a professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah and I have been caring for Utah's children health and minds for nearly 50 years. I care a lot about education. I've been teaching the physicians who take care of the current children for nearly that long as well. And um my three children have uh attended Oakidge School and um five grandchildren either have attended or are attending Oakidge School. It is, as you know, a
168top performer and ranked in the top 10 schools of Utah. It's an outstanding school. It does an amazing job. It has tremendous community support and fantastic leadership and as do several other schools in the Granite School District. And I would entreat you, my allegiance is to Oakidge. Please keep Oakidge school open, but please as a board use your creative energy, your leadership to try to figure out how to keep most, if not all, of these really high performing schools open. Thanks. >> Thank you, Alex Takahashi. And then Amy Warren. >> Hi, thank you. Good evening to the board. My name is Alex Takahashi and my wife and I live about a 5-minute walk from Morningside Elementary. Um, I'm asking you to please choose to suspend the study indefinitely and keep Morning Side open. I think
169my wife and I are a little bit unique here because we actually don't have any kids going to the school. Uh, but my wife is currently pregnant, 25 weeks pregnant, and so we hope to keep Morning Side open uh for the future of our neighborhood. Um, like I said, my wife and I recently moved in the neighborhood. She's 25 weeks pregnant. And one of the uh biggest reasons why we chose this neighborhood was so our kids could attend the school in the future uh that is so close to our home. Some of our closest friends uh actually moved right around the corner as well. Another young couple trying to start a family and in hopes of uh sending their kids to Morningside as well. Uh having this school in our neighborhood promotes a sense of
170community uh among both the parents of the school and the kids that attend the school. And although we don't have any kids in uh in attendance yet, I imagine our kids will have an easier time making friends in the neighborhood, if they uh both attend the same school that's nearby. And for us, getting to know our neighbors and building a sense of community is becoming more and more important, especially considering uh the technology is making us more isolated in our homes. Uh this is more than just a school to us. It's part of a foundation we envision for raising our children and building that sense of community with our neighbors. Uh, I also want to highlight what many of us are seeing firsthand is that our neighborhood is changing. Longtime residents are aging and more
171and more young families are moving in. Uh, just like our friends and and us did. Uh, the demand for local walkable elementary school is not only going to shrink, it's it's not going to shrink, it's going to grow. Closing the school now appears to be based on insufficient data and not and not on obvious trajectory of the future. I respectfully ask you to keep Morningside Elementary open and choose option three to support young the young families and promote the community building in our neighborhood. Thank you for your time. Thank you. We have Amy as our final final guest. My name is Amy Warren and I will be completely the odd man out as I am a parent of a Neil Armstrong Academy student. I would like to kind of just speak on behalf of the
172west side um who didn't have an opportunity to be here tonight. Uh well, they did have an opportunity. All of you have always had an opportunity to be here. I am so excited to hear that I won't be alone in the audience with just a couple of friends anymore. I'm so excited for the momentum to continue forward in engagement throughout districts even when it does throughout the district even when it does not directly impact your student. And I'm really excited to get lots of engagement. Join your PTAs. Keep coming. I'm excited to see you here. Let's keep engaging and let's keep listening and let's all recognize I appreciate as I have watched this process. This is the third time that I've sat through these meetings watching this process. Last year it affected my schools in
173my surrounding area and I have appreciated deeply the immense work that it put is put in by our PAC committee. I have seen them work hard into the night. I've seen them listen to the people yelling at them saying, "You're not listening to me." And I see I've sat in a conversation with Steve Hogan for multiple for multiple significant amount of time after saying, "Hey, this is what my communicating community is here is is expressing to me and they are feeling unheard as the west side has felt unheard for multiple years now. when it came to reconfiguration, when it came to the boundary study, all I could all I heard from my community was, "Well, it's already decided they don't care what we have to say." And I told them, "Yes, they do. They care.
174Reach out. Reach out. Reach out. They don't have the time." So, I am so grateful for these sites parents that have the access to reach out to the media and to get the media involved and to get start their own advocacy groups where there's already advocacy groups in place. It's called PTA. please join your PTA. Um, and where the I I was asked multiple times at the beginning of the study, where was the west side when this was happening on the west side? And the west side was trying to put food on their table. So, please continue to listen to our constituents and keep doing what you're doing. You guys, I know you guys are listening and keep doing what you're doing and making the decisions that are right for the entire district and not
175just one one group. >> Thank you, AMY. ALL RIGHT, that concludes our as far as I know, right Luke? That concludes our um public hearing. Um this then takes us to our action item. We have some options before us. >> Um what I was just going to make the motion, but we have some Okay. Um All right. So, I want to move to suspend the study indefinitely and put that actually as a final action. I will second that motion. Okay, we have a motion. and a second to suspend the study indefinitely and that is a final action. We do not need two motions on it as it is not a closure of a school. Um we will go ahead and take board comments this time. >> I wasn't sure what a final action. >> Wait,
176yes, we had to clarify because if we needed two readings, we have this scheduled also in December. >> Um so this means that it would not December would not be a vote on this if we did this, right? >> If we suspend it. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, I prepared some thoughts. Um, so I just want to share them. In the last 20 years, much has changed in education in Utah, and we feel those changes in Granite and particularly in Holiday City and Mil Creek City. We've had a decline in the birth rate of nearly 36% since 2008. We've had an increase in competition from charter, private, homeschool, and Utah fits all. None of which are required to play by the same rules as public education, which puts us and particularly marginalized kids at a disadvantage. We've
177got a lack of affordable housing, particularly in our neighborhoods, which means less elementary age families can afford to live next door. We are especially feeling these imp the impacts of this evolution in our Mil Creek and Holiday Schools. Last year, we lost a combined 15 teachers among the 10 schools in this study. We are seeing erratic class size and split class sizes uh split classes. Last week, I spoke to a group of students from Skyline who went to some of these schools and now volunteer in these classes. They told me powerfully, "No one should be okay with this. Our teachers have more work, which means our kids get less individual attention. Our schools with less than 400 kids are losing kids three times faster than other schools in our area." Think about it. If your
178kid is in a class of 38, you might consider changing schools, too. As schools lose students, they lose teachers and programs, which in turn makes more students choose to leave. And quickly, the school is in a spiral of decline. This is what we're working to prevent. I recognize the work done by our entire community to respond to this evolution. Thank you to everyone for the work you've put into making sure education in our neighborhoods evolve in an effective and positive direction. This study has been an outlier because midstudy I believe we began to see a shift in our beliefs about best practices. With ALC, we need to study whether we want to expand or contract the program. With DLI, we need to study whether it's most effective as a standalone program or in a traditional
179school. And we need to determine how is best to set up our neighborhood schools to thrive amidst declining and open enrollment, especially in Holiday and Mil Creek where almost 40% of our kids in our schools do not live in the boundary. I support the PAC's recommendation, but because of this evolving philosophy, I don't think they could make it comprehensive enough. and under their recommendations. Some of our great schools are still vulnerable to the spiral of low enrollment. Because of this, I support an extended study of all area 5 in which we hire an independent agency to come in and give the board a recommendation on how we can set up our entire area, maybe even our entire district for long-term success. I want to be clear about my expectations of this study. I expect a
180thorough community engagement plan, but one that is completely different from what we've done in this study. I do not want 4-hour meetings with people at the microphone. My community is tired and we are going to spend and if we are going to spend our time continuing to engage on this, we want our time effectively and efficiently spent. I expect a full report with data to back up recommendations. I expect board and district leaders to be completely distant from the process of getting a recommendation except to provide data. I expect the board and district to flesh out our vision for ALC, DLI and traditional schools so that vision can be so that vision can be included in the recommendation. I also expect that we will provide information about effectiveness and lessons learned from past boundary studies
181and school closures. I'd love to hear feedback from community members of things we should expect from this study that I have not yet considered as well. I understand that some of my community may be breathing a sigh of relief right now. Others are open-mouthed, frustrated that we have to go through this another year. Regardless of how you're feeling right now, I want to be sure we are all on the same page. This recommendation comes with risk. I have no idea what the independent study will recommend. Wouldn't it be great if they could find a way to set us up for success with no closures? I wouldn't count on it, though. They could recommend two, three, four school closures. This expansion is a deci is not a decision not to close schools. It is a recognition
182that we need more time to get it right. Our neighborhood is full of incredible kids. I want to give them all we've got to help them develop their talents and reach their potential. I think they are worth another year and an independent study. >> Kim, did you have any thoughts on this? Yeah, I'll keep my comments brief. Um, and I've said a couple of times throughout the study that I was uncertain about the closure recommendations this time around because the schools involved seem to be succeeding despite their small size. And this, as was very well described by Superintendent Horsley, this stands in stark contrast to previous studies. And last year as an example and one of the schools that we closed in particular was definitely struggling have been struggling for a while. It's completely different
183scenario. Um Morningside and Eastwood however are both succeeding schools. This year it felt a little bit like we're trying to fix something that's not broken yet because of a belief that breakage is inevitable and imminent. But I strongly believe in in the phrase you can't argue with success. And so that's where I'm going to land today. Thanks honey. It's been interesting. I have enjoyed going to the meetings. Um I enjoy the involvement. Uh, it makes I don't enjoy the fact that if we put it off, um, hopefully schools can grow. um and and a a study down the road will uh show that. But for right now, um I think it's important that we put it off for a while. Thank you. Um I think I think through this whole study I've learned a lot
184about our district that I did not understand and I'm understanding more about highly functioning schools even not fitting in the parameters that we've we've kind of made that we think this is what a high functioning school should look like. Um but the facts are we are an aging district. We are declining enrollment. These are these these issues are not going to go away. But I don't think the timing is right. I think this is the wrong time to be closing schools without having that study that's in depth and gives a full picture of what we need for area 5. I don't think we have the full picture. I think we solve one problem and it makes another and another and another. I don't think it's this is the right timing. Um I I would hope
185we could do a study when our budget will allow that. hopefully not too far down the road, but this is not the right time for a closure. Um, I appreciate the pack and their efforts. It's it's so hard to decide what to do for schools that is right by kids. And right now, we feel like there our kids are getting a quality education, even maybe not a permanent solution, but they're still succeeding. Um, I hope we can come to a consensus. Um, but I will support moving to suspend the study. I have a few comments. A couple of problems I've had throughout this whole study is, and I'm going to talk Morningside and Eastwood as two separate things because that's how I've kept them straight in my in my mind over the last several months
186is on the Eastwood thing. And I've often said this study is difficult because we're trying to solve a problem they don't care about and the problem they care about is we always say we want bigger schools. Um but you guys are doing just fine as a small school. And so seeing that and trying to reconcile that in my mind um has landed me today where I will be voting to suspend the study. So that's kind of my Eastwood piece. um on the morning side, the more I looked at it and I just felt like it had its tentacles on so many moving parts and move 100 kids there to move 100 kids over there and it was so nuanced um that I couldn't come to the conclusion that it just didn't make it just came
187to where it didn't make sense to me. And so th that's where I landed on each of those studies. And so the conversations we've had and Ben was the deliverer of the good news of this, but I want to make sure people understand that came from the board. >> That was the recommendation giving direction to our superintendent that we wanted other options. And this is one of the options we wanted. And so I want to make sure that you guys KNOW that that came from the board. Um I I do believe we need a comprehensive plan. I also know right now the year this is not the year where financially we can support what is truly needed. And so while I think that we do need that in the future, I don't want to extend
188the study in any way. Um we can't hire the consultant right now. There's not funding to do so. and when we choose to do so, I want it done the right way um without any fiscal kind of restraints. Um what I believe next year's study should look at is we've closed more than six schools in the last 10 years. I heard the number six, but it's been more than that. But um we have yet to stop to catch our breath, look at the enrollment data, follow the population analysis of where those kids are going once we close a school. We need to go back and look at Mil Creek. We need to look at Karns, Western Hills, Ochre Hills. We need to look at other areas that we've done. We just consolidated a DLI program
189in West Valley, my area. And so what's happened to those schools that where are those populations? So my recommendation for anything next year is to not do any boundary or consolid consolidation piece but to look and just have a total gather data gathering mission next year to look at those numbers see where we are find out how many kids we've retained if we haven't retain them where did they go and how do we get them back so that's where I stand. I will I will do my best not to repeat comments that have already been been made by other board members. I have long been an advocate for more comprehensive studies, not less comprehensive studies. I don't think we have done ourselves or our district any favors by siloing the district whether that's in one
190area or five areas or across bordering areas between area 4 and area 5 or area 1 and area 2. So I I continue um firm in my belief that uh greater um reach of studies particularly boundary studies and closure studies is um critical to the long-term success of all of our schools. Um, as part of that, I believe that capital budgeting and facility planning and strategic investments has to be part of that comprehensive process. I don't think it has been uh a sufficient component or components uh of this particular study. Um, and for that reason, I also support to suspend this the study. I I do want to address that a little bit. I I appreciate the superintendent's comments and I think we face uh a critical reality of the budgetary strains that uh exist
191in public education in our state. They've already been articulated um quite eloquently. But I also want to make sure that the public um appreciates that we have other patrons that come to these board meetings at times and they are very different from the folks that are here this evening. Uh these are folks that do not have children any longer but also believe in public education and believe in supporting it but they live on fixed incomes and they are faced with challenges in supporting our public school system as funding is diminished from state levels and the direction from the legislature that comes to an entity such as ours is to increase property taxes to make up differences. Um, so I feel a tremendous amount of fiscal responsibility at the same time as an academic responsibility to
192children. We do have a a an issue that is very real to our district and it's not unique to area 5 necessarily and I appreciate especially some of the comments this evening that recognize that we have a challenge with declining enrollment. There are a myriad of of reasons and causes for that that have been um presented and explained, but it's a real problem and I feel a real um a real tension, a real conflict, if you will, as to how to reconcile between those responsibilities that we have as as a district, as an entity that has a responsibility both to the academic success of each and every one of our students as well is the fiscal responsibility that we owe to each and every taxpayer. So, while I will support uh and agree quite frankly
193with suspending the study and doing so indefinitely how we're describing that this evening, uh I don't think that we can shove this issue under the rug for an extended period of time. It is a real issue. We can do better at finding the right solution and I have confidence that we can and will in fact do that. Thank you. >> So, President, I wanted to say more too, but I can wait for you. >> No, go ahead. I I just wanted to add to Clark's comments because I um and and also give you credit, Clark, because um Clark's the first one to say, well, if we're going to do a an independent study, maybe we want to look at our entire district and and I really feel strongly about that. I think that is a
194really important idea and that we need to look at that not just and include the capital budget and the strategic plan where that's concerned but also take a look at how do we compete in this new industry in this new market of education that is competitive and um I think that uh board clos I mean um school closures or boundary changes where programs are located um are there programs we aren't providing that we ought to um are there innovative things that we haven't thought of that we could do in order to compete and make sure that our kids um have the highest quality education that we could possibly give them. I think that that's a huge part of it. Um and I agree with you, Clark, that the word indefinitely makes me very nervous. Well,
195I I shouldn't put words in your mouth. You didn't say that. I should say that for myself. makes me very nervous in this area. While I I do want an independent group to come in here and I want to do it right and I want to make sure that we um you know have the funds to pay for it and I do want it to be a district-wide situation. I mean I three of my schools are under 300 students right now. So it there is an urgency. It this isn't um madeup problem. um our kids are feeling it. And um again, I was I was really struck by my Skyline students and the way that they portrayed what was um the the problems that they were seeing that were effects of a small school. And
196so I think it's very important that we understand that we are keeping these schools in a vulnerable situation and that we recognize that we cannot hold on to this forever. We can't allow this to happen forever because what we risk is that one or two of those schools does if it's not already in that spiral of decline that I described earlier. Um you know that's what we're risking. So I I just think it's very important that we recognize that word indefinitely is not I I mean there's an urgency to that word, you know. Um so I I I just want that to be on your minds because I want to advocate for those kids who are in split classes or classrooms of 38 who live in my neighborhoods, right? Um, I think it's very important
197not to just leave them hanging out to dry with the class of 38 for their entire elementary career. >> Thanks, Julie. Um, for my part, I wanted to share I um again I said that we have all had hundreds of emails probably and had many many conversations and some of those conversations have been very productive. Some of them have not been very productive. Um, but I appreciate those who reached out in good faith and had productive conversations. Um, one particular one that I emailed this weekend um, got back to me this weekend uh, yesterday and and I really appreciated this little paragraph. Just wanted to to share it. Um, they said the only true data informed decision available at this time to reach the PAC stated goal would be to close three schools. I deeply
198appreciate the district's willingness to take such to not take such a drastic step in the spirit of preserving community well-being that restraint reflects care for families and neighborhoods. And I want you to understand that that that was the re the the original purpose of the pack's recommendation because I think we are we're going to if we do this and I I I agree that we need to have a more in-depth study. Um but I think we need to also face the reality that this could very possibly close three or more schools in the future. Um but I also support that we have a very complex situation here that we have um a very a very different um animal if you will than uh some of our other studies and I think we do need to
199have a more in-depth look at this because of the unique situations. I want to make this clear. I do support the pack. Um they have done other studies in other areas and I don't want the people that are there in that area to think that we um are are trying to give more preferential treatment. But this this treatment this this area has unique situation that we've never experienced before. As Superintendent Horsley pointed out, um we value our schools and we value the high performing schools that we have. Um we know though from experience and I shared this with some teachers as well that high performing is only one aspect of creating successful learning environment. We value choice within a school, strong professional learning communities and environments that foster growth, innovation and support for all students.
200And that is ultimately our goal. My plea to you here that are here tonight, we are here to work with you. Please help us help you. This district cannot subsidize small schools. We have the if the amount of time and energy that was put into you saving your schools was put into building up your community schools, we wouldn't be in this situation. So, please help us. We want to do what it is what we needs what needs to happen to get those kids back. As Julie said, we are willing to be innovative. We're willing to look at things. We're willing to do this. Um, but we need your help. I was able to meet with some parents from Driggs and I appreciated their perspective, but I asked them the same thing. What is it that
201we need to do? Because we were in this situation because of that. Help us. Help us use this energy and keep it going. Um, we would like to work with you. We want to work together. And I would encourage you to start working together as a community as a whole and stop fighting against each other. Um we would invite you to come also as Clark mentioned to our truth and taxation meeting in August uh where when we have to talk to our patrons and other patrons which included several Mil Creek patrons this year who asked us about why we were raising taxes. Please help us help them understand. Um we value education. We value our public schools and we value your children and we want to be able to support them. So please come and
202help us. Um with that I do support also to suspend the study indefinitely with the understanding that this is not we're not going to come back and not touch this area. This area does need to be looked at. We need to address some of these situations. But help us do that in the right way. We have I also just want to make sure one of the lessons learned from this study is that what happens in other schools impacts what happens in your own school and um you know I I've heard you talk about and I've seen it at the podium here uh schools being pitted up against each other things said that are hurtful or um you know communities again put it pitted up against each other and I hope that there will be healing
203and mending and forgiving and forgetting and a decision to come together and collaborate and support each other um because we all impact each other and um I it's really important if we want to succeed we're going to succeed because we work together. So, um, I hope I hope that we can make an effort in that direction. >> Board President, could I make a comment or >> Yeah, go ahead. >> I just wanted to echo some of the comments that were made and I appreciate the the board um, and the direction. I I think one thing that's been frustrating to me throughout this process is people indicating that minds have already been made up or uh, that decisions already been made. And I have worked collaboratively with with this group of of elected officials over this
204past 10 11 months on this process. And I knew intimately how difficult that was to hear those kind of comments knowing the questions you were posing to me and towards PAC um and to make sure that we were being diligent in our process and following our pro our policy and and state law. Um while ultimately um I I'm concerned I can still I I just want to make sure I echo what has been what's said here. While there's some sigh of relief here, I'm still concerned about these classes that have just a few students in them or way too many kids in them despite being allocated the same amount of resources as every other school in that area and throughout Granite School District. So, if I could make a plea, I will be out and
205invite myself to some of these school community councils to further that conversation. And uh I hope they'll allow me to come and and to have an open and honest conversation. We could expend a tremendous amount of resources that we don't have. But the number one factor in bringing some of these families and these students back to these schools is simply word of mouth. It is the number one feature and factor of of school marketing. There's plenty of research to indicate. Simply just ask your neighbor why they're not coming to the number one gold stem certified uh ALC uh traditional program. It is word of mouth. Please talk to your neighbors. Help them understand what they're missing out. These are some of the top performing schools in the state and the nation. This is the number
206one performing network in the entire state. And there there's no reason why you would get a better education at a private school. And frankly, with the loss of 30,000 students over the last 20 years, there's not that many kids that attend charter schools in our in our district right now. There is declining birth rates. So, we do need to do everything we can to ensure those who reside in our communities take advantage of the incredible educational opportunities that our administrators and our teachers are working hard to provide each and every day. I I just wanted to make sure to I mean I'm going to throw a shot of some reality in there too and that is that you know you you've said it before superintendent you don't just like make kids out of thin air
207and uh when you get your neighbor to come back to your school which I think you should um you also maybe pull them from another of our schools right um a lot of our kids who boundary out of uh out of your boundary, they go to our other schools. And so remember, if we're looking at this as an entire area 5 problem or I should say challenge situation, um there's also this kind of thing of like I I just I want to be real and make sure expectations are set that we aren't just going to be able to bring in a thousand kids. Um there are still uh >> outstanding challenges. So I I I I I'm really concerned about my community having expectations that aren't realistic, you know. Um so I uh yeah, just
208want to say that out there. >> I I think that's an important point. I I we cannot lose sight of the reality of the situation that we are in as whatever you want to define it as a community, as a school district, as a state, as a valley, as a county. There are many ways to describe it. Um, and you're right, Julie. We have, I think, two charter schools that uh are near enough to area five schools that that students and families could attend those charter schools. That's not going to bring back a thousand students, even combined if they both were shuttered tomorrow, right? So, I I really am sincere when I say that I I appreciate especially the comments that acknowledge the challenge that we are in. It is a really difficult situation and
209as a parent of five children myself and having closed my um neighborhood school of my own where all five of my children attended school just a few years ago. I empathize with this situation and I empathize with the comments that that we received so many of which which are we understand that there's some challenges here. But please not my school. I empathize with that greatly. But there is also a a quote out there that talks about how a nation is formed on those that come together for the greater common good. And that is ultimately what we have to get to as a board. We have to direct the process to get to the greatest common good. And that is still has a reality to it that will be painful at some point for certain schools,
210for certain neighborhoods. That I don't see going away uh in in the near future. The demographers tell us that it's not going away anytime soon. So we cannot lose sight of that reality. All >> right. Um, if there's no further comments, we have a motion on the table to suspend the study indefinitely. All in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? Right. Motion carries. We appreciate our communities being here. Thank you. We hope you understand that your voices have been heard and we will strive to continue to work with you as we try to solve this. Thank you. >> President, might I recommend a saunter for a minute? >> We're uh we're going to have a saunter for a moment. Your comment. We'll be back. on our agenda. So, we'd invite you to go out
211to the the foyer. >> I take back all the bad things I said about Ben Horley. >> Oh my gosh, that was my husband. And I was like, >> so he takes back all the things that he said about Thanks guys for your great job. By the way, these two I have seven, four out of district and we chose Eastwood for two reasons. After living first big deal, >> but stop uh they both approached their parents and said, >> "I want to speak and they both wrote out their comments." The parents had no input other than spell, >> which we didn't even notice the spelling errors. >> Good job. Good job. Thank you. >> All right, we still have one other item. Two more items. >> Look, I took everything else off the agenda, but
212we have to do this. >> Give a shout out to these wonderful people. >> Thank you. The rest of you who stayed, we appreciate you. >> Go PTA and GA and Gada. >> G A U P. I don't remember which shirt. J O G. >> Thank you. >> Doug's ready to go. Let's go. >> All right, Doug, you're up. >> All right. Uh board members, we just have one policy tonight, which is a second reading. We are uh reading uh VC1 which is our prohibition against discrimination. We read this policy on our first reading last month um law and policy met about it again and um the one thing I told you last month with is that this is an area of law that that continues to develop. Um Kim brought up in law and
213policy um a slight discrepancy in the language that needed to at least have a uh a caveat or or a disclaimer. And so if you'll notice in um paragraph 3 and four of the um definitions, we've added a parenthetical there that just says that the protected classes um against whom a claim of discrimin uh or for whom a claim of discrimination can be made. Um we would do that consistently with with title 9 and title uh title 7. The reason for that is that there are circumstances where um protected classes would be protected under one of those um uh civil rights laws and not necessarily under the other. And so we put that disclaimer in there. And with that um I recommend that policy to you and we'll answer any questions that you might have.
214>> Do we have any questions? >> If there are no questions, I'll entertain a motion. This is a second reading. >> I move that we approve article um 5C1 prohibition of discrimination and harassment as a second and final reading. >> I'll second. We have a motion and a second on the table to approve article 5C1 prohibition of discrimination as a sec and harassment. Sorry, I needed to make sure I got the all title. uh uh for a second and final reading. Is there any comments? Right. No comments. Everybody Everyone in favor, please say I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Thank you for being short tonight. >> Going to turn the time over to Superintendent Horsely for >> Haven't seen Doug move that fast in a long time. I'm going to go quick. Olympus
215High state uh soccer championship game with the girls. They did incredibly royal. Love the team. Very proud even though they didn't win. Uh they represented the district very well and their fans are incredible. Halloween was possibly the best day I've ever had as a superintendent. I drove over 150 miles and I visited 10 different locations. The best slash worst part was the pie in my face at Hunter High that I thought it was whipped cream, but it was actually shaving cream aqua sport flavor. Over 2,000 visits to schools in the first quarter by district administrators. 2,000 visits to schools in the first quarter. So, we're going to work with our our school level admins to hone those visits and make sure that they're as effective as they possibly can be and that we're actually working
216to enhance outcomes while we're there and not just popping in and saying hello. So, most of those visits were in classrooms and providing some form of assistance and we just want to make sure that it is uh equally effective. Mitch uh sorry, Dr. Dr. Nerd and I went out and we visited um three locations of small group interventions and special educ education classes. This was at Upland Terrace, Granger Elementary and Truman Elementary. We had a remarkable time and we got to hang out with some of our most vulnerable kids and the the parents and the teachers. Um I would encourage everybody to go out and have that experience. um it will just change your perspective and just a huge shout out to those incredible teachers and those parents and those wonderful students and so very
217grateful to have the privilege and honor of serving those kids. Uh the Day of the Dead celebration at Dos Mundos Academy was incredibly successful. I don't think I've seen such a huge turnout for um a family activity and they were doing a bunch of learning um activities as well. It was just an incredible event and just props to them for their marketing and efforts to engage that community. As already mentioned by two of our board members, uh, Julie and Clark, we had the privilege of going to the Pinocchio production at Crust View where we got to recognize two outstanding PTA volunteers, um, who've been part of that play production since 2017 and uh, give them some flowers and thank them for their help and support of of Crest View and that in incredible production, what
218it's become. Uh, two last quick items. Olympus town hall meeting I thought was incredibly successful. I was grateful for the board members who were able to attend but some some good discussions we were able to have and remarkably only one one question or comment from our good friend down here which was a legitimate question and it was not that they weren't legitimate but I appreciate her being that was the only question we had on the pack study the whole night and I'm sure we could have talked about swimming for another two hours. So I just wanted to thank you again for coming and asking that question. Last but not least, I want to recognize um our incredible BA and his team. Um they received I'm going to make sure >> the public we should just
219say business administrator. >> Yes, sorry. Our business administrator and his team they received most recently the Association of School Business Officials International Meerritorious Budget Award. I didn't know I know this was a thing but I don't know what like it doesn't have a catchy name like a Grammy. So we should come up with something. Mitch, would you put that into AI and tell us what it tells us to call this? This was for excellence. >> Figure it out on my own. Thank you. >> All right. This is for excellence in the preparation and issuance of its budget and our I'm assuming this applies to our budgetary documents as well for fiscal year 2025 and 2026. Does this come with some sort of statueette or just a pat on the back? >> Oh, yeah. Because this
220is something we actually get on a regular basis. So, huge shout out to to Todd and and Brian and uh thanks for their ongoing work to keep us fiscally prudent and financially and transparent and responsible. Thank you, >> clerk. We're clapping for just clap >> we'll clap for you later. It's okay. Notwithstanding that there are likely very few that are still listening. Um even those even those in the audience perhaps um I just I just want to express uh some some gratitude for our executive leadership team, for our superintendent, um for our business administrator who are always uh at our beck and call uh as board members uh on any and every issue. And I sometimes hesitate to text them late at night and they're I'm sure in their minds thinking, "Oh, you do?" Um,
221>> it's because we text him back. But >> right. Um, but thank you so much um for your willingness to engage with us, for your accessibility, for the many um deep and detailed conversations that we've had, especially over the past eight or nine months or so. Um, your uh work ethic and your commitment is duly noted by this board. >> Thanks, Karen. I don't have a report from the benefits committee because they moved it and I didn't remember until I had moved everything away from that schedule that day and I was kind of sad but whatever. Um, so they postpone it to December. So I'll have an update on uh next month for that. But on the Todd piece, I just want to also give the our taxpayer dollars are so precious. And so every
222dollar we get in, we want to make sure that it's spent it. We're always in compliance and that we take good care and are good stewards of that taxpayer dollar. And Todd and his team really help us accomplish that as a board. The the fiscal responsibility, that's one of our biggest jobs is to oversee a near billion dollar budget. And so when you break down those taxpayer dollars and we know we're in good hands with Todd at the helm and we've got and he has a really stellar team as well. So just wanted to I didn't know he was getting the awards so that's really cool but welld deserved and Todd thank please pass along my thanks to your entire team. >> Chris I don't have any board report. Um I just want to express
223my appreciation. I'll ditto um some of the sentiments that have already been said, but we I think we would be lost without our our superintendent, our business administrator, and our executive team. We have we have the best in the state. No, no doubt about it. Um I think we would we appreciate them enough and they do take our late night calls and so I appreciate that immensely. Um I also want to express my appreciation for our board. Um, I I want to thank Karen for te she goes to almost every Thank You Thursday and I appreciate that because I can't always attend and I just I just think that is just a really neat thing you do. So, thank you Karen. And um Clark has called me four times in the last 24 hours and
224it's because we have to we have to come to consensus sometime and I think sometimes he's so eloquent to talk out exactly what I'm thinking. And so I want to appreciate I appreciate him. I appreciate Julie. Her heart her heart is in her community and I see it every day. So, thank you, Julie. And Kim, I love your perspective. We We don't always agree on everything, but I I can appreciate what you how you what you bring to the table is so different, and I love it. So, thank you. And Connie, man, she she started the GTI, you guys. Come on. Like, how cool is that? When she got up to go get that award, I was like, "Oh my gosh, Connie was there." Like that's amazing to me. And we get to we get
225the value of that. We get her knowledge and her longevity on the board which is valuable to us. So valuable. So thank you Connie. And then there's Nicole who is the right. She is she is our leader and she does so so much. You guys have no idea. So thank you Nicole. That's all. >> Um okay. So, USBA, we have the master board certification that if you want it, it's the deadline is December 1st, um probably November 30th. And so, um that training is online. And then in January we start now there's interims meetings going on in the legislature. Um tomorrow the education interim is at 8:30 uh in the Senate building 8:30 a.m. if anyone wants to go. And then we have our um USBA conference in uh January 8th, 9th and 10th uh
226will be and Day on the Hill will be January 30th and then they're going to have a public school, you know, meeting earlier in January, but I don't have that date. So, maybe next time when we meet in a couple of weeks, I can find that date. Um, and that's all that I have. >> You said January 20th is the day on the hill. >> 30th is day >> like Tuesday. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Kim, do you have anything? >> That's all. >> Okay. Yeah, we did meet uh the Salt Lake County Parks and Rec Advisory Committee subcommittee on the my county rec piles this last month. Um just discussing various ideas for that program. Not a whole lot new to report on other than just I guess the biggest thing to come out
227of that was trying to create better partnerships between the county and the school districts to help um promote events and activities better. Um I shared Luke's info with them. I don't know if they've reached out yet, but that's kind of their plan at this point to to try to coordinate. Um, and that well just let you know now they don't have any other meetings the remainder of the year. So I will not have another update until 2026. Thanks. Julie, >> we had a district community council meeting. I really can't remember what we talked about. Mitch >> and Doug, I remember both of you guys said stuff. >> PBL PBL >> PBL and what else? or two things >> which policy discrimination >> the harassment. >> So there look I'm on a onetrack mind right now.
228It's going to be a week before anything study. >> We're with you. We're supportive. We're here for you. >> Um and uh so we did that and then uh we also uh I just want to there are a couple of you still need to turn in your superintendent evaluation. Encourage you to do that. I got yours. >> Okay. >> Um, a couple of people just haven't. And then, um, I just wanted to second. So, I went in and did my, uh, USBA certification stuff and was surprised that it took me only an hour to get my whole thing. And it's because, you know what, we're freaking awesome board. Like, it's like do all of these things. And I was like, oh, done, done, done, done. And every single one of you I already know has
229done all of those things. So, it's checklist. That's all you got to do. And then there are three videos that you have to watch. They're about 15 minutes each. So, >> can you watch them on double speed? >> Uh, well, okay, that's on 1.5 speed, the 15 minutes. And then you have to like take a quiz um at the end. So, anyway, it took me 1 hour to get the whole certification. So, go team. That's all. >> How are you doing on your vector training? >> I I don't know. When when they said that, I was like, I don't even know if I did mine or not. >> Just a reminder that you all need to do that. >> Check on that. >> Um, okay. For mine, just so you all are aware, we had
230a calendar committee meeting um, and we came up with two very different calendars for us to be able to we put this I put I took everything off the agenda for today that I possibly could. And so, we will be seeing that in December. We will be looking at those two calendars and then um voting on if we're going to share those if those are the ones that we're going to send out just to vote on. Um so be looking for those. We hopefully we have some get some good feedback from that and they'll also share with you the at that time the um the results of the the original survey um law and policy. We met yesterday. Um we obviously we we did our second reading today. Um we did also talk about doing
231we're going to put we put off the vehicle use standards just because we had some questions with with Todd. Um but I believe we're going to bring that as a first reading or a second reading next meeting in December. Um and hopefully we'll be able to resolve that in the future. The other part the other section of it. Uh we did talk with um Dr. Bryce Day about the special ed policy updates. We do have some obligations there to update them per law and put it it's kind of creating its own policy is what you say a separate policy. Um so please look for that look at that and and make sure you review that as it comes out. Um there are some some significant things mostly that are already included in the law that
232we have to include in there. Um the student code of conduct also um went along with that and that's an updated policy with with Dr. Day. And then we did bring up a discussion with the graduation standards and requirements. Um we have some interesting information that we need to discuss and probably uh have a a an understanding of how to move forward on. So um hopefully we'll be able to have that discussion with you all coming forward. Uh the last bit of this is a eight hour workday task force. I want to emphasize that it is a task force. It is not a committee. >> I feel like it's a line from Star Wars. I am not a committee. Um we're not a committee. We are a task force. And we want to emphasize that
233because it feels like a committee says that we have already made a decision. We have not for the Yes. I don't know who's still listening, but we want to emphasize that we have not Thank you for being here those are we have not made any sort of decision. And um we are we did send out a letter to make sure first of all we have an FAQ page. So if you have anybody who has any questions about this, please refer them to the FAQ page. They are also welcome to ask any questions and we update that. We look at that every single week that we meet so that we can update that. The second thing is we sent out a letter saying thank you for taking the survey. Those people who participated, we sent out
234the survey to the teachers and the admin um and ask them for their feedback. Um, we just sent out, I believe today or tomorrow, the invites to people who are going to come and be part of our focus groups. We're going to hold focus groups for three weeks in December. We have that um divided out. I am highly aware of the the potential problems of me being in the room. So, I have invited um our other people that are in that room to invite me out of the room if I need to leave. So, um I'll just I'm just going to be totally blunt about that. Um but we hope to get some really good feedback about around this 8 hour workforce. Um just just to re-emphasize the 8 hour day. Um we have just
235we we just are looking at the possibility. It's there's no decisions being made yet. We we need to know what this looks like. So um that is meeting uh we'll meet again on Monday. Hey, that one's not canceled. I have to remember which ones are canceled. We'll meet again on Monday and um look forward to continuing to update and and move forward. >> May I ask a question in that regard? Will that be the subject of a future study session or how will you go about updating the board at large in that regard? >> Um I would anticipate that we probably would want to bring it as a study session. um just to kind of as the results is a after we are able to talk about this the anticipation is that we we get
236the results before we go into negotiations in the spring. So I think it would be valuable for you as a board to understand what our what our updates are, what we what we glean from this >> and um I I agree at at a minimum. And then as we have those frequent during negotiations meetings, that give and take would be you'd be involved in that as well because we're going to be talking quite a bit about the 8 hour task force and some of those solutions or resolutions throughout negotiations. >> So, thank you. >> We're good. All right. Having met the end of our agenda,