NEWS RELEASE 

For additional information, contact:  Lorie Pearce, Executive Assistant to BOE/Supt at lpearce@pcschools.us 

June 15, 2021 

Board of Education Update – June 15, 2021

by Erin Grady, BOE President 

At the June 15, 2021 school board meeting, we met in person at 2700 Kearns Blvd in the Board Room.  At this meeting, we reviewed and adopted the 21/22 School Year Budget.  Highlights of this budget include: 0 tax increase while meeting the educational and operational needs of a highly successful school district.  Dr. Gildea and her team were able to apply current resources to meet the needs of the school district in a way that maintains the budget with under 2% growth.  

The budget will be submitted to the International Association of School Business Officials for an external review.  For the past two years, the PCSD Board of Education has earned the Meritorious Budget Award designation, and we are proud of our community’s commitment to supporting our excellent schools and the work of the budget development and audit teams.

In addition to a successful budget year, the school board also learned about next steps in the master facility plan process.  At this time, the school board will consider a variety of financing options to realize the key goals of grade realignment for secondary grades (EHMS and PCHS), improved learning space, and expanding the preschool program on site. As we consider the investment in our infrastructure, we are also keeping an eye toward green/clean energy and sustainability as well as focus on needed or necessary updates.  The last time PCSD had a large renovation project was 2008, so it is clear that it is time for our community to come together to support necessary improvements to the learning environment at each of our community’s schools.

The entire Board of Education wishes to recognize and acknowledge the incredible efforts of the entire educational, operational, administrative and support staff for keeping students central to each decision this year. Your incredible dedication and efforts are to be commended. 

At this meeting we updated a series of policies that were originally published in April including: Harassment & AntiDiscrimination, Code of Conduct, School Community Councils, Volunteers in Schools, Conduct on School Premises, and Visitor Access. Most have minor or non-substantive changes, but policies are typically reviewed every 5 years.  We also passed an Unmanned Aircraft policy which permits our trained educators to teach aerial photography with the use of a small drone device at the secondary levels. 

During the June meeting, we bid a fond farewell through a Retirement Recognition Resolution.  Our 19 retirees contributed 407 years to public education and are celebrated for their accomplishments.  

The Board of Education also wishes to recognize our 400 talented PCHS graduates and the Girls LaCrosse Team in their State Championship Win. 

#GoMiners!