NEWSROOM INFORMATION
For additional information, contact: Lorie Pearce, Executive Assistant to BOE/Supt at lpearce@pcschools.us
Board of Education UPDATE – September 23, 2021
by Erin Grady, BOE President
At the September 21, 2021, Board of Education regular business meeting, we met in person at 2700 Kearns Blvd at the Park City School District Offices. At this meeting, we recognized Andrew Hunt and Elizabeth LaBrin for their remarkable academic achievements and performance on the PSAT or AP tests, our 3 National Merit Semi-Finalists – Katherine Beal, Jude Trajan, and Ian Morris, and recognized that three of our school nurses – Kristen Brotherson, Sandy Jodey, and Anne Alexander, who have received National Board Certification. Each month, the Accolades PowerPoint includes staff and student celebrations which our community can celebrate.
We are appreciative of our district partnership with the Park City Education Association, Park City Educational Support Professionals and Employee Interest Groups. At this meeting, Mr. Jobe shared updates and information on the start of the school year covid mitigations as well as our work on how to best address adult staff absences related to COVID.
Mr. Mike Tanner and Dr. Amy Hunt provided updates and information on both the Operations and Academic areas of the Park City School District. Mr. Tanner discussed some additional security measures as well as updates from food services, transportation, Human Resources, master planning, and security. Dr. Hunt recognized our exceptional preschool educational team for their service to our youngest learners and described the new Friday enrichment program.
The Board heard a Master Facilities Plan Update from Mr. Scott Later from MHTN and Mr. Todd Hauber on the MFP, as we are finalizing contracts with design-build teams of architects and construction managers who will work efficiently and effectively to bring this phase of the master facilities and education plan to fruition.
The Board of Education held its first of two public hearings on the implementation of the Master Facility Plan. While we did not have patrons register to speak either for or against the Bond Proposition Tuesday evening, we did have patrons arrive after the Board of Education closed its public hearing at 6:10 P.M. Knowing the importance of public input into this important community decision, Mr. Hauber repeated the presentation on the Bond Proposition. The two patrons who were present elected to join two BOE members in a roundtable discussion as they indicated they did not have public comment, but instead had clarification questions about the Bond Proposition related to financing.
In addition, the BOE has announced a scheduled informal Community Forum on Thursday, October 7 at 6:00 – 6:45 P.M. at the Ecker Hill Middle School Auditorium Commons. At this additional informational meeting, 2 BOE members and district administrators will be present to share information on the Bond Proposition and then hear from the public any questions, feedback or insights related to the Master Facility Plan projects as proposed. The sessions will be audio-recorded to the Board of Education webpage.
The BOE will hold its Public Hearing #2 as scheduled on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. The Public Hearing will be held at 2700 Kearns Blvd in the BOE Meeting Room on the Main Floor of the Park City School District building.
The Bond election and community decision authorizes financing of the addition of high school classroom spaces to support a 9th-12th grade comprehensive high school experience, and updates to two of the elementary schools in order to support early learning through a General Obligation Bond. The Ecker Hill Middle School addition and the two other elementary projects would be funded through capital reserves, existing capital levy, capital campaign donations and alternative financing options. The goal of the Bond Proposition and financing option is to ensure the best financing rates for our community in the implementation of the master plan.
Please be advised that an updated Public Health Order will begin effective on Monday, September 27, 2021 that continues to monitor school case thresholds of COVID. Should a school site hit 2% positive cases, then a 14-day mask mandate will follow. Currently, none of the Park City schools have hit a 2% threshold. The Summit County Health Department has shared a press release on this topic should you need additional information. https://summitcountyhealth.org/public-announcements/public-health-order-junior-high-and-middle-schools/
We enjoyed a great Homecoming week and Homecoming football game on Friday night and a well attended dance at the Film Studios on Saturday night. #GoMiners