Category: District Statements

New Business Administrator for Park City School District Named

J. Randall Upton was unanimously approved by the Park City School District Board of Education, during their regularly scheduled meeting on October 18, 2022, as the district’s new Business Administrator. Upton was sworn into office that evening and will officially begin his duties on October 31, 2022.

Mr. Upton is well credentialed and experienced for this position. He earned a Masters of Professional Accountancy from Weber State University and obtained an Institutional Certificate in Information Systems and Technology. In addition, Upton earned his undergraduate accounting degree and a minor in Japanese from the University of Utah. Randy is an experienced administrator in school finance. He is currently an Assistant Business Administrator and Director of Budgets for Alpine School District, Utah’s largest school district. Prior to assuming that role, Upton had served as the business administrator for Uintah School District for 15 years. He began his school finance career at the Utah State Office of Education.

In addition to being a successful professional, Mr. Upton enjoys spending time with his family.  He and his spouse have nine children and ten grandchildren, with number 11 joining their family this month. In their spare time, they enjoy camping, traveling, boating, and riding a UTV in the great outdoors. He is also a respected collegiate baseball umpire and fill-in at the professional level.

Randy expressed excitement and optimism as he accepted this appointment from the Board of Education. 

La Junta Escolar de Park City anuncia un nuevo administrador comercial

J. Randall Upton fue aprobado por unanimidad por el Distrito Escolar de Park City Junta de Educación, durante su reunión programada regularmente el 18 de octubre de 2022, como nuevo Administrador Comercial del distrito. Upton asumió el cargo esa noche y comenzará oficialmente sus funciones el 31 de octubre de 2022.

El Sr. Upton tiene buenas credenciales y experiencia para este puesto. Obtuvo una Maestría en Contabilidad Profesional de Weber State University y obtuvo un Certificado Institucional en Sistemas y Tecnología de la Información. Además, Upton obtuvo su licenciatura en contabilidad y una especialización en japonés de la Universidad de Utah. Randy es un administrador experimentado en finanzas escolares. Actualmente es administrador comercial adjunto y director de presupuestos del distrito escolar de Alpine, el distrito escolar más grande de Utah. Antes de asumir ese cargo, Upton se desempeñó como administrador comercial del Distrito Escolar de Uintah durante 15 años. Comenzó su carrera en finanzas escolares en la Oficina de Educación del Estado de Utah.

Además de ser un profesional exitoso, el Sr. Upton disfruta pasar tiempo con su familia. Él y su cónyuge tienen nueve hijos y diez nietos, y el número 11 se unirá a su familia este mes. En su tiempo libre, disfrutan de acampar, viajar, pasear en bote y andar en UTV al aire libre. También es un respetado árbitro de béisbol colegiado y suplente a nivel profesional.

Randy expresó entusiasmo y optimismo al aceptar este nombramiento de la Junta de Educación. 

PCSD Administrative Changes SY 22-23

NEWS RELEASE

For additional information:  lpearce@pcschools.us, Exec Admin Asst to BOE/Supt (435) 615-0225

PCSD Administrative Changes SY 22-23

PARK CITY, UT (June 22, 2022) – Jack Welch once stated, “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. Park City School District is pleased to announce three administrative changes that will allow these leaders to have success in growing colleagues and students. In an organization, one leadership shift can create a domino effect, as is the case that facilitated these changes.

Tracy Fike is joining Trailside Elementary, as she begins her 11th year within the Park City School District, as the next principal. She has served in various roles throughout the district from teacher to a school administrator, most recently as an assistant principal at Park City High School from 2019-2022. Prior to the high school, she served as an assistant principal at Ecker Hill Middle school and was interim principal at Parley’s Park Elementary in 2018. Mrs. Fike is a licensed elementary teacher who specialized in reading intervention while teaching at Ecker Hill and implemented the district’s first Makerspace at Parley’s Park while in the instructional technology coach role. Mrs. Fike holds two master’s degrees in instructional leadership and business administration along with a Bachelor of Arts. Her variety of experiences and roles within the Park City School District will bring a wealth of knowledge and relationships to the Trailside community. Mrs. Fike resides in Park City with her husband and two children and can often be found out on the trails with her dog or running her kids around to local activities. 

Robert Beverly Edmiston Jr., better known as Mr. Ed has over 30 years of experience as a public educator. He requested the opportunity to be an inaugural associate principal at Park City High School to fill the vacancy of Mrs. Fike. Mr. Ed earned his English Literature and Teaching degrees from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania, his adventurous path has provided a wide range of opportunities spanning from being a kindergarten teacher, to a high school teacher, to a high school assistant principal and an elementary principal. He is well known for his passionate leadership as the principal of McPolin Elementary School in Park City, Utah. When he is not at school giving high fives to students, while calling each one by their name, he can be found on a mountain attached to skis or a mountain bike. 

Mr. Ed’s drive towards impacting student success was recognized in 1999-2000 when he was honored as the Summit County Teacher of the Year. He has also led instructional leadership professional development around the state for other administrators, which led to a published article in the March 2010 issue of Special Educator magazine. The article, titled If you Expect it, Inspect it! Observations from Principal Walk-Throughs stresses his belief in the importance of instructional leaders being present. Not only does he believe in modeling actions of a strong leader in his school, his bigger mission is to advocate for high-quality public education for all families and students regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, or most importantly, income.

Angie Dufner recently completed her 24th year in education and is thrilled to be named the new principal for McPolin Elementary School.  She started her career teaching in Chicago for 11 years and then she and her husband moved their three children to Park City Utah. Ms. Dufner began teaching in our district at Parley’s Park Elementary as a Dual Immersion Teacher. After 8 years, she went to McPolin Elementary and spent four years as a Title 1 Teacher, Interventionist and MTSS Coordinator. She briefly left Park City School District last year to be the Assistant Principal and Interim Principal of a Title 1 elementary school in the Salt Lake City District. She is excited to be returning to Park City as the Principal of McPolin Elementary. As an educator, former McPolin team member and resident of Park City she is very invested in continuing to make our district the top in the state. In her downtime she loves to trail run, read, and spend time hiking with her dogs. 

Superintendent Gildea and the Board of Education are excited to welcome these three capable and experienced leaders in their new roles. We look forward to the many things they will accomplish and value their commitment to inspire and support all students equitably to achieve their academic and social potential

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COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

Para obtener información adicional:  lpearce@pcschools.us, Asistente administrativo ejecutivo para BOE/Superintendente (435) 615-0225

Cambios administrativos de PCSD SY 22-23

PARK CITY, UT (22 de junio de 2022) – El Sr. Jack Welch dijo una vez: “Antes usted es un líder, el éxito se trata de crecer usted mismo. Cuando te conviertes en un líder, el éxito se trata de hacer crecer a los demás. El Distrito Escolar de Park City se complace en anunciar tres cambios administrativos que permitirán que estos líderes tengan éxito en el crecimiento de colegas y estudiantes. En una organización, un cambio de liderazgo puede crear un efecto dominó, como es el caso que facilitó estos cambios.

Tracy Fike se unirá a Trailside Elementary, ya que comienza su undécimo año dentro del Distrito Escolar de Park City, como la próxima directora. Se ha desempeñado en varios roles en todo el distrito, desde maestra hasta administradora escolar, más recientemente como subdirectora en Park City High School de 2019-2022. Antes de la escuela secundaria, se desempeñó como subdirectora en la escuela secundaria Ecker Hill y fue directora interina en la escuela primaria Parley’s Park en 2018. La Sra. Fike es una maestra de primaria con licencia que se especializó en intervención de lectura mientras enseñaba en Ecker Hill e implementó el programa del distrito. primer Makerspace en Parley’s Park mientras desempeñaba el papel de entrenador de tecnología educativa. La Sra. Fike tiene dos maestrías en liderazgo educativo y administración de empresas junto con una licenciatura en artes. Su variedad de experiencias y roles dentro del Distrito Escolar de Park City traerá una gran cantidad de conocimientos y relaciones a la comunidad de Trailside. La Sra. Fike vive en Park City con su esposo y sus dos hijos y, a menudo, se la puede encontrar en los senderos con su perro o llevando a sus hijos a las actividades locales. 

Robert Beverly Edmiston Jr., mejor conocido como Mr. Ed, tiene más de 30 años de experiencia como educador público. Solicitó la oportunidad de ser director asociado inaugural en la Escuela Secundaria Park City para llenar la vacante de la Sra. Fike. El Sr. Ed obtuvo sus títulos en Literatura Inglesa y Enseñanza de la Universidad de Mansfield en Pensilvania, su camino aventurero le ha brindado una amplia gama de oportunidades que van desde ser maestro de jardín de infantes, maestro de escuela secundaria, asistente de director de escuela secundaria y director de escuela primaria. Es bien conocido por su liderazgo apasionado como director de la Escuela Primaria McPolin en Park City, Utah. Cuando no está en la escuela chocando los cinco con los alumnos, mientras llama a cada uno por su nombre, se le puede encontrar en una montaña atado a unos esquís oa una bicicleta de montaña. 

El impulso del Sr. Ed para impactar el éxito de los estudiantes fue reconocido en 1999-2000 cuando fue honrado como el Maestro del Año del Condado de Summit. También ha dirigido el desarrollo profesional de liderazgo instructivo en todo el estado para otros administradores, lo que llevó a la publicación de un artículo en la edición de marzo de 2010 de la revista Special Educator. El artículo, titulado ¡Si lo espera, inspecciónelo! Observaciones de Principal Walk-Throughs, enfatiza su creencia en la importancia de que los líderes educativos estén presentes. No solo cree en modelar las acciones de un líder fuerte en su escuela, su misión más grande es abogar por una educación pública de alta calidad para todas las familias y estudiantes, independientemente de su origen, etnia, género o, lo que es más importante, sus ingresos.

Angie Dufner completó recientemente su vigésimo cuarto año en educación y está encantada de ser nombrada nueva directora de la Escuela Primaria McPolin. Comenzó su carrera docente en Chicago durante 11 años y luego ella y su esposo se mudaron con sus tres hijos a Park City, Utah. La Sra. Dufner comenzó a enseñar en nuestro distrito en Parley’s Park Elementary como maestra de doble inmersión. Después de 8 años, fue a la escuela primaria McPolin y pasó cuatro años como maestra de Título 1, intervencionista y coordinadora de MTSS. Dejó brevemente el distrito escolar de Park City el año pasado para ser subdirectora y directora interina de una escuela primaria de Título 1 en el distrito de Salt Lake City. Está emocionada de regresar a Park City como directora de la escuela primaria McPolin. Como educadora, ex miembro del equipo de McPolin y residente de Park City, está muy interesada en continuar haciendo que nuestro distrito sea el mejor del estado. En su tiempo libre, le encanta correr, leer y pasar el tiempo caminando con sus perros. 

La superintendente Gildea y la Junta de Educación se complacen en dar la bienvenida a estos tres líderes capaces y experimentados en sus nuevos roles. Esperamos con ansias las muchas cosas que lograrán y valoramos su compromiso de inspirar y apoyar a todos los estudiantes de manera equitativa para alcanzar su potencial académico y social

Principals Lead with Safety First

NEWS RELEASE

For additional information:  lpearce@pcschools.us, Exec Admin Asst to BOE/Supt

(435) 615-0225

PARK CITY, UT (May 25, 2022) – We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. As we work to finish the school year, we want to assure you that the safety and security of our teachers, staff, and students and the learning environment will always be our top priority. 

While there is no immediate threat to our local Park City School District; nonetheless, school administrators worked together to review all safety procedures and safeguards related to entry, egress, and visitor management to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

As a result, there will be an increased police presence at all PCSD schools for the remainder of the school year as well as at our graduation services. Our counselors and resource officers are always ready to assist with any student concerns. Should parents/guardians have questions or concerns, please reach out to any school administrator. If you notice anything unusual, please report it immediately to the Park City Police Department.   

Our thoughts are with Uvalde families, students, teachers, and community during this difficult time.

Directores Escolares Lideran con la Seguridad Primero

PARK CITY, UT (25 de mayo de 2022) – Estamos conmocionados y entristecidos al enterarnos de la Tragedia en Uvalde, Texas. Mientras trabajamos para terminar el año escolar, queremos asegurarles que la seguridad de nuestros maestros, personal y estudiantes y el entorno de aprendizaje siempre serán nuestra principal prioridad. 

Si bien no existe una amenaza inmediata para nuestro distrito escolar local de Park City; no obstante, los administradores escolares trabajaron juntos para revisar todos los procedimientos de seguridad y salvaguardas relacionadas con la entrada, salida y gestión de visitantes para garantizar la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes y personal.

Como resultado, habrá una mayor presencia policial en todas las escuelas de PCSD durante el resto del año escolar, así como en nuestros servicios de graduación. Nuestros consejeros y oficiales de recursos siempre están listos para ayudar con cualquier inquietud de los estudiantes. Si los padres/tutores tienen preguntas o inquietudes, comuníquese con cualquier administrador de la escuela. Si nota algo inusual, informe de inmediato al Departamento de Policía de Park City.   

Nuestros pensamientos están con las familias, los estudiantes, los maestros y la comunidad de Uvalde durante este momento difícil.

Board of Education

NEWS RELEASE

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

Park City School District is committed to student safety.

The board was informed this morning that the Summit County Attorney’s office has filed charges against the Park City School District. The district is looking into the charges and will respond in due course through legal counsel.

We take these allegations seriously and as always prioritize the safety of our students so that they can reach their academic and social potential.

We ask that the public is respectful of the district administration and allows this process to play out before assuming any negligence or bad intent.

The board fully supports the Superintendent, her administration and all our staff as they continue to provide a safe learning environment for all our students.

PCSD Board of Education

Incident of Racist Language

To Our Park City School District Community,

A safe and healthy learning environment is an essential characteristic of effective schools, and every day at Park City Schools we seek to provide a safe and respectful learning and working environment for every student and employee.

When an incident of racist language, hate speech or negative messaging occurs, this action goes against everything for which our schools stand; it is completely contrary to our core values, vision and goals as a learning organization.  It is hurtful to all. 

Call to Action 

“It seems now more than ever that schooling can and should be designed to support young people of all identities and backgrounds as they self-actualize, realize their full potential and participate in a democratic society… [and that] schools today must focus relentlessly on the social-emotional, academic, and healthy identity development of every child” (PELP Note on Racial Equity in Schools, 2020).

We work to support students and staff who have been affected by incidents, and we want to assure every student and employee that we are committed to safety and well-being.

Any incident such as racist messaging is additional evidence of the pressing need in our schools, our community and our nation to find ways to talk constructively and respectfully about diversity, religion and race. 

I am encouraged by the efforts of our staff and students to lean into challenging conversations about race by creating a task force to further research, review and generate action plans that halt intolerant speech or behavior in its tracks; share how they are personally impacted by racism; and contribute to our work to provide schools that are safe, supportive, engaged, challenged and healthy – and where every student feels a sense of belonging.

I am appreciative of the offer of assistance that many of you have extended. Your input has informed the short term actions we’ve identified so far and will continue to shape our long term work, too.  

We are committed to ensuring schools where racism is not tolerated and is not ignored. This is significant work, and we have valuable assets available to support it: student voice and active student leaders; and effective relationships between school staff and students. 

Respectfully,

Dr. Jill Gildea, Superintendent

Park City School District 

NEWS RELEASE

For additional information:  lpearce@pcschools.us, Exec Admin Asst to BOE/Supt

Utah Legislature Terminates Summit County Mask Mandate

PARK CITY, UT (January 21, 2021) —  The mask mandate in Summit County has been terminated after the Utah House voted Friday in favor of the SJR003 resolution passed earlier this week by the Senate.

Per the Summit County Health Department Director, Dr. Phil Bondurant, “The ongoing Omicron surge has impacted every aspect of our lives at home, at work, in our schools and our businesses… Our advisory message has not changed because the best practices have not changed: stay home if you are sick…and wear a mask in public indoor spaces to protect the health of others.” 

Our community’s schools adhere to the best practice guidance provided by the CDC/UDOH and will continue the layered mitigation strategies in place that include: increased sanitization of frequently touched surfaces, airscrubbers, misting overnight, increased airflow with frequent filter changes, reasserting that those who are feeling ill or symptomatic remain at home for adequate quarantine periods, localized contact tracing and exposure notices, voluntary student/staff testing at Eccles Lobby from 7:15-9:15 AM on school days, encourage frequent handwashing and physical distance as we continue to navigate and mitigate impacts of COVID19 as a community.

PCSD is committed to the health and well-being of all our students, teachers, staff and families. Thank you for your understanding and support as we traverse this ever-changing situation. As a school district we remain focused on the whole child to provide an environment that keeps our students safe, supported, engaged, challenged, and healthy. 

District Statement Mask Mandate

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

November 7, 2021

Park City School District and our individual schools all work in support of our students and families in providing academic, social, emotional, and behavioral support. Parents are our children’s primary educators and the primary decision makers in the care of their children. This was emphasized by the Utah legislature when it prohibited schools and school districts from independently implementing mask mandates after the end of the 2020-21 school year. Rather, the legislature clarified that school mask mandates should be enacted at the local health department level, and subject to the approval of county officials, not school officials.

On September 23, 2021, Summit County officials approved a narrowly tailored Public Health Order (Order of Constraint) addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Summit County schools. That Order of Constraint set a 2% caseload over a 14-day period to identify the threshold trigger when masks are required in the school setting for an individual campus. (https://www.summitcounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/17028/092321-Order-of-Constraint-2021-02-Face-Coverings-in-Middle-Schools)  

Throughout the pandemic, Park City School District has worked hand-in-hand with the Summit County Health Department to monitor case counts in our schools. As case counts at Parley’s Park Elementary School approached the 2% threshold trigger at the end of October, our PPES communication to families prepared them for, and then affirmed, implementation of a mask mandate from November 1-14, 2021.

• On Friday, October 29, 2021, the PPES principal sent a message to families alerting them that positive cases of COVID-19 had been increasing at the site and that families would be notified in the event a mask mandate would be put into effect.

• On Sunday, October 31, 2021, PPES reached the 2% threshold of positive COVID-19 cases (14), as confirmed by SCHD and verified by the Utah Department of Health definition of a positive case, thereby triggering the Order of Constraint.

• Communication was sent to all PPES families that a mask mandate would be put into place at the school from November 1 – November 14, 2021.

PCSD recognizes  the County’s Order of Constraint as  a valid, legally binding public health order and mask mandate for all PCSD employees and students at Parley’s Park Elementary School. It is the expectation of PCSD that all students and staff will comply with that mandate, subject to those exemptions set forth within the Order itself. Understanding that there may be allowable exemptions is where the terminology “parental choice” originated in my conversation with our PPES school principal and it was my error to not slow down and clearly state “understanding that there are allowable exemptions in each of our school sites.”

On November 14, 2021, the case counts for the previous 14 days will be reviewed by the SCHD/UDOH. If the school is under threshold counts, the mask mandate is concluded. In the event the school has had high case counts, the mandate may be extended another 14 days by the SCHD. 

In the event that a school site hits 30 positive cases in a 14-day period, that triggers a Test-To- Stay event in order to further contain and mitigate the spread of contagious illness. 

How Will the Mask Mandate Be Implemented at PPES?

To mitigate continued spread of COVID-19 in our schools, it is important to adhere to the County’s mask mandate. Just like we did last year when school mask mandates were in effect, Parley’s Park Elementary School will remind its students and staff to put on and wear their required face mask appropriately if they are found to not be wearing it. If additional reminders are required, or if a student is repeatedly not complying or adhering to teacher direction, there may be escalating consequences including school discipline. While violation of an Order of Constraint is a misdemeanor criminal offense, the Order itself states that it is intended to protect public health and not to hold individuals criminally liable. While PCSD does not intend to initiate criminal referrals, Summit County may inspect our schools at any time and does have the authority and discretion to cite and prosecute individuals who violate the Order. The County’s Order of Constraint may be enforced in any of the following ways in our schools:

• Inform families about the Order and its requirements.

• Model appropriate face coverings within the school setting – including extracurriculars.

• Remind students that they must wear a face covering to be in compliance with the Order.

• Ensure that face coverings are available for anyone who might have forgotten to bring one.

• Redirect a student seat assignment if they are non-compliant with the face covering mandate.

• Remind students to wear their face covering.

• Contact parent/school administration if a student is not adhering to teacher direction.

• Possible referral to in-school suspension room to facilitate continued access to in-person learning.

• Contact parent to pick up student from school (as with other disruptive behaviors we prefer NOT to remove a student from a learning environment if at all possible due to the importance of access to education).

What is not permitted in connection with the mask mandate?

• Physically placing a face covering on a student.

• Issuing a disciplinary consequence for students or staff with a mask exemption.

• Teasing, taunting, bullying, harassment, or other abusive conduct over wearing or not wearing a face covering – the Order of Constraint contains valid exemptions, which must be respected.

Obtaining the voluntary compliance of our students and employees with the Order of Constraint is the most effective manner for the school to enforce this important effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

As a school district, we will proactively hit the reset button to ensure important information is conveyed, review all COVID-19 mitigation protocols with all staff, and facilitate effective implementation of the Order of Constraint as an additional layer of mitigation in support of our students, staff, and families.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jill Gildea

Superintendent of Schools

Park City School District

District Receives Prestigious Budget Award

The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) has recognized Park City School District for excellence in budget presentation with the prestigious Pathway to the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the 2019–20 budget year. The budget is prepared annually by Business Administrator Todd Hauber.

ASBO International’s MBA and Pathway to the MBA promote and recognize best budget presentation practices in school districts. Participants submit their applications and budget documents to a panel of school financial professionals who review the materials for compliance with the MBA Criteria Checklist and other requirements and provide expert feedback that districts can use to improve their budget documents.

Districts that successfully demonstrate they have met the necessary program requirements may earn either the MBA or Pathway to the MBA, an introductory program that allows districts to ease into full MBA compliance.

“Districts that apply to the MBA or Pathway to the MBA programs recognize the importance of presenting a quality, easy-to-understand budget internally and to the community,” ASBO International Executive Director David J. Lewis explains. “Participating in the MBA and Pathway programs provides districts with important tools and resources they need to communicate the district’s goals and objectives clearly and illustrates their commitment to adhering to nationally recognized budget presentation standards.”

Founded in 1910, the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) is a nonprofit organization that, through its members and affiliates, represents approximately 30,000 school business professionals worldwide.

Information Regarding Use of Welcoming Schools Program and Threatened Litigation / Informacion sobre el uso del programa de dievenida en las esquelas y la amenaza de litigio

As some in our community know, Park City School District has recently received a demand letter from Solon Law and the Pacific Justice Institute regarding the use of the Welcoming Schools program at Trailside Elementary School. This professional learning program provides educators with information on how to address bullying situations or exclusionary behaviors with our students.

While the District’s attorneys will be substantively responding to that communication in due course, we want to inform the community regarding our perspective on the issues and attempt to correct some of the misinformation that appears to be floating around in the community.

First and foremost, the mission of Park City School District is to inspire and support ALL students EQUITABLY to achieve their academic and social potential. All Park City schools are working toward creating an inclusive environment for all families. Positive school culture is essential in welcoming all students and families to participate and feel a sense of belonging within the schools.

The District as a whole is also working to comply with applicable Utah statutes and Utah State Board of Education administrative rules regarding bullying policies and staff training. Specifically, Rule 277-613-1 requires school districts to “develop, update, and implement bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, retaliation, and abusive conduct policies at the school district and school level.” Similarly, R277-613-4 requires school districts to provide training that includes information on various types of bullying, including “bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, and retaliation based upon the students’ or employees’ actual or perceived characteristics, including race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other physical or mental attributes or conformance or failure to conform with stereotypes.”

It is our belief that the use of the Welcoming Schools program for professional development is consistent with this mandate. Trailside Elementary teachers are being trained this year in a way that prepares them to have the appropriate tools to provide a safe, optimal and equitable learning environment for their students. So far this year, teachers have received 3 hours of professional development training using the Welcoming Schools program. That training was delivered by Holly Bell, Equity and Advocacy Specialist for the Utah State Board of Education. The professional development module was entitled “Embracing Family Diversity” and the goal is to equip educators with the tools to be able to answer questions from students and families about the importance of welcoming all families in our diverse school community. Written training materials provided to our staff in connection with that module are available for review. 

We would be in grave violation of our duties as public educators and school leaders if we did not strive to prepare our teachers to teach not only the academic portion of the curriculum, but also to address and support the social and emotional growth and development of our diverse student body while at school. In choosing to send your child to Park City School District, you should expect nothing less of us. The Welcoming Schools program is only one small piece of this huge responsibility that we share with parents.

When questions started to be raised about the program, and even before the receipt of the demand letter at issue, we committed to looking at the implementation of the program to see if we could assuage the concerns that have been brought to our attention. While we do not believe that the program teaches sex education in any way that violates state law or otherwise violates the rights of members of our community, we will further examine this issue moving forward.

Even though the arguments set forth in the demand letter may be extremely emotional to many members of our community on both sides of the issue, we hope and expect that patrons and other community members will model the values we try to instill in our students: respect, honesty, and integrity in their communications. We also want to remind the community that pursuant to the same state law and District policy that requires us to implement anti-bullying policies and training, our employees may not be subjected to, and we will not tolerate, “abusive conduct”, meaning verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct that a reasonable person would determine is intended to cause intimidation, humiliation or unwarranted distress.  

Finally, we hope that our community will appreciate that the primary obligation of our teachers is to focus on their important work within the classroom. This means that community members who wish to make their opinions known regarding these issues should address their concerns not to classroom teachers or individual school counselors and administrators, but to the Superintendent and elected members of the Board of Education. Ultimately, the Board of Education, in consultation with the Superintendent, Cabinet, and legal counsel, will decide on the appropriate response to the demands that have been made. Thank you for reading and for your continued involvement in the education of our community’s most precious resource, our children.

Como algunas personas de nuestra comunidad conocen, el Distrito Escolar de Park City ha recibido recientemente una carta de demanda de las oficinas de Solon Law y del Pacific Justice Institute con respecto al uso del programa Escolar de Bienvenida en la Escuela Elemental Trailside. Este programa de aprendizaje profesional proporciona a los educadores información sobre cómo abordar situaciones de acoso escolar o comportamientos excluyentes con nuestros estudiantes.

Si bien los abogados del Distrito responderán sustancialmente a esa comunicación a su debido tiempo, queremos informar a la comunidad sobre nuestra perspectiva sobre los problemas e intentar corregir parte de la información errónea que parece estar girando en la comunidad.

Primero y lo más importante, la misión del Distrito Escolar de Park City es inspirar y apoyar a TODOS los estudiantes de manera EQUITATIVA para que alcancen su potencial académico y social. Todas las escuelas de Park City están trabajando para crear un ambiente inclusivo para todas las familias. Una cultura escolar positiva es esencial para dar la bienvenida a todos los estudiantes y familias y que estos participen y tengan un sentido de pertenencia en las escuelas.

El Distrito en su conjunto esta también trabajando para cumplir con los estatutos de Utah que son aplicables y las reglas administrativas de la Junta de Educación del Estado de Utah con respecto a las políticas de intimidación y la capacitación del personal.  Específicamente, la Regla 277-613-1 requiere que los distritos escolares “desarrollen, actualicen e implementen políticas de intimidación, hostigamiento cibernético, burlas, represalias y conductas abusivas a nivel del distrito escolar y de las escuelas.” Del mismo modo, la R277-613-4 requiere que los distritos escolares brinden capacitación que incluya información sobre varios tipos de acoso escolar, incluyendo “hostigamiento escolar, acoso cibernético, burlas y represalias basadas en las características reales o percibidas de los estudiantes o empleados, incluyendo raza, color, nacionalidad de origen, sexo, discapacidad, religión, identidad de género, orientación sexual,  atributos físicos o mentales, o conformidad o inconformidad de los estereotipos.”

Creemos que el uso del programa Escolar de Bienvenida para el desarrollo profesional es consistente con este mandato. Los maestros de la Escuela Primaria Trailside están siendo entrenados este año de una manera que los prepara para tener las herramientas apropiadas para proporcionar un ambiente de aprendizaje seguro, óptimo y equitativo para sus estudiantes. En lo que va del año, los maestros han recibido 1.5 horas de capacitación en desarrollo profesional utilizando el programa Escolar de Bienvenida. Esa capacitación fue impartida por Holly Bell, especialista en equidad y defensa de la Junta de Educación del Estado de Utah. El módulo de desarrollo profesional se tituló “Abrazando la diversidad familiar” y el objetivo es equipar a los educadores con las herramientas para que puedan responder preguntas de los estudiantes y las familias sobre la importancia de dar la bienvenida a todas las familias en nuestra diversa comunidad escolar. Los materiales de capacitación escritos, proporcionados a nuestro personal en relación con ese modulo, están disponibles para su revisión.  

Estaríamos en grave violación de nuestros deberes como educadores públicos y líderes escolares si no nos esforzaríamos por preparar a nuestros maestros para enseñar no solo la parte académica del plan de estudios, sino también para abordar y apoyar el crecimiento y desarrollo social y emocional de nuestro diverso alumnado en las escuelas. Al elegir enviar a su hijo (a) al Distrito Escolar de Park City, es lo menos que debe esperar de nosotros. El programa de Bienvenida de Escuelas es solo una pequeña parte de esta enorme responsabilidad que compartimos con los padres.

A pesar de que los argumentos establecidos en la carta de demanda pueden ser extremadamente emotivos para muchos miembros de nuestra comunidad en ambos lados del problema, esperamos que los involucrados y otros miembros de la comunidad modelen los valores que intentamos inculcar en nuestros estudiantes: respeto, honestidad e integridad en sus comunicaciones. También queremos recordarle a la comunidad que, de conformidad con la misma ley estatal y la política del Distrito que nos obliga a implementar políticas y capacitación contra el acoso escolar, nuestros empleados no pueden ser sometidos, y no toleraremos, “conducta abusiva”, es decir, verbal, no verbal, o física hacia ellos, que una persona razonable determinaría que tiene la intención de causar intimidación, humillación o angustia injustificada.   Finalmente, esperamos que nuestra comunidad aprecie que la obligación principal de nuestros maestros es enfocarse en su importante trabajo dentro de las aulas. Esto significa que los miembros de la comunidad que deseen dar a conocer sus opiniones con respecto a estos temas deben dirigir sus inquietudes no a los maestros de la clase, o a consejeros o administradores individualmente, sino a la Superintendente y a los miembros elegidos de la Junta de Educación. Finalmente, la Junta de Educación, en consulta con la Superintendente, el Gabinete y el asesor legal, decidirá la respuesta adecuada a las demandas que se han formulado. Gracias por leer esta carta y por su continua participación en la educación del recurso más apreciado de nuestra comunidad, nuestros niños.