[{"_1":2,"_115":-5,"_116":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,95,105],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6707355,"mediaKeyId","2459985-a4af72e722c2d5d503fbd5c58df8b70c","parentId",2459985,"title","Board elects leaders, approves 2026–27 calendar and district appointments; multiple motions pass","audioSeconds",2236,"startMs",157000,"endMs",2393000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2459985-a4af72e722c2d5d503fbd5c58df8b70c&start=157&end=2393","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6707355/Utah/Board-elects-leaders-approves-202627-calendar-and-district-appointments-multiple-motions-pass","mediaUrl","author","Washington County School District","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Washington County School District Board of Education met Jan. 6 and approved a slate of leadership, personnel and operational items, including election of board officers, adoption of the 2026–27 calendar, award of a crack-seal contract and appointment of a Title I executive director and a middle-school principal.

Why it matters: The votes set board leadership and operational direction for the coming school year, finalize a multiweek calendar that changes the A/B schedule, commit district funds for pavement maintenance, and fill senior administrative positions that affect Title I programs and middle-school leadership.

Board leadership and routine business
- The board elected Dave Stirlund as president and Lorraine Cox as vice president for two-year terms; the individual roll-call votes recorded ayes from board members present and the motions carried.
- The consent agenda (minutes from Dec. 9; financial report; personnel and LEA-specific license items; school-level team plan changes) was approved by voice vote after a motion from Member Simmons and a second from Member Cox.

Calendar and policy actions
- The board approved the 2026–27 school calendar, shifting the school-year start and adjusting teacher prep and spring break days; the motion carried on a voice vote. The calendar sets A/B day consistency (A days Mondays/Wednesdays; B days Tuesdays/Thursdays) and schedules the school year to end Wednesday, May 26, 2027.
- The board voted to table Policy 29-20 (Student Enrollment) to allow staff to add clarifications before returning it for further consideration.
- Policy 9200 (guidelines for elementary high-ability services) was discussed and placed “under consideration” (no final vote recorded at the meeting).

Contracts and facilities
- The board awarded a crack-seal pavement contract to Holbrook for approximately $240,000 after one bidder retracted a low bid due to errors. The motion to approve the award carried by voice vote.

Personnel actions
- The board appointed Susan Hara as Title I executive director (to replace retiring Amy Mitchell) following superintendent recommendation and interviews; the motion passed by voice vote.
- The board approved the transfer/appointment of Mandy Luce to principal of Pine View Middle School; motion carried by voice vote.

Other actions
- The board approved the Lava Ridge Intermediate rebranding after a 30-day public comment period with no formal objections recorded.
- The meeting concluded with an adjournment motion that carried.

Votes at a glance (key items)
- President (two-year term): Dave Stirlund — Approved (unanimous roll call of members present).
- Vice president (two-year term): Lorraine Cox — Approved (unanimous roll call of members present).
- Consent agenda: Approved (motion Simmons; second Cox).
- Policy 29-20 Student Enrollment: Motion to table — Approved (motion Seggmiller; second Cox).
- 2026–27 school calendar: Approved (motion Simmons; second Gunn).
- Lava Ridge Intermediate rebranding: Approved (motion Cox; second Wade).
- Crack-seal bid award (Holbrook, approx. $240,000): Approved (motion Seggmiller; second Staley).
- Title I executive director appointment (Susan Hara): Approved (motion Seggmiller; second Cox).
- Principal appointment (Mandy Luce to Pine View Middle): Approved (motion Staley; second Simmons).

Board members recorded votes individually for leadership elections during roll call; other motions were decided by voice vote with recorded makers/seconders as noted above.

Ending: Several policy and administrative items will return to future meetings for final wording or implementation details; the board scheduled follow-up work by staff on the tabled enrollment policy and the high-ability services policy now “under consideration.”","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Open Session – 1/6/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 6 meeting the Washington County School District Board elected a president and vice president, approved the 2026–27 school calendar, awarded a pavement contract, confirmed two administrator appointments and approved several routine items. Several policy items were tabled or placed under consideration.","taxTitle","Washington County School District, Utah School Boards, Utah","taxId",65999,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6707336,"Board considers update to Policy 9200 on elementary high-ability services",55,2737000,2792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2459985-a4af72e722c2d5d503fbd5c58df8b70c&start=2737&end=2792","/articles/6707336/Utah/Board-considers-update-to-Policy-9200-on-elementary-high-ability-services","The Washington County School District Board discussed revisions to Policy 9200 at its Jan. 6 meeting aimed at aligning written policy with current practice for serving high-ability elementary students.

Why it matters: The update clarifies how the district identifies and serves high-ability learners — an issue that affects placement, programming and equity of access for advanced learners across schools.

Discussion summary
- Historical model: Superintendent Esplin noted the district previously used a clustering model (grouping identified high-ability students together in a single classroom) starting in 2013.
- Current practice: The district no longer uses clustering broadly; it now provides two high-ability strands at Riverside and Diamond Valley elementary schools, pull-out models at some schools, and services students within their assigned classrooms when appropriate.
- Request: The presentation described the proposed policy language as “cleaning up” the existing policy to reflect these changes.

Board action: The item was placed under consideration; no final vote was recorded during the meeting.

Ending: Staff will return a revised policy text for board review and a future vote.","Superintendent Esplin presented proposed cleanup to Policy 9200 to reflect current service delivery for high-ability students, moving away from a clustering model to in-class and pull-out strands; the item was placed under consideration.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6707341,"Board adopts 2026–27 school calendar with A/B-day consistency and adjusted spring break",243,1866000,2109000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2459985-a4af72e722c2d5d503fbd5c58df8b70c&start=1866&end=2109","/articles/6707341/Utah/Board-adopts-202627-school-calendar-with-AB-day-consistency-and-adjusted-spring-break","The Washington County School District Board approved the 2026–27 academic calendar at its Jan. 6 meeting after a multiweek review with staff and board members.

Why it matters: The calendar sets instruction days, teacher prep time and breaks that families, extracurricular partners and regional districts use for planning; the adopted version introduces a more consistent A/B schedule and adjusts spring-semester prep days to balance days between semesters.

Key details
- Start and end dates: Teachers will return Aug. 6, 2026; classes begin Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026; the last student day is Wednesday, May 26, 2027. Secondary graduations are scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to align with the final week.
- A/B-day structure: Beginning in 2026–27, A days will consistently be Mondays and Wednesdays and B days will consistently be Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays will vary and require some communication to implement within semester balancing.
- Spring and teacher prep adjustments: To even out semester day counts, a teacher prep day originally scheduled after spring break (March 15) was moved to the Friday before spring break (March 5). The board also created an additional break in April to avoid a long stretch with no break between spring break and the end of the year.
- Athletics, concurrent enrollment and regional coordination: District staff and board members said the calendar was developed with regional partners and local athletic schedules in mind; some spring tournaments will still occur during spring break given region differences.

Board action: The motion to approve the calendar passed by voice vote (motion by Member Simmons; second by Member Gunn).

Ending: Staff will publish the calendar and notify families, schools and partner institutions; board members requested clear communication about the A/B schedule changes and Friday expectations for teachers and families.","The Washington County School District Board approved the 2026–27 school calendar Jan. 6, moving to a consistent A/B-day pattern (A: Mon/Wed; B: Tue/Thu), starting classes Aug. 13, 2026 and ending May 26, 2027, and shifting a teacher prep day to before spring break.",{"_33":96,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":97,"_41":98,"_43":99,"_45":100,"_47":101,"_49":50,"_51":102,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":103,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":104,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6707345,"Bloomington Hills Elementary outlines attendance, PBIS and reading gains as priorities",229,698000,927000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2459985-a4af72e722c2d5d503fbd5c58df8b70c&start=698&end=927","/articles/6707345/Utah/Bloomington-Hills-Elementary-outlines-attendance-PBIS-and-reading-gains-as-priorities","Bloomington Hills Elementary Principal Christie Wheeler reported to the Washington County School District Board on Jan. 6 that the school is using a district MTSS grant to implement a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) framework, has seen midyear gains in early literacy and is prioritizing attendance improvements.

Why it matters: Principal-level improvements in instruction, behavior supports and attendance protocols tie directly to student outcomes and the district’s plan to exit targeted-support statuses for underperforming schools.

Key points from the presentation
- Enrollment and demographics: Wheeler reported the school’s enrollment fell from about 520 last year to 438 this year, citing transient student movement; kindergarten enrollment was lower than projected but she expects rebound with incoming students.
- Reading and growth: Kindergarten students met midyear Acadience goals at a higher rate than the prior year (73% hit the 10-whole-words-read goal by December versus 43% by April last year). High-frequency-word goals were met by 94% of kindergarteners at midyear.
- PBIS and culture work: Using the MTSS grant, the school established visible expectations (“Be safe, be positive, be on task, treat others kindly, be strong”) and a weekly recognition system with colored jars and prize drawings to reinforce behavior. Teachers adopted schoolwide traits linked to counseling lessons (for example, bullying prevention tied to “treat others kindly”).
- Attendance focus: Wheeler said attendance lags behind district averages in most grades and noted a building protocol to reach out after two absences; the school ties belonging and attendance together as a strategic lever to improve outcomes.
- Targets and next steps: Grade-level teams set goals (for example, third grade targeted 80% typical or better growth) and the school will continue data meetings, focused Tier 1 instruction and targeted interventions to improve proficiency and growth metrics.

Ending: Wheeler asked the board to monitor progress; the presentation emphasized that district supports (grade-level specialists and MTSS funding) helped create immediate changes in behavior supports and instructional focus.","Principal Christie Wheeler told the board that Bloomington Hills Elementary has implemented PBIS with help from a grant, reported kindergarten reading gains and described efforts to boost attendance and grade-level instruction.",{"_33":106,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":107,"_41":108,"_43":109,"_45":110,"_47":111,"_49":50,"_51":112,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":113,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":114,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6707350,"Washington County schools honor teacher Kirsten Candland for statewide music leadership",203,326000,529000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2459985-a4af72e722c2d5d503fbd5c58df8b70c&start=326&end=529","/articles/6707350/Utah/Washington-County-schools-honor-teacher-Kirsten-Candland-for-statewide-music-leadership","The Washington County School District Board of Education recognized music teacher Kirsten Candland at its Jan. 6 meeting for more than 30 years of teaching and service to students across multiple school levels.

Why it matters: Candland’s work — which spans Desert Hills High School, Desert Hills Middle School and Sunrise Ridge Intermediate — includes sustained student success in statewide orchestra competitions, leadership in professional associations and expanded performance opportunities for students across the district.

District remarks and credentials
Rob Schmidt, district arts coordinator and identified as president of the Utah Music Educators Association during his remarks, introduced Candland and summarized her accomplishments: more than three decades of teaching; high-school orchestras that regularly qualify for state competitions and receive top marks; four to 12 students qualifying for all-state orchestra in many years; leadership roles including serving as the Utah president of the American String Teachers Association; and local program work with the Zion Youth Symphony, Southern Utah String Festival and other student-centered events.

Candland, who teaches classroom ensembles and morning strings at the intermediate level and also gives private lessons, told the board that the most satisfying part of her work is seeing students “get excited about music and have moments where things just click.” Superintendent Esplin and other speakers praised her reputation and service to students.

Ending: The board’s recognition will be repeated at the district music conference later in the month. The board offered public praise and recorded its appreciation during the meeting.","The board recognized Kirsten Candland, a strings and orchestra teacher in the district, for her decades-long teaching, leadership in music education and role in student opportunities and state-level professional service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board elects leaders, approves 2026–27 calendar and district appointments; multiple motions pass

Board considers update to Policy 9200 on elementary high-ability services

Board adopts 2026–27 school calendar with A/B-day consistency and adjusted spring break

Bloomington Hills Elementary outlines attendance, PBIS and reading gains as priorities

Washington County schools honor teacher Kirsten Candland for statewide music leadership