The Washington County School District Board of Education on March 6 heard school presentations from Sunset Elementary and Sunrise Ridge Intermediate and recognized district staff and students for recent awards.

Sunset Elementary's presentation emphasized the school's focus on early reading and third-grade outcomes, and included a video and student comments about school activities and pride. The presenter thanked staff and community partners and highlighted gains in student growth and engagement.

Sunrise Ridge Intermediate principal Sandy Farrell told the board the school opened with about 670 students and has grown to roughly 1,154. Farrell highlighted professional learning communities, district support, PTA involvement and a series of grants and contests that brought financial support and learning opportunities to the school. She and staff described a student-led engineering project that won a statewide Samsung "Solve for Tomorrow" contest and returned $25,000 to the school; a similar win the prior year also brought $25,000.

District recognitions included teacher April Nelson, who the superintendent said won a national creative-wrapping contest with a $15,000 prize after students wrapped instruments and the class received a national broadcast recognition. The board also announced that student Dusty Rose Beislein of Water Canyon High School placed among 28 winners in the year's Senate Visual Arts Scholarship competition, selected from more than 300 entries.

Superintendent remarks also noted that Washington County School District was named to the eighth annual Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll for expanding access and improving AP performance; the district was the only Utah district to receive that recognition. Kathy Peterson was recognized as Utah's Early Childhood Leader of the Year (the meeting noted her award but she was not present).

Given a safety incident reported the prior day at Pine View High School, the superintendent publicly thanked local law enforcement — Captain Gordon McCracken and Lieutenant Ivor Fuller — as well as school administrators for their response and partnership; the superintendent described the district's regular coordination with school resource officers and local police on safety planning.