[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6546506,"mediaKeyId","3645125-f3786e53985e9f5df225a61a6b697ebe","parentId",3645125,"title","District staff urge board to reaffirm Highland rebuild plan including ground source heat pumps; board delays formal vote","audioSeconds",1308,"startMs",1116000,"endMs",2424000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3645125-f3786e53985e9f5df225a61a6b697ebe&start=1116&end=2424","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3645125-f3786e53985e9f5df225a61a6b697ebe/thumbnail_1116000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546506/Utah/District-staff-urge-board-to-reaffirm-Highland-rebuild-plan-including-ground-source-heat-pumps-board-delays-formal-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546506-b068e7b4b898602bf3ec16dc2e7cbcc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184088&Signature=VNMtXP8XhVI1-NaBjV10kHriBolEvlj0HZJwoUH-eXaqLSedobSfYJk3Or7aaXanht3G90KgSphsvIM2ZlpTqX1IYZWjih9DU5EhQhKe2xc3cEshZVRi-dW37wweqC0v8iuIWnNNVYLxoErfhz4OVLJeazKLBsyZ12XTqeBrK56oprSZCPKc~Zyfz3FlWfpN5RjFpcdIMAaF4GuAJaPSeTboiLYY8IC55PNFW0bCKRjvU8QKKyArxMekFkvlKAk0akQtAuAzSJDc-2YaquRpvzLVI2LGTQjn2lcyWZ0QrKcRGMTqC6~3kqWQhHnyyNLi9wmvM47prF1ezMYZjjFgDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salt Lake School District ","date","2025-06-03T22:08:28Z","article","Salt Lake City School District staff on June 3 asked the school board to reaffirm previously approved plans for the Highland High rebuild that include installing ground source heat pumps under the athletic fields and investing in alternative fields at Clayton and Dilworth so the district can meet next season’s needs.

Isaac Gastel, a district staff presenter on the high school rebuild, told the board the geothermal system and field-preparation work were included in the original bond project list and the district’s sustainability action plan and that halting progress now would likely delay construction and increase costs. He asked the board to authorize moving forward with the Clayton and Dilworth investments and to approve ground source heat pumps under the Highland athletic field area as one of the two bond-scoped options.

Gastel framed the request with project history: he said the district recommended consolidating educational spaces at West High in February to preserve a historic clock tower and improve phasing, and in April returned to the board with temporary field options. Since then, the district studied alternative locations and reported that Glendale had been approved at a previous meeting and that Clayton and Dilworth were recommended for field preparations. Gastel said the district had also approached the Sugar House Park Authority about using park land but that three constraints made that option less viable: Sugar House Park currently lacks a softball field, work needed at that site would likely cost more than preparing Dilworth, and the Park Authority would not be able to consider the request until August because of its meeting schedule.

Gastel warned that redesigning to place fields or the geothermal equipment elsewhere could add \"a couple million dollars\" to the project and would require removing planned water-retention features and reducing parking (he estimated roughly 200 parking stalls could be lost during an altered construction approach). He also said moving the geothermal infrastructure could significantly disrupt school operations by reducing available parking and work areas while construction is under way.

Board members pressed for clarity but expressed differing procedural views. Board member Longwell thanked staff for documenting prior approvals and the work to date, and asked whether affected families and coaches had opportunities to review the plans; Gastel said the district had provided a memo and intended to follow up with impacted families. Board member Anderson and others emphasized the urgency and the importance of understanding total costs across both Highland and West; Gastel said he could not guarantee that the city would complete its review of West High property by the next meeting and that the city’s timeline was outside district control.

Some board members said they were comfortable with staff continuing design work that includes geothermal systems because that element was described in bond materials presented during the bond campaign; others said procedural norms meant a formal vote should wait until the next board meeting so the public would not be surprised by action taken during a report. The board ultimately directed staff to bring a formal action item to the June 17 meeting rather than take a vote on June 3.

No formal motions or votes affecting the Highland plan occurred on June 3. Board members repeatedly emphasized the project’s urgency and the risk that further delay would increase costs and threaten the timeline, and they asked staff to continue outreach to impacted families and to provide cost comparisons and any new city responses before the next meeting.

Ending: The board will revisit Highland High design decisions, field siting and the ground source heat pump authorization at its June 17 meeting. Staff said they will continue planning in the interim and provide updated cost and schedule information to the board and to stakeholders.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SLCSD Board Meeting, June 3 2025 5:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Salt Lake City School District staff on June 3 asked the school board to reaffirm previously approved plans for the Highland High rebuild that include installing ground source heat pumps under the athletic fields and investing in alternative fields at Clayton and Dilworth so the district can meet next season’s needs.","taxTitle","Salt Lake School District , Utah School Boards, Utah","taxId",65987,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6546502,"Salt Lake school board adopts budget, approves evaluation changes, internship reclassification and contract amendment; adult education funding request heard",3310,3168000,6478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3645125-f3786e53985e9f5df225a61a6b697ebe&start=3168&end=6478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3645125-f3786e53985e9f5df225a61a6b697ebe/thumbnail_3168000.jpg","/articles/6546502/Utah/Salt-Lake-school-board-adopts-budget-approves-evaluation-changes-internship-reclassification-and-contract-amendment-adult-education-funding-request-heard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546502-09f0acd6973dab2ec1b0e981cb4ba9c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184088&Signature=AvmL2gugf59EpUth-cUtNZOoaziL-yy7VfqjrzfSNii~RGzPNFboNTKnEvp~gWIqc4M3nDw-CRAGrKXVwJQ9bIwvGKbdIz6MKAMMnO1z3pXUbGPqNPdL1UiAM847wwdq8yuA63LBsYL5JwfZKIWCXZiB1TlZAzTF~2MIh9rKxR7MNY8RGhNQ91rvruHTDIljeo-UTf-U7Jj7uE3vzBFBRnWrcTwi2HzoE3cgkoz04frtE7heA6B3-qb-M34QjTqbr0rAEK6qySq2aCh5LN2t0tFNzt3jIwbNel43GrCXX~dg5UW74D-RI6Gdz69vi5SRA7uVhgnp~n3iD7MrS5ozjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salt Lake City School District Board of Education on June 3 approved the district’s revised 2024–25 budget, adopted the proposed 2025–26 budget and certified the 2025 tax rate; approved updated educator evaluation standards recommended by the board’s Joint Educator Evaluation Committee (JEEC); reclassified a split administrative/teacher position as a one-year administrative intern; approved a board handbook update; and approved a contract amendment with Hand to Heart Inc. for nursing services with expanded site flexibility.

Budget and public hearing

The board held a time-certain public hearing at 7 p.m. on the proposed 2025–26 budget. Rosalie Christiansen spoke during public comment on behalf of adult learners in the Horizontes adult education program and asked the board to allocate $340,000 to continue the evening program for the 2025–26 school year plus an additional $20,000 for a summer session to prevent learning loss. Business Administrator Kearsley told the board that the district’s adult education programs are primarily state and federally funded and that local funds historically have not been used to operate that program, but the board discussed options including routing the topic to the finance committee for further review. The board later voted to send the proposed budgets, proposed tax rate and potential direction for the finance committee to the action agenda and then approved the budgets and the certified tax rate.

Board action on budgets and finance committee direction

The board unanimously approved the revised 2024–25 budget and the proposed 2025–26 budget, adopted the certified tax rate for 2025 and authorized the business administrator to make budget adjustments necessary to reflect final revenues. The board also directed the finance committee to discuss teacher incentive programs and adult education during its August meeting.

JEEC teacher-evaluation standards

Nathan Elkins of the district’s HR department and Logan Hall presented changes recommended by the JEEC to align district evaluations with updated state standards and board rule. The JEEC, a committee composed of teachers, administrators and parents appointed by the board, proposed moving from a four-point rating system to a three-point system consistent with the state board rule and recommended revised indicators for teachers, social workers, counselors, nurses and academic coaches. Board members asked questions about measurability, subjectivity, how evaluators would observe or seek corroborating evidence, and how the district would preserve recognition for top performers. After discussion, the board approved the JEEC recommendations by roll-call vote.

Administrative intern reclassification

District staff explained a long-standing complication at one comprehensive high school where a 0.5 administrator/0.5 teacher allocation created administrative and contractual complications. The board voted to reclassify the vacant half-time split position at West High to a 12‑month administrative intern position for one year to maintain a consistent administrator-to-student ratio across comprehensive high schools and to support leadership pipeline development. Board members described the change as a way to avoid the difficulties of a split contract and to create a rotating leadership internship.

Hand to Heart Inc. contract amendment

A purchase/contract item for Hand to Heart Inc. (nursing services) was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion. Board member Longwell proposed amending the contract language, which originally listed Dilworth Elementary, Clayton Middle, East and Highland High Schools as service sites, to add flexibility by allowing services at \"any other school deemed necessary.\" Staff said the amendment would not add cost but would allow services to follow students who require them under their individualized education programs. The board approved the amendment and then approved the amended contract.

Board handbook update and other votes

The board policy subcommittee presented a redlined update to the board handbook to implement technical changes required by state law (House Bill 545) and to remove a previously worded shared-governance paragraph while retaining language encouraging collaboration. The board sent the handbook update to the action agenda and then approved the redlined handbook. Several other consent and action items were approved earlier in the meeting, including routine consent items (the board approved the consent agenda excluding the Hand to Heart item) by roll call.

Ending: The board closed the meeting by moving into a closed executive session to discuss personnel matters. The board scheduled follow-up items for future meetings, including a formal vote on Highland High field siting and geothermal installation at the June 17 meeting and finance-committee review of teacher incentives and adult education in August.
","At its June 3 meeting the Salt Lake School District board approved the revised 2024-25 budget, adopted the 2025-26 proposed budget and certified tax rate, approved new educator evaluation standards from the JEEC, reclassified a half-time administrator/teacher position to a one-year administrative intern, adopted updates to the board handbook, and","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District staff urge board to reaffirm Highland rebuild plan including ground source heat pumps; board delays formal vote

Salt Lake school board adopts budget, approves evaluation changes, internship reclassification and contract amendment; adult education funding request heard