[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6477596,"mediaKeyId","5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41","parentId",5711275,"title","Board begins interviews to fill precinct 5 vacancy; candidate Russell Askren urges overhaul of special-education processes","audioSeconds",763,"startMs",1002000,"endMs",1765000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41&start=1002&end=1765","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41/thumbnail_1002000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477596/Utah/Board-begins-interviews-to-fill-precinct-5-vacancy-candidate-Russell-Askren-urges-overhaul-of-special-education-processes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477596-d07d8ab0f7b89033abf014208ea394d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138681&Signature=Y7bDI4Vypoe1RC7ObcoNdtVUCTQRqbqHmWOTJLNj1YYMQEHjGsS6cYsMSVfU6XLIjSe2q~aGdqqbCorQ10ti0PguKK1EXRgYgI8txCOvGyyjrYMOIKS81fGyMLDC3gfegNLbNC747GbqMTOosXTKIJm4yAzYZK0Wnt9dG2Rk69eXug8pv6eGFnQpTWIKXnRknxxFGBt0evI0d5L5ZBFAQX5SAptlQi48onsAZ1h9CU1OXT4XMi3jF7WqwgvdUGDNNCBtR20R2-rp9KUGuknajsP27easSpd28fPDdYPsqZjQsGAD1mwWwsSTAVnJiW6OauXss-NXKEYLWiiRLy1N2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salt Lake School District ","date","2025-09-03T02:14:39.57Z","article","The Salt Lake City Board of Education began its public interview process on Sept. 2 to fill a vacancy in precinct 5. The board described a multi-step process for the evening: the vacancy was posted Aug. 5, applications were accepted Aug. 6–26, and the board received 16 applications; 13 met the county residency requirement and eight completed required county forms by the Aug. 27 deadline. Three candidates withdrew the morning of Sept. 2, leaving five candidates to be interviewed in alphabetical order.

Each candidate was allotted 25 minutes — 20 minutes for the interview and a five-minute transition period — and board members will submit anonymous ranking sheets after interviews. Business administrator Alan Kearsley will tabulate rankings during a brief recess and report the highest-rated candidates to the board; the board’s legal counsel reminded members not to confer about rankings during the break. The ranking does not itself appoint a candidate; any appointment requires a formal motion, second and roll-call vote by the full board. If appointed, the successful candidate would be sworn in that evening by county clerk Lanny Chapman.

During the first candidate interview, Russell Askren (one of five candidates listed on the agenda) focused his remarks on special-education services at East High School. “The special ed program at East High is a mess,” Askren said, describing frequent summer reconfigurations, personnel reductions, inconsistent application of course credit rules, and a case he described in which his son — after years of inadequate and inappropriate services — was unenrolled and later re-enrolled in a manner Askren said ignored course sequencing in math.

Askren told the board such problems can create legal risk because the district must meet statutory obligations for special education. He asked that the superintendent present a thorough overview of the district’s special-education programs at all levels, including how services are determined, eligibility processes and how the district ensures students receive required services.

Askren also criticized the district’s approach to chronic absenteeism, arguing it places too much emphasis on parent notification and automated messaging rather than person-to-person outreach and relationship-building. He pointed to an example in which a school vice principal called after a student left early but no further action occurred, and he advocated for resource-intensive, individualized approaches when necessary to address underlying causes of absenteeism.

Ending: The evening’s interview schedule continued after Askren’s remarks. Board members will rank the candidates anonymously and may move to appoint a candidate after recess and tabulation; no appointment was recorded at the time of the transcript excerpt.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SLCSD Board Meeting, September 2, 2025 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Salt Lake City Board of Education began its public interview process on Sept. 2 to fill a vacancy in precinct 5; candidate Russell Askren used his interview to call for a district review of special-education services.","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},6477600,"Student asks board to fund RFID readers for high-school elevators, estimates $66,000 cost",382,614000,996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41&start=614&end=996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41/thumbnail_614000.jpg","/articles/6477600/Utah/Student-asks-board-to-fund-RFID-readers-for-high-school-elevators-estimates-66000-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477600-9c14f8adec690728f3ec6c717960fbe7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138681&Signature=gYPBSx79rUXuR7dLJM1dVVG5L1KWMv4AgpUodQ6xgQ9olysEDEELz27ppKbqOuuYUztBPXk~vA6qfZXVLLrg66uBGF9pDMVweFFSIHQMgIJhHiJ2rLWTaQ3ZJxeZ0vFYF~4tof9QngF1h0CefVvKsL0eSKcjNKtv-K3IU4uj1AQd5wvIjzg81uz5PRG0K4lVfq2U1AbJ-KiSw3yxoMxjgqDXfs8V7lyb8D-8yboGPO6DFbdpUlmYF1fW0wsPr9vLgafyYjhkKRosmRDM1U26i9ixa-sk-X4-611UfOoE9ebWDsF9CZpR4zNFy5Q0W8YKQMjWw49YT7M-mJRUkHRyoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A senior at East High School urged the Salt Lake City Board of Education on Sept. 2 to fund RFID readers on high-school elevators so that students with permanent and temporary disabilities can access elevators without relying on a staff-held key.

“My goal is to install RFID readers on the elevator to to make the elevator more accessible at each high school,” the student, Drake, told trustees during the meeting’s public-comment period. Drake said he already uses an RFID key fob to access school buildings and described long waits and difficulty when elevators are key‑access only.

Drake said a contractor the district identified, Stone Security, estimated the accessibility improvement would cost approximately $66,000 to install across the district’s high schools. He proposed the district distribute fobs to students who do not already have them and keep extra fobs in school offices for visitors or temporary needs. Drake framed the change as benefiting students with permanent disabilities and those who face temporary mobility limitations, and he asked the board to target completion by 2026 or 2027.

Board members thanked Drake and said staff — including Dr. Grant and Director Isaac Astell — would meet to discuss possible next steps. Trustees indicated they received a copy of Drake’s presentation and that it would be circulated to board members after the meeting.

Ending: The board did not vote on funding at the meeting; trustees directed district staff to meet and discuss the request and to follow up with Drake and the board as appropriate.","A Salt Lake City School District student asked trustees to install RFID readers on high-school elevators to improve accessibility for students with disabilities and temporary mobility needs, saying one vendor estimated a $66,000 districtwide cost and requesting distribution of fobs to students without them.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6477605,"Parent criticizes district communication after single bus-stop cancellation; says community distrust persists",184,398000,582000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41&start=398&end=582","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41/thumbnail_398000.jpg","/articles/6477605/Utah/Parent-criticizes-district-communication-after-single-bus-stop-cancellation-says-community-distrust-persists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477605-c6de8252d0b95180f5fea6d3fb301dc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138681&Signature=gXcAl5tIu3f3bH~W6cUX6XO5clBvEXtKNT6xtLC~xaSc5CZ4~DcSDKenYAhdO95q6j98aGevhd2YpnSN~IZVJjZkqJqcWBJJW5A0ZR-IPF97pYdwNgdJ13Ym~gD-Qyk-Nsm86DGjsWSI6JqiQWKUapTXHfGPRZETyWWcVvaD7nyEmXUFpqJ6YhwURekKNsvGylx3vwjLlZOpWW0aw-htUm02azSGSAKC~WrBMvcGVeRw-mLz-reR6RBNgfdDS1OGfQknHFYPoki29a33Ml4q1c8JtNHr2E1QJhMSZC7rT2lWRCUk7~TtQ5zkmqBM7Io62p18kIToFUItqYQZ9MIrHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Salt Lake City parent told the Board of Education on Sept. 2 that district communications around a canceled bus stop left him frustrated and unconvinced the administration was open to reconsidering the decision.

“I am disappointed by how this process has worked out,” Matt Tuohy said during the public-comment portion. Tuohy said he had followed up individually with trustees and worked with district staff, including Director Astell, but learned his family’s stop was the only one canceled and that the “district is not going to reconsider this.”

Tuohy thanked Director Astell and Trustee Anderson for their responsiveness, but said repeated unanswered emails and difficulty getting clear information had driven him to public advocacy: “I’ve started a website. I’ve got stupid shirts that I’ve made. I’ve written an op ed.” He warned the experience was not unique and said other families described similar cycles of unclear responses and bureaucratic routing of inquiries.

The board chair noted the district may be limited by an administrative regulation Tuohy had cited and indicated staff follow-up could occur where appropriate. Tuohy also mentioned community concerns about an unrelated project, the Rosslyn Heights Sports Complex, asserting some residents felt public input had not been sufficiently solicited on that project.

Ending: Tuohy urged the district to rethink how it communicates routing and other operational decisions so families can understand and participate in outcomes. The board did not take immediate formal action on his request during the meeting.","A parent who lost a bus stop described lengthy efforts to get answers from district staff and publicized his frustration during public comment, saying the district told him the canceled stop would not be reinstated and that communication around routing decisions left families feeling excluded.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6477609,"Board approves consent agenda; auditor finds low fraud risk, members flag staffing gaps",117,172000,289000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41&start=172&end=289","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711275-40f06ec511a1322e0ed95fe549db4e41/thumbnail_172000.jpg","/articles/6477609/Utah/Board-approves-consent-agenda-auditor-finds-low-fraud-risk-members-flag-staffing-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477609-c81810d73156f0af1519989ef6a97d43/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138681&Signature=X1STORMFXs89dJ9xqqP5AfIo-7oNwVRGW4eg2vwPL5Bqi0-dkUrOXu6TO4KnN~35v-QYhklL7k7XXcgSFDvW8ZlNIAM3MHqTQpUN~Lnlk6SKUDRT9n2QEcpVqm~OmmFEvD0yYEyjaxRQyP0WVkrFgcXrnhpyGzxj32h34ly6HTld3SjQDC8PqY94B2--~Z-qe8j0fYzZ1ZiT48UVEDfaOcmrQi3AWr9y-l6xtm9QZS0Fpz2BX8vKGhOuutwTwOQlTneT0W2JFu96cPEx1fn6Sn-0Uoziuqp2GWbin06BTI~bWixCR8dRqv4gjqyfemjKyRfVeD2IaRv~D35TnZwNrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salt Lake City Board of Education trustees voted to approve the consent agenda at their Sept. 2 business meeting, a motion that passed by roll call.

The vote followed brief discussion during which a board member noted that links to attachments in the posted draft minutes for Aug. 2 and Aug. 5 produced an error page and asked that the links be fixed before the minutes are posted in final form. Another trustee cited an external audit finding and persistent staffing shortfalls.

The board’s posted roll call recorded “Bryce Williams, yes,” “Charlotte Pfeiff Jefferson, yes,” “Ashley Henderson, yes,” “Nate Salazar, yes,” “Mae Jensen, yes,” and “Amanda Longwell, yes,” after which the chair announced the motion passed.

Board member Ashley Henderson (referenced during discussion) said she assumed the broken links were related to the district website transition and asked that the links be corrected before the final minutes are posted. Trustee Amanda Longwell called attention to a Utah State Auditor fraud-risk assessment that classified the district as “low risk for fraud,” and she said staffing remained a concern: she reported the district was still short of special-education teachers and special-education paraprofessionals several weeks into the school year.

No additional formal board action was taken on the staffing issue during the consent vote; trustees did not move to add a separate agenda item. The meeting proceeded to the scheduled public-comment period and other agenda business, including an extended public interview process to fill a vacant precinct 5 seat.

Ending: The vote completed routine business and allowed the board to move into public comment and a multi-candidate interview process for a vacant board seat. The staffing concerns raised by trustees were noted on the record but were not the subject of a separate motion or vote at this meeting.","The Salt Lake City Board of Education approved its consent agenda during its Sept. 2 business meeting. Members highlighted a Utah State Auditor finding that the district is low risk for fraud while several trustees raised concerns about ongoing special-education staffing shortages and a broken link in posted meeting minutes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board begins interviews to fill precinct 5 vacancy; candidate Russell Askren urges overhaul of special-education processes

Student asks board to fund RFID readers for high-school elevators, estimates $66,000 cost

Parent criticizes district communication after single bus-stop cancellation; says community distrust persists

Board approves consent agenda; auditor finds low fraud risk, members flag staffing gaps