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Board approves Canyons Innovation Center director despite objections tied to prior district findings
Summary
The Canyons Board of Education voted 5–1 on Feb. 18 to approve a candidate as director of the proposed Canyons Innovation Center after a heated public discussion. One board member publicly opposed the hire, citing findings and investigations in a candidate's previous district. Supporters on the board and district staff said the candidate's record
The Canyons Board of Education voted 5–1 on Feb. 18 to approve a candidate for the Canyons Innovation Center director after a contentious public discussion about the candidate's record in a previous district.
Board member Bridal cast the lone vote against the appointment and delivered a detailed public objection, citing Department of Justice findings and saying the earlier district had a history of racial harassment and failures to protect students. Bridal said those events occurred while the candidate served in that district and urged the board to reject the hire.
Board members Pedersen, Nyberg and others countered with interviews and reference checks they said addressed the concerns. Pedersen said multiple interviewees described the finalist as a visionary who had moved projects forward and that some problematic incidents preceded the finalist's duties. Superintendent Robbins and staff said they opened the search nationally and conducted extensive vetting, and Robbins said he accepted responsibility for the hire.
The board's motion to approve the appointment passed after public comment and discussion. The official roll call recorded five votes in favor and one opposed; Bridal was recorded as the single no vote. The minutes show the board considered extensive references and that the candidate had since taken a role with Utah State University.
Board supporters said the finalist's prior work creating an innovation/catalyst center made him especially qualified to lead Canyons' effort to connect students with industry and to build new career and technical pathways. Pedersen and others argued the finalist's network of higher‑education and industry contacts and previous center leadership experience were essential for an Innovation Center start‑up.
Bridal said he could not ignore the Department of Justice's findings and the effects of the discriminatory incidents on students. Other board members said the incidents were systemic and part of a larger pattern affecting multiple districts and that the finalist's later work and transparency convinced them the person could lead the district's innovation effort.
The vote means district staff will proceed with onboarding and with next planning steps for the Canyons Innovation Center, a school‑district initiative intended to connect students with industry partners and expand career and technical education offerings.
Next steps: staff will finalize the director's contract and develop an implementation timeline for the Innovation Center; the board and administration said they will continue outreach to community and campus partners.
