Murray board approves two research studies and TSSA spending, renews administrator contract; construction projects proceed

The Murray School District Board of Education approved two university research studies, two TSSA (school carryover) spending amendments totaling $29,500 and a renewal of the district's business administrator contract, and heard construction updates for Murray High School and Riverview Junior High.

The approvals came during the board's public meeting (date not specified) as staff described plans for upcoming construction bids, long-lead equipment procurement and next steps on design and site mitigation for both school rebuilds.

The actions matter because they commit district funds and authorize work that affects summer programming, credit recovery, classroom supports and multi-year building projects. Board members also discussed state legislation changing how schools may charge fees and held a first reading of the 2025–26 fee schedule.

Votes and key approvals

Votes at a glance: - Business administrator contract renewal — motion approved by voice vote (mover/second not specified). The board voted “Aye.” - University of Utah physical-activity research (Mitch Wyatt) — motion approved by voice vote (mover/second not specified). Project: 12-week comparison of resistance training protocols with Murray High weightlifting classes; district benefit includes additional personnel for supervision. Outcome: approved. - University of Utah special-education research (Charlene Kuilara) — motion approved by voice vote (mover/second not specified). Project: 5-week Canvas/AI supplemental intervention for up to eight high-school students with learning disabilities focused on algebraic word problems; Chromebooks and privacy safeguards provided. Outcome: approved. - TSSA amendments (two schools) — motion approved to permit carryover spending at Murray High School ($22,500) and Hillcrest Junior High School ($7,000). Murray High will use $20,000 for summer remediation and $2,500 for an assessment/credit-recovery grader; Hillcrest will buy a positive-behavior tracking platform and associated equipment. Outcome: approved. - Move April regular board meeting date to Thursday, April 17 — motion approved by voice vote (mover/second not specified). Outcome: approved. - Enter closed session — approved on roll call (Elizabeth: yes; Kevin: yes; Jill: yes). Outcome: approved.

Construction and facilities updates

District staff reported steady progress on two major rebuilds. The Murray High School addition is out for bid with a revised bid date (moved from the 18th to the 20th; bids due that Thursday), and the contractor-targeted substantial completion date for the addition is the week of June 27 (year not specified). Staff said the design team accelerated construction documents and that 50% estimates indicated the project remained within budget.

The Riverview Junior High project is advancing on a staged bid strategy. Staff said site mitigation requires taking up part or all of the current site so Riverview students can remain in school during work; the current softball field will not be available after this season until the new field is rebuilt. The district said the Riverview addition now totals roughly 7,000–8,000 additional square feet compared with the earlier plan, and that early bid packages will include earthwork, masonry and concrete so construction can begin in April–May. Staff warned that switchgear and transformers have long lead times and said the district already procured some long-lead equipment to avoid delays.

Research and student supports

The board approved two research requests from the University of Utah. The district described the first study (Mitch Wyatt) as a 12-week program that would test different resistance-training protocols with Murray High weightlifting classes and possibly use a credit-recovery class as a control group; the study will collect pre/post measures of fitness, sleep and cognition, and provide extra supervisory personnel for the weightlifting classes.

The second approved study (Charlene Kuilara) will test a Canvas-based, student-directed intervention using AI tools to support secondary mathematics for students with learning disabilities. The proposed study will run about five weeks with up to eight high-school students; researchers will provide Chromebooks with the study software and anonymize data. The board was told the project is a continuation of earlier work and aims to boost algebraic reasoning and students’ confidence.

TSSA amendments and fee discussion

Superintendent (Murray School District) described two TSSA carryover amendments and urged schools to spend allocated funds in the year they were awarded. "We are very much encouraging our schools to use the money in the year that it was given so that it benefits the students in the year that it's given," the superintendent said.

Murray High requested $22,500 from carryover to fund summer remediation ($20,000) and to pay a $2,500 assessment/credit-recovery grader; district documents cited nearly 180 Murray High students who participated in credit remediation in 2023–24. Hillcrest Junior High requested $7,000 to buy a positive-behavior tracking platform, printing and scanners and to fund consulting work for PBIS implementation.

Board members also held a first reading of proposed fees for the 2025–26 school year and discussed two state bills affecting school fees. The superintendent explained that House Bill 415 (passed in 2024) restricts charging general registration fees and requires fees to be tied to a specific student benefit and accounting. A separate pending bill, House Bill 344, was described as proposing a different structure that could change which courses are fee-exempt; the board said administrators will finalize fee recommendations after legislative outcomes are clear.

Other items and next steps

The board renewed the business administrator contract by voice vote and moved the April meeting to Thursday, April 17, to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Utah State Board of Education superintendent/business-administrator meeting. The district plans a March study session to review fee proposals in greater detail. The meeting concluded with a vote to enter closed session.

Board actions taken at this meeting will be posted in the official minutes; several items (the 2025–26 fee schedule and construction bid awards) were discussed as items that will return for formal approvals in future meetings.