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