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Board approves studies of Innovations Early College and Washington magnet program; seeks reconfiguration study for Nibley Park
Summary
The district will study potential long-term closure of Innovations Early College High School and the Washington magnet special enrollment program and will pursue a grade-level reconfiguration study for Nibley Park (K-8 to elementary); the board voted to move Innovations and Washington to action and then approved further study of both programs.
The Salt Lake City School District board voted Aug. 5 to authorize in-depth studies of two programs and to direct staff to study a grade-level reconfiguration.
Actions taken - Innovations Early College High School: The board approved a motion to study Innovations for potential long-term closure and to initiate required state notifications. The recommendation described declining enrollment and limited utilization of concurrent enrollment with Salt Lake Community College as factors prompting the study. - Washington magnet special enrollment program: The board approved a motion to study Washington's special enrollment (magnet/gifted) program for potential closure and to initiate required notifications; the pilot program had been designated nonrenewed earlier and the board was following policy G5 procedures. - Nibley Park reconfiguration: The board directed staff to move forward with a study of grade-level reconfiguration at Nibley Park to transition from a K-8 format to a traditional elementary model beginning in the 2026—-27 school year and to hold information sessions for stakeholders.
Why the studies were proposed District planning staff, led by Brian Connolly, said G5 administrative procedures and recent enrollment data triggered the recommendations. Connolly told the board that Innovations opened in 2012—13 with a blended learning and concurrent-enrollment focus but that preliminary data suggest the program may no longer meet its original mission. He also said Washington's magnet pilot was not renewed and the district is following the closure process for special enrollment programs. For Nibley Park, staff cited that the current K-8 configuration has low enrollment at grades 7— and 8 that limits middle-grade course offerings and access to honors and world language.
Timelines and next steps If the board's direction proceeds, in-depth studies and information sessions will be offered to the public; state law requires final school-closure decisions by Dec. 31. Staff said they plan to present in-depth studies for public review in early October with board votes in November to give families more time for planning.
Board questions and public context Board members asked whether Salt Lake Community College still supported concurrent-enrollment partnerships at Innovations and requested historical enrollment back to the program's start in 2013 for context. One board member noted prior discussions about moving the Career and Technical Education (CTE) center and asked for clarity that the CTE move did not automatically include Innovations.
Votes (roll call) - Motion to study Innovations Early College High School for potential closure: approved (yes votes recorded). - Motion to study Washington Elementary magnet special enrollment program for potential closure: approved with one abstention (Ashley Anderson declared a conflict and abstained because a student of hers attends the Washington program).
Ending: Staff will prepare in-depth studies, notifications and schedule public information sessions if the board's direction proceeds.
