Utah State Board of Education approves remand with one-year suspension, refers case for further review and confirms several appointments
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Summary
At its meeting the board approved a remand order imposing a one-year suspension in case 24-2196 (12–1), referred case 25-2192 back to UPAC for further investigation (12–1), approved multiple UPEQ/UPAC recommendations and confirmed appointments including Michael Martinez to the Utah Special Education Advisory Panel.
The Utah State Board of Education voted on a slate of disciplinary, investigatory and administrative items at its meeting. Member Boggess presented the motions; the chair presided over the votes.
The board approved a remand order that includes a one-year suspension in case 24-2196, passing 12–1. Member Lear cast the sole vote in opposition. Records in the meeting show Boggess restated the motion after noting an earlier notation error before the vote.
The board also voted to refer case 25-2192 back to the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (UPAC) for further investigation; that motion passed 12–1 with member Bridal recorded as opposed. Earlier, the board approved a motion that, contingent on both parties’ approval in case 24-2144, would allow UPAC to share hearing recordings and exhibits with the board ahead of the May meeting. That motion passed with 10 in favor, one abstention, two no votes and two members absent; the transcript records no-votes from members Bridal and Lear.
The board approved UPEQ recommendations in two separate matters: case 24-2170 and case 25-2303. Both motions were moved by Member Boggess, seconded, and passed unanimously.
On appointments, the board confirmed Michael Martinez for a two-and-a-half-year term as the juvenile justice services representative on the Utah Special Education Advisory Panel; the motion passed unanimously. The board also appointed McKenzie Van Valkenburg and Lynelle Smith to two-year terms on the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind school community council; those appointments passed unanimously.
The meeting record shows the UPAC consent calendar was approved earlier in the agenda by voice vote, with the consent calendar passing unanimously and two members noted as absent. Member Boggess moved the consent calendar approval.
What happens next: the board’s actions include both formal disciplinary outcomes and referrals for further investigation; staff and the named advisory bodies will carry out follow-up steps identified in the meeting record. No additional substantive discussion items were recorded in the provided transcript segment.
