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State board confirms Darren Neielson as permanent superintendent of USDB
Summary
The board announced Darren Neielson has accepted the permanent superintendent position at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind; he outlined instructional priorities and staff thanked outgoing leaders and invited board members to graduation on May 21.
Deputy Superintendent Borhees told the Utah State Board of Education that Superintendent Molly Hart had completed interviews and offered the permanent superintendent position for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) to Darren Neielson, and that he had accepted; the appointment began immediately.
"He is now the official and permanent superintendent," Borhees said, congratulating Neielson. Neielson expressed gratitude and set out priorities for the agency, saying he was "deeply honored to accept this responsibility and continue our mission," and emphasizing goals including "establishing and meeting non-negotiable goals for highquality instruction and student achievement" and "enhancing our data systems to accurately monitor our progress."
Board and staff highlighted ongoing operational work: outgoing assistant superintendent Deborah Jacobson provided a monthly budget update noting USDB had spent 72.5% of its total budget so far in period 9 (slightly below the 75% expected), and staff described a cross-departmental data and reporting working group and an assessment audit scheduled for June 10–11 to develop benchmarks and measurement tools that better fit USDB students.
Staff also updated the board about an education foundation for USDB that has adopted bylaws and submitted articles of incorporation and tax filings; the foundation plans to begin accepting funding requests in June. Board members were invited to a USDB graduation at the OEC campus in Millcreek on May 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; staff noted parking is limited and a shuttle will be provided.
Neielson’s appointment and the department’s near-term work on assessment benchmarks and reporting are intended to align USDB operations with legislative reporting requirements and to support instructional priorities across the schools.
