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Board honors educators and approves routine business, grants and fee schedule
Summary
The Murray board recognized teachers and licensed employees of the year, approved the consent agenda, school fees and several instructional and grant items, and heard reports on after-school programs, nutrition, bond projects and policy first readings.
The Murray City School District Board on May 14 recognized outstanding district employees, approved routine consent items and advanced several policies and applications for grants.
Assistant Superintendent Wei Hongi presented the district's Teacher of the Year, Katie Graham of Grant Elementary, and Licensed Employee of the Year, Carolyn Martinez Ross of Murray High School. Graham and Martinez Ross each described support from administrators and the district; Martinez Ross said she is grateful to work where "the district has made a commitment to student achievement and literacy by allowing its librarians to actually be librarians." Director Taggart later presented Lori Eloy as the district's Education Support Professional of the Year.
The board approved the consent agenda and voted to adopt the published school fee schedule for 2026–27. The board also approved several plans and motions by voice vote: the school land trust plans and school improvement (TSSA) plans for 2026–27, a school-based mental-health personnel grant application (which funds 1.5 FTE social-worker positions and includes priorities such as a vaping-prevention initiative reaching Hillcrest students), and the district's overnight educational travel approvals for high schools.
District staff reported on after-school programming, noting growth at Hillcrest (about 350 students registered) and funding from the Ron McBride Foundation, Andrus Family Foundation and a 21st-century grant. The food-and-nutrition director reviewed meal programs, a waste-reduction month (Parkside reported 36.91 pounds of waste for the month) and summer-meal sites (Viewmont, Liberty, Parkside and Hillcrest, plus two apartment complexes).
Director Taggart provided a bond-project update on construction at Murray High and Riverview Junior High, outlining tile, drywall and window work, and a summer plan to dry in sections of the Riverview building. Assistant Superintendent Weihangi presented first readings of policy 403.2 (student residency during temporary out-of-country travel) and a district policy to implement the state's Focused Graduation Pathway (GED option) for eligible juniors and seniors.
Several policy first readings prompted board discussion, including a proposed update banning AI/smart glasses and refining cell-phone rules by school level; board members asked staff to return with clarified language for "classroom hours" and enforcement options at a study session. The meeting concluded with a motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel and legal matters.
