Two new construction projects approved by San Juan School Board

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the San Juan School Board approved a $4.7 million contract with Tri-Hurst Construction for upgrades at Monticello High and Albert R Lyman (ARL) Middle schools at their March 10 meeting.
The contract was awarded as the low bid and are mostly aimed at safety upgrades at the entrances to the schools, similar to those currently being completed at San Juan High and Montezuma Creek Elementary.
The ARL project will include a new secure vestibule on the south side and the addition of two new classrooms to offset space lost due to the remodel.
The Monticello project will also include a secure entry. In addition, the project will add a concession stand attached to the home economic room, as well as new bathrooms near the gym to improve access during school events.
In other capital project news, the new Blanding Elementary School construction project is again reported ahead of schedule, with a projected turnover date in June.
School District Business Administrator Jacob Swanson relayed that exterior efforts continue. Xeriscaping is underway across the site, with plant installation begun and the front school sign has been installed.
Exterior metal siding work is also ongoing. Inside the building, flooring has been installed in the cafeteria and carpet is in place near the front entryway.
Additionally, most window shades have been installed. A fence is being installed around the retention pond to prevent potential injury from standing water.
An updated tour for the school board is being planned before the next board meeting in April.
Members of the San Juan School Board also heard reports about the recent state legislative session.
District Superintendent Christine Fitzgerald reported on several bills that educators tracked during the session, with the big one being the state literacy bill. The bill sets a target of 80 percent of third-grade students to be reading at grade level by 2030.
While Fitzgerald noted that she is supportive of the goal, she adds it will be a “very heavy lift” for teachers, noting a particularly controversial provision for student retention in third grade for those who don’t meet benchmarks.
Fitzgerald reports the district plans to use its early warning platform to streamline intervention plans. This may help teachers focus on instruction rather than be weighed down by paperwork.
In other legislative items, Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) funds will be restricted in schools with low literacy scores. A full 50 percent of TSSA funds must be spent on literacy interventions.
In other state legislative news, a house bill reauthorized the district’s Quality Teaching Incentive Program (QTIP). The program provides additional funding for the district to address teaching shortages in the southern or “River Region” schools in the district.
The program provides additional funds to attract quality teachers to the river region. The program seeks to grow local teaching pools and increase efforts to retain successful teachers in the river region.
Members of the board also adopted a new policy governing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in schools. The policy is designed to create a framework described as a “sandbox” where students can experiment with AI in a controlled, safe setting.
The policy also ensures that Ai does not replace professional judgement of licensed educators in grading or assessments.
Members of the board also approved an update to policy related to school safety personnel after a second reading.
The policy is designed to serve as a comprehensive review of all requirements mandated by state safety bills, rules and statutes concerning safety personnel within schools.
The policy was also presented to school community councils with no negative feedback. Members of the board approved the updated policy.
The board also approved a policy related to external research and data privacy. The new policy is designed to govern how external entities such as universities or doctoral students conduct research within the district.
The policy creates a systemic framework to ensure criteria rather than individual discretion guide the district’s choices whether or not to allow a research project. The policy also creates a research committee made up of district admin and tech staff to protect student data and privacy.
While that committee would handle initial reviews and recommendations, final approval for extensive research projects will remain with the school board.
The board also discussed an accountability system to help track their own engagement in school activities, academic events and community meetings.
Members of the school board also heard from principals in Montezuma Creek.
Montezuma Creek Elementary Principal Jenny Atcitty shared encouraging data despite having a student population that is 87 percent economically disadvantaged and 43 percent of students identified as homeless or lacking adequate housing, the school saw 72 percent of K-3 students making typical or above-typical progress in reading.
Atcitty gave credit to specific instruction related to literacy and the integration of Navajo language classes, which she notes solidifies language skills across the board.
Whitehorse High Principal Kim Schaefer highlighted some exceptional milestones. Schafer reports Whitehorse is the only high school in Utah to exit “Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) status for students with disabilities.
Schaefer attributes the success to a school culture of co-teaching and co-planning where special education teachers work directly in math and language arts classrooms. Schafer emphasized all students are getting education with necessary support.
The board recognized Jeanna Grover and JJ Grover with a San Juan Sweet Job awards.