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  • Effective: 4/26/2022

  1. Board Directive
    The Board of Education seeks to provide every student with access to a high-quality learning environment that provides superior educational programming and supports student health and well-being. Board members recognize that at times there may be the need to reconsider the use of District buildings. The Board strives to maximize the efficient use of District facilities while balancing the effect that changes can have on students, families, employees, and communities. The Board of Education has the sole authority to consolidate or close Jordan District schools.The Administration is authorized to administer school consolidation and/or school closures under the direction of the Board.
  2. Administrative Policy
    1. When reviewing the use of District facilities, the Board of Education will consider applicable factors including but not limited to:
      1. Need for significant investment in a building
      2. Supplementing general teacher Full Time Equivalent (FTE)
      3. Decreasing enrollment over time, building capacity, and enrollment of near-by schools
      4. New opportunities or use for District needs
    2. When changes are made, the priority of the Board is to provide students and staff with the opportunity to experience a smooth transition. If the Board decides to pursue consolidation or closure, the following conditions will be in place:
      1. Teachers who are subject to policy DP327 NEG - Reduction in Licensed Staff will have access to the negotiated policy protections which include one year of substituting with benefits and guaranteed opportunity to interview.
      2. Education Support Professionals (ESP) who are subject to policy DP349 NEG - Reduction in Force – Contract Education Support Professionals, who apply for and are offered a position at a lower lane, will have their pay held harmless for a period of one year.
    3. Additional consideration will be given to the following possibilities:
      1. Provide temporary transportation to ease transition.
      2. Create a sense of ownership for all students at the receiving school(s) such as:
        1. New name for school
        2. New mascot
        3. Building improvements
        4. Additional programs
      3. Have a plan for the use of the closed school that prioritizes a new opportunity or is utilized for District needs.
      4. Bring in an outside entity to facilitate stakeholder conversations.
    4. Timeline:
      1. October/November
        1. Enrollment, capacity and projection data provided to the Board by staff.
        2. Staff provides Facilities Committee with information on schools that meet the trigger points and an initial analysis of the trigger point data:
          1. Estimated costs associated with all short-term repairs, building lifespan needs over the next five (5) years, and/or addressing the structural safety issues is greater than 35% of the estimated cost of building a new school.
          2. General teacher FTE supplemented to allow for two teacher options per grade level in an elementary school.
          3. Enrollment is below 850 for a middle school.
          4. Five-year enrollment projection data indicates the school will be at or below 50% of capacity and surrounding schools will be at or below 65% of capacity.
        3. Facilities Committee notifies all Board members of schools being discussed and involves the Board member representing the affected school(s) in the discussions.
        4. Facilities Committee will analyze trigger point data, school information, potential resolutions, and determine if further action is recommended.
      2. March - June
        1. Facilities Committee presents recommendation(s) to the Board.
        2. Board reviews the recommendation(s) and identifies next steps.
          1. If the Board determines further action is necessary, the potentially impacted areas will be identified.
          2. If the Board determines no further action is necessary at this time, a timeline for re-evaluation will be established.
      3. May/June
        1. Provide notice to required groups of potential school consolidation or closure 120 days prior to final approval. Utah Code 53G-4-402(21)(a)
      4. August/September
        1. Feedback on options is received from patrons through open houses with stakeholders, surveys, and meetings with other focused stakeholders. (SCC, PTA, faculty, etc.)
      5. October/November
        1. Provide opportunity for public comment during at least two public school board meetings.
        2. Hold a public hearing on the issue.
      6. November/December
        1. Final vote is held during a public general meeting by the Board of Education.
        2. Approved changes take effect the subsequent school year unless noted by the Board.