Board Briefs

The Layton High School Chamber Orchestra performed The Wexford Carol which is a traditional Irish Carol arranged by Katie LaBrie. The orchestra is under the direction of Director Anna Smith. The orchestra at Layton High School has nearly 70 students. They consistently qualify and receive superior ratings at state festivals.

The Board of Education of Davis School District listened to initial findings of a generative AI steering committee. The committee has been tasked with reviewing the use of AI in classrooms and schools. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Logan Toone shared key factors the committee recognized:

1. AI is, and likely always will be, a constantly changing environment.
2. There are a variety of perspectives related to how people feel about AI.

The district steering committee has been divided into three subcommittees, each with the purpose of researching and reviewing: stakeholder feedback, professional practices, and the creation of an AI policy.

The committee has also identified five guiding principles of their work in evaluating the use of generative AI in the district:

1. Carefully implement and plan
2. Variety of solutions and supports
3. Put student safety and privacy first
4. Maintain a focus on student learning
5. Accept AI as a fixture in students' future careers

The first task of the steering committee, comprised of faculty and staff, is to create sample statements for teachers to use in their disclosures. The samples include a high-level, mid-level and low-level engagement statement teachers could choose from as a sample for their class disclosures.

Business Administrator Craig Carter and Finance Administrator Tim Leffel shared information reviewed by the district finance committee.

Carter outlined the need to increase the capital budget through a possible capital levy. The last increase to the capital levy was in 2010. The board heard information related to the capital budget, as well as costs associated with ongoing and one-time projects, some of which may need to be cut back without an increase in capital funding.

New board member Michelle Barber took the oath of office as the representative of Precinct 5. Barber was selected by board vote after the previous board member for Precinct 5 resigned.

The Board of Education unanimously approved the 2024-2025 school year calendar as presented by Elementary Director Ruthanne Keller.

Keller explained that there were 2,166 responses to the survey. Most comments were appreciative of many aspects of the calendar.

The committee also provided Calendar FAQs that addresses frequently asked questions from the survey responses. Both the calendar and the FAQs can be found at the link below.

2024-2025 school year calendar and FAQs

The school board unanimously approved the second and final reading of proposed boundary changes. The addition of a new elementary school and a new junior high school, both in West Point, are the impetus for the overall boundary study.

The primary goals of this study were to ensure all students have access to high-quality education, adequate resources and a nurturing learning environment.

The changes for elementary schools will commence in the fall of 2024 and encompass boundary realignments for Buffalo Point, Clinton, Doxey, Lakeside, Parkside, Sunset, West Clinton and West Point elementaries and the addition of a new elementary school in West Point.

The elementary boundary change will also include the closure of Fremont Elementary School in Sunset. Due to this school closure, students currently attending Fremont and Sunset who live north of 1800 North would attend Sunset, and students currently attending Sunset and Doxey who live south of 1800 North would attend Doxey.

The changes for junior high schools will start in the fall of 2025 and involve new boundaries for Sunset, Syracuse and West Point junior high schools and the addition of a new junior high in West Point. Although included in the boundary study, Legacy Junior High will not have any boundary changes.

Access to approved boundary maps can be seen here.

The board unanimously approved two policy updates related to a required five-year policy review.

The first policy, 11IR-504 Student Accommodations, included a general policy review and an update to the grievance procedures.

The second policy, 11IR-107 Recognizing Constitutional Freedom, included updated changes in both state and federal law.

Davis School District General Council Ben Onofrio presented a new policy that incorporates interlocal agreements with municipal jurisdictions and the county for school resource officers. The policy was presented as a new draft and approved on first reading.