Letter to parents, students, and community on Park City School District grade realignment from Superintendent

A reader forwarded this letter sent in the past few days from the Park City School District. If you haven’t read it, you may find it interesting. Thanks to the reader who sent this in…

Parents, Students and Community,

We (Board, administration and staff) are in full support of grade realignment — independent of when it is implemented. We will continue to keep you posted as the process moves forward; the PCHS Expansion, the 5-8 Curriculum Team’s findings of the ideal learning environment for middle-level learners, and discussions and decisions around realignment and bond timing.

It is evident we are a unified team in support of the middle level philosophy researched and recommended by our own team of Park City School District professionals, and it comes down to this: we need more space and appropriate facilities not only to manage our current, excellent programs, but also to accommodate anticipated future growth. Here’s what we will do to demonstrate that need:

• Middle Level Learning Philosophy Events
  • STAFF ONLY: Today at 3 p.m.
  • COMMUNITY: Thursday, February 16 at 6 p.m. at Ecker Hill Middle School Auditorium
• Tours (for community and media) of ALL buildings during school hours: this will shine a bright light on the urgent need for our students (and programs) to have more space.
  • Three of four elementary schools are at capacity and need additional rooms immediately
  • TMJH is a building we are band-aiding year after year
  • PCHS Expansion tours will show where options will go to ease overcrowding when our 9th graders are moved into the building
• Regular Board update emails and communications with links to relevant videos

A bit of great news – your voices are being heard! The Board listened to both benefits and concerns from staff and administration — and read dozens of emails from the community. We are working closely with Board members to demonstrate that all concerns, while valid, are not going to stop us from doing what’s best, academically, for our students. We will find answers and workable solutions. We continue to welcome your feedback and thoughts as we work to implement what we all know is best — realignment of our grades.

As we move toward that goal, funding is a big question mark. We must be sure our staff and our community are on board for the next bond attempt. As you know, we need all the support we can get as we ensure our students have access to the very best resources for learning, both in facilities and programs. We need your input: we need to make sure you know your questions are being heard, that we are providing solutions to your concerns and that you have complete understanding of this complex facility issue – we want you to be assured that we are taking the most thorough, thoughtful steps we possibly can.

The next big step: the Board has scheduled an additional work session to continue to outline details for realignment facility needs on Thursday, February 16 at 9:00 a.m., here at the District Office (2700 Kearns Blvd.). A change to the existing decision for grade realignment (scheduled for 2017-2018) is anticipated (but not certain). Here’s what that means: the Board could make a motion to rescind or amend the realignment decision with a 2017-2018 timeline. They could also make a motion to implement a Fall 2018 realignment implementation, although that may happen in a later meeting. 

The next regular Board meeting is MONDAY, February 27 (not Tuesday, Feb. 28). This will be the public’s opportunity to give feedback (the public comment period begins at around 5:30 p.m.). However – WE WANT YOUR INPUT BEFORE THEN! Please send me an email or call me at 435.614.0234.

It seems highly likely that additional Board work sessions will be scheduled in March to review final costs and adjustments for the PCHS expansion and grade realignment timeline. Please stay involved. We value your opinions and input!

Ember Conley, EdD

Superintendent, Park City School District ​​​​​​​