Welcome to the Canyons School District Web Site

By the new east-side board of education

The effort to create a new school district has taken years of work, the commitment of thousands of citizens and for many, even a leap of faith.

To be sure, this new adventure has been met with a mix of emotion – some citizens thrilled about the possibilities, some concerned about such a monumental undertaking, others somewhere in the middle. As members of the new school board directly responsible for overseeing the success of this remarkable effort, our views share a similar continuum.

We recognize the daunting importance of our charge and are circumspect about the task that awaits. At the same time, we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to build a new school district from the ground up and look forward to this incredible opportunity. It is a historic time -- the first time in 100 years a new district has been created in the Salt Lake Valley – and we are committed to furthering the good work that has been completed as we strive together to establish a vision for the next 100 years.

We acknowledge and appreciate the quality of the existing Jordan District, and we are dedicated to continuing the efficient and effective way it has educated students. We pledge our support to working in cooperation with the existing and remaining districts to ensure a smooth transition.

As members of the new school board, we also want to thank the interlocal team of mayors from Midvale, Draper, Sandy, Cottonwood Heights and Alta for laying the prodigious groundwork needed to take the new district forward. The work of the Education Transition Team, including Dr. John Bennion, Dr. Sandra Petersen and Rickie McCandless, has been invaluable. We recognize, too, the tirelessness of the Asset Transition Team members, led by Steve Newton, who have spent countless hours negotiating a secure financial foundation for the new district.

We know that taking the next steps in this intricate process to form a new district will require the commitment of thousands more – including those citizens who were enthusiastically supportive of this effort from the very beginning to those who may not have seen the benefits, or even voted last November against the division. We will need everyone’s help to make our new district successful.

So please share your ideas with us. Help us to do a good job. Meet with us. Express your questions, concerns and suggestions. Tell us what you envision for the new district -- what is important to you.

The three board members elected June 24th now join the four incumbents who carry over from the existing board to make up the new east-side board of education. We are: Monte L. Millerberg, Precinct 1; Kim Murphy Horiuchi, Precinct 2; Kevin Craig Cromar, Precinct 3; Tracy Scott Cowdell, Precinct 4; Ellen S. Wallace, Precinct 5; Sherril H. Taylor, Precinct 6; Paul J. McCarty, Precinct 7.

We will be sworn in and take office as a new board on Tuesday, July 15th, at 7:30 p.m. at the Jordan District Offices. We invite patrons to join us for an open house afterward to visit with us and talk about the school district’s future.

To date, we have heard the voices of our constituents as they have called for change, more accountability and action, and we pledge to tune an even closer ear as we work to represent the new district’s 220,000 patrons and 35,000 students in the coming years.

The district will open its doors for operation on July 1, 2009, and there is much to be done, including foremost, naming the new district, hiring a new superintendent and other key employees, ensuring a continuity and improvement of services, and addressing capital facilities needs. We are ready to hit the ground running, and would urge you to join us in this exciting endeavor.

The new east-side board of education includes: Tracy Scott Cowdell, Kevin Craig Cromar, Kim Murphy Horiuchi, Paul J. McCarty, Monte L. Millerberg, Sherril H. Taylor, Ellen S. Wallace.