Juab School Board approves 2027-28 calendar, hears 3rd-grade reading rise to 72%

The Juab School District Board of Education voted 5-0 on Oct. 21 to approve the 2027-2028 school calendar, according to draft minutes posted on the Utah Public Notice Website that the board has not yet approved. All five members, Brady Blackett, Linda Hanks, Hollie Holman, Bart Mills and Janet Ware, were present. The minutes say the parent-teacher conference was moved back one week, and the board discussed how secondary schools will communicate before the conferences ^[1].

Elementary principals reported that the share of Juab third graders proficient on the Acadience reading assessment rose from 65.5 percent in 2024 and 65.9 percent in 2025 to 72.0 percent in 2026. They also reported that the district moved up to 19th in Utah on 2026 achievement data. The district's goal is to reach or exceed 80 percent third-grade proficiency by May 2028. A literacy audit comparing classroom time with state recommendations found the district very close to the guidelines, requiring minor schedule changes ^[1].

Beginning-of-year results for 2026-27 showed 60 percent of kindergartners, 69 percent of first graders, 67 percent of second graders and 63 percent of third graders at or above proficient. Principals described individualized reading plans required under state law (SB 241), rolled out first for first graders reading below benchmark, with kindergarten to be added at midyear and second and third grades after that. They said conference times for those students were extended from 15 minutes to 20-30 minutes, and raised concern about administrator time because a school leader must attend every plan meeting once all K-3 grades are included ^[1].

The board also unanimously approved the district's 2026-27 TSSA framework and the TSSA plans for its high school, junior high and three elementary schools. It approved seven policies on second reading, covering board meeting notices, electronic meetings, school closures and boundary changes, budgeting, school construction requirements, employee and student relations, and credit through testing ^[1].

On first reading, the board unanimously advanced a construction management policy that, as summarized in the minutes, would allow a design-build method for projects under $3 million and require a more formal process with state facilities oversight above that. It also advanced a revised child abuse reporting policy, a split of the student prohibited-acts policy into a new drug and alcohol reporting policy, a course grade replacement policy, and a student fees policy ^[1].

Administrators described the fee policy as a proposed tiered waiver: a first activity fee waived, a second waived with an agreed student service plan, and a third not waived, subject to a participation cap. The minutes say few students currently take part in two or more waived activities, the change would not take effect this school year, and the board will review participation data at a future work session before setting a cap ^[1].

Under state legislative changes, district staff recommended setting aside the early learning plan and K-3 math policies without a motion until state board rules catch up, and the board approved only the K-3 reading achievement policy. The minutes note that statute introduces possible third-grade retention beginning in 2029-30 for students below the reading benchmark, with a team able to grant a good-cause exemption ^[1].

The business administrator reported on-time submission of annual state reports and clean results across three audits with no significant findings. The board went into closed session at 8:35 p.m. to discuss the character and competence of individuals and threatened or pending litigation, and adjourned at 8:55 p.m. The next meeting is Nov. 18 ^[1].