Murray School Board weighs field house funding, new policies at Oct. 22 meeting

A Murray High School field house, the proposed closure of Liberty Elementary, a new investment policy and a digital literacy waiver were all on the table at the Murray City School Board's Oct. 22 study session. The district's posted minutes record no votes on the study items. Several of the items are set to return for first readings or decisions at the board's Nov. 12 meeting. ^[1]

Liberty Elementary. Board President Kelly Taeoalii led a discussion of the proposed closure, and several board members said communication with the affected community has been good and the information is available. The minutes do not describe a decision. ^[1]

Field house and bond capacity. Taeoalii also opened a discussion of fundraising and plans for a proposed field house at Murray High School. Doug Perry, MEF executive director, said there has been interest in continuing the conversation about the project with the committee, but the district needs to decide on a funding commitment to get donors to buy in. Outgoing Business Administrator Richard Reese told the board that about $20.9 million of the district's general obligation bond authorization remains, due to favorable conditions on the Riverview Junior High and Murray High projects, and that the capital outlay fund balance, excluding bond proceeds, was $24.7 million at June 30, 2026. Board members supported holding a discussion Nov. 12, with a possible motion to have the committee move forward. ^[1]

Policies and waiver. Superintendent Jennifer Covington presented updates to the internet and electronic device acceptable use policy, including internet safety, filtering and monitoring, and a provision letting parents access a monitoring system for district-owned devices; and a school guardians policy whose language the minutes say comes from state legislation. In response to a question from Board Member Elizabeth Payne about background checks, Covington said they are required as part of getting a concealed carry permit. Business Administrator Brian Ipson presented a new policy on investing district funds under the State Money Management Act that names the business administrator investment officer. The acceptable use, guardians and investment policies are expected back for a first reading Nov. 12. Discussion of the student conduct policy was tabled. ^[1]

Digital literacy. Bruce Eschler, the director of secondary teaching and learning, presented a proposal to move the digital literacy class from eighth to sixth grade as part of planned grade reconfigurations that move sixth graders to middle school. That would need a waiver from the Utah State Board of Education, which other districts have received, according to the minutes. The request is to come to the board Nov. 12. After the study items, the board voted unanimously to go into a closed session on personnel and legal issues. ^[1]