School district to open new school in Blanding

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the San Juan School Board made plans to celebrate the opening of a new school, approved the budget and discussed board member compensation at their latest meeting.
The San Juan School District is set to celebrate the opening of the new Blanding Elementary School. Members of the San Juan School board scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house for August 4.
District Business Administrator Jacob Swanson reported at the June 16 board meeting that the school reached its “substantially complete” milestone on May 12, nearly three weeks ahead of its scheduled date.
Swanson noted that is “almost unheard of” for projects as large as a new elementary school and offered credit to local subcontractors for the schedules efficiency.
In addition to the planned ribbon-cutting and grand opening on August 4, another event is planned for August 11 with the elementary school administration planning a "scavenger hunt” at the school to help children and parents familiarize themselves with the new building layout before school starts on August 17.
District staff also reported construction is continuing on the secure entrance upgrades at Monticello High and Albert R Lyman (ARL) Middle School. Substantial completion for both projects is expected by late August.
In addition to secure entrance upgrades, the Monticello project will include new bathrooms accessible from the gymnasium and ARL will have an additional classroom space.
Members of the San Juan School Board also adopted the revised FY 2026 budget and the proposed FY 2027 budget as part of their latest meeting.
The board adopted the suggested certified tax rate which will keep the amount collected the same although that will be slightly increased for individual properties with assessed property valuations slightly down in the county.
Despite that Swanson reported the district received a slight boost from federal impact aid which totaled over $3.7 million for the year.
The district will also maintain its “nest egg” of unassigned fund balance in the budget, recommending a 30 to 35 percent reserve to protect against volatility in federal funding sources like impact aid.
Members of the board also approved the adoption of the Read 180 curriculum for reading intervention among secondary schools.
The decision came after a pilot program received near-unanimous approval from district teachers and principals.
Members of the board also approved bids for projects including a xeriscaping landscape project for Whitehorse High and Montezuma Creek district housing, as well as a bid to replace floor coverings at Montezuma Creek Elementary School.
Members of the board also discussed a potential change to their compensation, with a proposal to introduce a $100 stipend per meeting for discretionary activities, capped at $1,200 annually. An example listed at the meeting of those activities include attending a Navajo Mountain Chapter meeting.
Board members shared that the program would incentivize engagement in the geographically large district, where travel is a major time commitment. A public hearing on that proposal is expected in August.
Members of the board also received reports, including from District Special Education Director Spencer Singer.
Singer reported on the department’s move toward a co-teach model where special education teachers “push in” to general classroom education rather than pulling students out of the classroom.
Singer reported the model has shown significant success at Whitehorse High, which was recently upgraded out of a designation of “school improvement” status for students with disabilities.
Singer also reported the district is implementing digital tools to help paraprofessionals aid in student educational goals and shared that 26 students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) graduated this year, with another 18 graduates also having been previously supported by an IEP at some point in their academic careers.
The board also received reports from District Food Service Director Anna Fredericks. Fredericks reported concerns with staffing shortages in district kitchens, noting the demanding work of the kitchens, weighed against competitive pay from other sectors, have made the positions difficult to fill.
Fredericks also highlighted federal regulations to reduce sodium and added sugars in school meals will present a particular challenge for the popular “second chance”, breakfast in a bag program. Despite challenges the district celebrated 545,097 meals served during the school year, averaging 3,062 meals per day.
In addition, Fredericks stated the kitchen staff in every school across the district received perfect scores from their two annual health department inspections.
At the meeting, members of the board also heard from LT Erickson who offered a farewell to the district after 29 years in education.
Erickson praised the district’s collaborative and friendly leadership team and its commitment to equity for Native American students.
Members of the board also offered a San Juan Sweet Job award to district occupational therapist Danelle Shumway to recognize her impact on students and dedication to the district.
The San Juan School Board will next meet in August, with the July meeting cancelled to allow for focus on policy work sessions.