Rumors and Facts

Fact: As many of you are aware, we also recently learned about the new guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicating that federal immigration officers will now be permitted to enforce immigration laws in and near sensitive areas, including schools. We recognize this may be concerning for many in our community, and we want to assure you we are aware of this policy change.

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

1. Every Child is Welcome: Every child, regardless of immigration status, is welcome in our schools. Undocumented children and young adults have the same right to attend public schools as U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Your child's education and safety are our top priorities.
2. Update Contact Information: It is important for parents and guardians to ensure that their contact information and the contact information for their student’s emergency contacts are up to date. These individuals do not need to be family members; they can be any trusted adult designated by the student’s parent/guardian. This can be done by speaking with the secretary at your student’s school.
3. No Immigration Status is Collected: Our schools and Tooele County School District do NOT collect information related to any student or family members' immigration status. Because we do not collect this information, it is not information we can provide to any law enforcement agency.
4. No Engagement with Federal Immigration Authorities: Tooele County School District public schools will not initiate engagement with federal immigration authorities for the purpose of sharing student information.
5. Support Services Available: We have counselors at every one of our schools who are available to talk with your students if they experience any anxiety, stress, or fears related to the federal policy changes.

Tooele County School District is committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment for all of our students. We value the trust you place in us and are dedicated to maintaining open communication with our families. Please remember that our schools are safe spaces where every student is valued and supported.

Fact: Recently, Fox 13 Utah published an article regarding the Tooele School District's handling of GRAMA (Government Records Access and Management Act) requests. We understand there may be some confusion and frustration about what we can and cannot provide. We want to clarify the process and the efforts we have made to fulfill these requests.

What Fox 13 is Asking For
Via numerous GRAMA requests, Fox 13 has requested extensive records related to student and employee safety incidents. While some requests have been fulfilled, others we would require employees to manually review thousands of records. Here’s why:

• Student Information: We track the information Fox 13 is asking for regarding students and could more easily pull up that information upon request. However, all student data is subject to FERPA and cannot be released without parent permission.
• Employee Information: This information is documented in individual employee files but not collectively tracked. Therefore, we would need to manually review all employee files, including those of former employees, to find the requested information, and redact information that would be violating privacy laws and policy.

Our Response to the Requests
In consultation with our legal counsel, we have provided several items requested by Fox 13 regarding specific incidents and employees. Some information has been redacted or withheld to comply with FERPA and employee privacy laws.

• Legal Compliance: We are not legally required to collectively track details of these incidents with employees. However, we are exploring ways to improve our tracking processes moving forward on employees while keeping privacy laws and district policy regarding employee records.
• State Information: Whenever an incident involving a licensed educator meets certain criteria, those details are reported by the district to the state through UPPAC (Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission) to independently determine any separate consequences from the district. It appears Fox 13 was able to gather this information we provided to the state, but the state also did not share certain details and names to comply with the same privacy laws.

Cost of Reviewing Records
Because we do not have a database of the requested information, we would need to have an employee manually review all employee files. This includes files of employees who have left during the requested timeframe. A conservative estimate for this task is at least one full work week for one person. During that time temporary help may also be needed to fulfill the other responsibilities of those employees. After gathering the information, our attorneys would need to review it to determine what can be shared and what needs to be redacted. The estimated cost of $6,651.05 is quite conservative given the extensive work involved.
While we have provided as much information as legally possible on several specific requests, the reporter's extremely broad request to research every employee record was deemed beyond reasonable expectation by our legal counsel. Therefore, requesting a fee was justified.

Protecting Privacy
Employee and student information is protected by law and can only be shared when certain criteria are met. We take these incidents very seriously and are committed to ensuring the rights of both the accuser and the accused are upheld.
We hope this clarifies the situation and provides a better understanding of the complexities involved in fulfilling GRAMA requests. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Fact: On December 10, 2024 the Tooele County School District updated Policy 11022, American Heritage, to remain consistent with the language in Utah House Bill 269, which was passed during the 2024 General Session by the Utah State Legislature. Utah House Bill 269 states “School curricula and activities shall include a thorough study of historical documents and principles such as: (a)the Declaration of Independence; (b) the United States Constitution; (c) the national motto; (d) the Pledge of Allegiance; (e) the National Anthem; (f) the Mayflower Compact; (g) the writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the Founders and the Presidents of the United States; (h) organic documents from the pre-Colonial, Colonial, Revolutionary, Federalist, and post Federalist eras; (i) United States Supreme Court decisions; (j) the Ten Commandments; (k) the Magna Carta; (l) Acts of the United States Congress, including the published text of the Congressional Record; and (m) United States treaties.

This means these historical documents may be included where the subject matter is relevant.

Fact: As we prepare for the opening of Deseret Peak High School in the fall of 2025, we want to share that the school will open with grades 9-11, with the first senior class set to graduate in 2027. This decision was carefully considered, balancing both logistical and financial factors, and it is one that has been approached differently by schools across the state. While some new schools choose to open with a senior class, others—like Deseret Peak—find that starting without one allows for a smoother transition and better allocation of resources.

Key Reasons for This Decision:

• Financial Considerations: Opening with a partial senior class carries a higher financial cost. With 100-130 seniors projected, staffing and resourcing this group would require additional investment in teachers for the smaller and specialized courses. By focusing on grades 9-11, we can allocate our resources efficiently and avoid stretching the budget unnecessarily in the first year.
• Varying Approaches Across the State: There are valid reasons for both opening with and without a senior class, and schools across the state have successfully used both models. Our decision to open without a senior class is primarily driven by financial prudence, ensuring that we provide the best possible experience for all students while being mindful of the district's overall budget.
• Course Offerings and Student Interest: Survey data from over 850 families of current juniors showed that 6-7% planned to attend Deseret Peak as seniors, with over half of those students living outside the school's boundaries. Senior year often requires specialized courses, and accommodating a small number of students would likely mean they would need to travel to other schools to complete graduation requirements, which we want to avoid.
• Building School Culture: Starting with freshmen, sophomores, and juniors provides a unique opportunity to build a strong foundation for Deseret Peak High School. With more time at the school, these students will be more invested in shaping the school's traditions and creating a sense of unity that will carry forward as the first graduating class in 2027.

Deseret Peak High School is an exciting opportunity for the community, and we are eager to watch it grow. As we approach the school’s completion, more details will be shared, including information on open houses, class schedules, and more. We appreciate the community’s support and look forward to welcoming our first students in the fall of 2025.

Fact: If you are a resident of a Utah school district other than TCSD and you want to attend TCSD, or if you are a resident of TCSD, and you want to attend a school other than your boundary school, you must complete an application form and follow these requirements to be considered.