South Summit School District

Utah reported another record high of new COVID-19 cases Thursday. 1,198 cases were reported. Schools along the Wasatch back continue to use state and county health protocols to keep students and staff safe, but with recent increases statewide, they’re now closely monitoring student cases. 

The Park City School District adopted a COVID case count dashboard which is on their website, pcschools.us. Their case count jumped from three posted on Wednesday to seven cases as of Thursday morning.

South Summit School District updated KPCW with details on COVID-19 back to school protocols, master planning and their new High School Principal.

South Summit School District has been lucky according to Superintendent Shad Sorenson, who says the schedule they have devised gives them one day during the week to perform a deep clean while all students and teachers are working from home.

On today's Local News Hour:

( 08:10) South Summit School District Superintendent Shad Sorenson and new High School Principal Chris Jenson have an update on how the school year is progressing and how they handled  Homecoming during the pandemic.

( 21:27) Park City Planning Director Bruce Erickson previews Wednesday’s Planning commission agenda, including another look at the parking plan for the development at the base of PCMR and the future of upper Marsac Ave.

The Summit County Council and local school authorities have released a letter that clarifies the role of the county in school reopenings this month.

The letter says while there is understandable concern about the start of this school year, there is a misperception in some circles that the county authorizes the school plans or has officially endorsed them.

South Summit School District superintendent says the district is as ready as it can be – as it prepares to open its school - navigating uncharted waters in the midst of a pandemic. KPCW’s Leslie Thatcher has more.

Parents and students at South Summit were asked to register for one of three different learning options this year. The district is offering a choice of a 100% online regimen, homeschooling, and a classroom hybrid. 

The South Summit Board of Education will hold a truth in taxation hearing next week and while taxes are going up, residents of the district won’t be paying more than they were a year ago. 

The tax hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 13 at 6 p.m in the board room at the school district offices, 285 E. 400 South, Kamas. 

Superintendent Shad Sorenson says the proposed increase is just more than 3% - and will result in an additional $35 in taxes for a home valued at $418,000 and about $64 dollars on a business the same value.

On today's Local News Hour :

( 00:36 ) Summit County Council Member Kim Carson recaps Wednesday's meeting.

( 15:21) Jeremy Sorensen, the new General Manager for Summit Water, introduces himself, tells us what his marching orders are, and recaps the newly seated board meeting held on Wednesday.

On today's Local News Hour:

(06:28)Editor of Park City Magazine Jane Gendron talks about some of the highlights in this summer’s issue on newsstands now as well as some of the challenges putting it together during a pandemic.

(23:04) South Summit School District Superintendent Shad Sorenson and  Business Administrator Adam Robinson talk about the most recent budget hearing setting next school year’s budget with an update on schools opening next month.

With schools closed for another week, and possibly longer, South Summit School District says the district is adjusting to the new reality of education.

The Murray School District announced Thursday they will close all 10 of their district schools due to a potential direct contact exposure of teachers and students to someone with COVID-19. School districts in Summit and Wasatch Counties are preparing for the potential of an immediate shutdown.

Teachers are preparing lessons to send home with elementary students while secondary school teachers are updating on-line lesson plans so that in the event schools shut down, students can access on-line learning programs.

Fourteen South Summit School District football players have been disciplined for using vape products on school buses while traveling to and from football games. Although the Wildcats were the 2018 state champions, it’s a little tougher to get enough players on the field as a result of the incident.

On today’s program, South Summit School District Superintendent Shad Sorenson talks about the vaping issues in his district and the start of the Gay Straight Alliance Club. Park City Councilmember Tim Henney has a recap of Tuesday's council meeting and Save People Save Wildlife members Lorelei Coombs and Erin Ferguson talk about how they think reduced speeds on SR 224 will be safer for wildlife and people as well news about their recent payment to UDOT to install more wildlife fencing.

Among the incidents reported by the Summit County Sheriff’s office, a domestic violence call on Wednesday brought out a heavy response, and led to a very short lockdown notice given to schools in South Summit.

Sheriff’s Lieutenant Andrew Wright said they got a call at about 1:45 p.m. from Oakley.

The suspect was a 45-year-old husband whose whereabouts were unknown at first. Officers were told that he had threatened to shoot his wife, and possibly his children. Lt. Wright said the call brought out nine county deputies, a Highway Patrol officer and two Kamas police officers.

Local Nonprofit Youth Sports Alliance provides after school activities to students in the Park City School District, originally the program was focused on involving elementary students in winter sports activities but has since expanded into more activities and more grade levels. Last year YSA expanded their programing outside of Park City to South Summit Middle School where they had 20% of the school participate in the program in the first year.

School kids are out of classes for the summer, but school administrators are hard at work on the budget. Its required that preliminary budgets are made available to the public before budget hearings occur. There are a few regulations districts have to follow before a budget is finalized.