Butler Middle School
School community Council (SCC)
MINUTES FEBRUARY 19TH, 2026
MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 3:30 PM
GOOGLE MEET
- Bryan Rudes (S)
- Scott Dwyer (S)
- Jenny Baker (S)
- Lori Carter (Chair)
- Alyssa Watson-Siriboe
- Aleicia Jones
- Annika Hunt
- Natalie Bletzacker
- Brooke Schneider
- Tyson Grover (Vice)
- Rebecca Shephard (Virtual)
- Sara Vranes (Virtual)
- Emily Featherstone (Virtual)
- Katie Cartwright (not in attendance)
- Jenny Heffner (not in attendance)
- Andrew Otto (S) (not in attendance)
- Amber Shill – Canyons Board President
Call to Order Lori Carter
Welcome – Bryan Rudes
TSSP and Land Trust Plan – Bryan Rudes
*Review plan for this school year TSSP and Land Trust Plan.
*Academic support behavior plan review and plan.
*Discussed were allocations from this year FTE and a 5% increase for next year. 36.5% this year and next year it will be 36%. With that, we are looking for ways to cut in our current plan that will allow pay for an extra teacher.
*Amber Schill discussed a bill passed that made the TSSP money stay the same. In the past, there was an increase but after the bill it will stay the same. They are cutting costs and it will stay static with no increase.
*Our goals currently May 2026 will achieve average growth. 60% will achieve projected growth. We were at 75% at the end of last year. We are going to move that target to 80% to achieve average growth.
*Literacy: we allocated .5 FTE for Reading Teacher and .5 Math Teacher. $45,000 to find and set aside in case we need to use it for another Teacher. We purchased Newslea at $10,000. The subscription has been effective, and we would like to continue for next year. This is for our other subjects not just ELA. Quarterly Department days looking to do those a full day. This year they were ½ day. The reason being Math and Ela dive deep into the Math assessment so half of that day they go through that data.
Bruins Den we are looking at and discussing at our BLT meeting. On average, there are 17 to 20 students serviced per afternoon for Bruins Den. The cost is $12,000. We are looking at other options. Looking at different options that are working at other Middle Schools. (Union Middle). Bruins Den is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. We pay for three Teachers each day during those hours.
Comments were made by SCC members of how useful Bruins Den has been for their students. SCC members would like to have more data and possibly hear a break down and other possible solutions. Bryan will show a cost per student for the SCC meeting in March.
Comment about Parents possibly funding. That isn’t an option with District and State policies. PTSA option to donate for Bruins Den. PSTA would have bylaws that would prohibit them from doing this. Volunteers were mentioned as an option to support.
MTSS Assistant multi-tiered system of support at 40 hours we pay at $40,000 it will stay around the same. They are utilized to teach study skills, home visits, and support at risk with tracking students. They are a big part of what we do. We would like to continue to support this.
We have a Media Specialist and two part-time supports. Most schools do not have tech copy aides, the only have a Media Specialist. We would like to keep our second part-time copy aide but that is something that we do pay for and can look at in the future. This is because during COVID they oversaw the distribution of chrome books which was a huge undertaking. They continue to do chrome books and helping students.
Andrew Otto and Hannah Long will come next SCC meeting will report on their Conference experience. We are now done with our Core classes and Conferences. Next year will be our elective Teachers and looking for Conferences for them.
Field Trips are funded. Discussion on buses and what that covers.
Math goal we were at 43% and we will keep it at 60% as a goal and use projected growth.
Stem Lab and Makers Space every week in addition will have a little bit of funding.
90% of students will report feeling connected to school-on-school climate survey. We went over that data last month. We are right on target. We will keep this goal for next year. New approach will be a school wide disclosure. It will align every school level. We will send that out in Parent Square along with a permission for the survey as well. Hopefully this will increase our numbers.
PBIS rewards
Postcards – Art contest winners have postcards. Those were displayed.
Additional counselor and gives us three full time counselors.
Great Bruin Store every Tues, Wed and Thurs. Keeps the store supplied.
Quarterly incentive activities. We haven’t used the allotted amount. On April Fool’s Day we will be doing a reward competition for every grade and they will get to choose what their focus is.
Additional office hours that we utilize especially with Attendance and Front Office Support Assistants.
Question regarding budgets. Bryan explained and broke down what they are used for.
Review what we have done with the connectedness data – Bryan Rudes
When we get the data, we present it to the grade teams. We have all the Teachers names at the top and they go through and recognize the students face and name. This helps Teachers recognize who they need to connect with.
Question on how this survey is helping and reaching students that might have more need to connect. The data does show that it is reaching students and is a great tool.
Attendance Review for Third Quarter at this Point – Bryan Rudes
Data shows according to 1st quarter that we had 65% on track and 19% at risk, 12% off track and 5% at risk. This is where we have the extra hours for attendance to focus on the 5%. We have SST which is all Administrators, Counselors, Social Workers and Therapist on staff. They review those 5% and address interventions and target these students and create incentives to increase their attendance.
2nd quarter data is 9% at risk.
3rd quarter data (which is only at midterms) shows 2%, which will have an increase.
Special Education Update and Training – Bryan Rudes
A significant update for the 2026-2027 year is the introduction of a new Academic Behavior Support requiring intensive intervention.
Training from Wayne Thrice in Student Services. He came out and did a training on kind the brain and how trauma occurs and how those students’ respond to those things.
Hiring: The school is hiring one specialized teacher and two full time para educators
Facility: Ms. Clyde will move her classroom from the F104 by the gym, to the upstairs PD room to accommodate the new ABS class.
PTSA Update– Scott Dwyer
The PTSA remains a vital partner coordinating Fun Lunch events and Parent Teacher Conference dinners.
Counseling Center – Jenny Baker
8th grade College Field Trip on April 3rd will visit campuses including the University of Utah, BYU, Utah State, UVU and MTech. Jenny Baker mentioned exposing students to technical education at MTech is a vital transitionary experience to normalize diverse post-secondary paths. She also noted that this is a massive logistical effort starting as early as October.
School Board and Legislative Update – Amber Schill
School Mergers: The closure of Bella Vista and its merger with Ridgecrest
Innovation Center (2027): This facility will offer amazing engineering programs. Exploring CTEC for 8th graders to access these advanced programs and serve as a strategic bridge from Middle school.
Legislative Advocacy: Regarding the potential 5% budget cut. Amber emphasized Parents to contact their representatives directly to protect education funding.
Upcoming Meeting: March 12th, 2026.
Motion to adjourn:
Annika Hunt
Seconded: Tyson Grover
Pending Action Item: Final approval of the previous month’s minutes is pending corrections to the sign-in sheet regarding attendees who were present but didn’t not sign. Adjustment and corrections will be made.
(30 minutes)
Total minutes for meeting 1:07:48