Thursday’s Murray Board of Education meeting covered several critical updates ranging from student safety and mental health data to construction progress and new policies regarding online learning. Below is a summary of the key takeaways that affect your students and our schools.

The SHARP Survey: Mental Health & Safety Trends
Sierra Marsh, the District Prevention Coordinator, presented results from the 2025 SHARP (Student Health and Risk Prevention) Survey. This survey is a vital tool used to understand the challenges our students face.

Key Strengths

• Declining Substance Use: Marijuana and vaping rates are trending downward, particularly among 6th graders.
• Mental Health Awareness: Over 80% of students believe it is okay to seek professional help for mental health.
• Safety Indicators: Suicide indicators (ideation and planning) and social isolation reports are trending positively, approaching pre-pandemic levels.

Areas of Concern

• Vaping & Nicotine: While vaping is down in 6th grade, it remains higher than the state average in older grades. There is a notable rise in the use of nicotine pouches.
• Safe Spaces: Students continue to report feeling least safe in school bathrooms and parking lots.
• Screen Time: Many students acknowledged that screen time is negatively impacting their sleep, homework, and family relationships.

Construction Update: New High School & Junior High
Director Taggart provided a "boots on the ground" update on our major building projects:

• Murray High School: The project is on schedule. The exterior structure is mostly up, and the building should be "dried in" (roofed and sealed) within the next 10 days. Drywall installation on the first floor is set to begin soon.
• Riverview Junior High: While there have been minor delays in steel delivery, the project remains on schedule. Foundations are in place, and masonry work on the classroom wings is moving forward.
• Inclusive Spaces: The Board highlighted that the new buildings include dedicated spaces for the "Teen Centers" to support students experiencing housing instability.

New Policy: State Online Education Program (SOEP)
The Board discussed a first reading of Policy PS 448, which introduces "guardrails" for students taking online courses through the state. Why the change? Enrollment in these online courses has jumped from 44 students in 2023 to over 265 this year. Because the District pays approximately $425 per half-credit to outside providers, the Board is looking to manage these costs responsibly.

Proposed Guidelines:

• High school students will generally be limited to 8 total credits per year (including online courses).
• Students must be enrolled in at least two courses at their physical school to use the online program.
• Online courses will no longer be approved for "Grade Replacement" (retaking a class to get a better grade) or Credit Recovery through this specific state-funded program.

A Call to Action for Parents
Board Chair Kelly Taeoalii expressed concern regarding upcoming state legislative sessions and potential budget cuts to mental health funding, stating "If students are not in a space mentally where they can learn, they are not able to succeed. Please pay attention to the legislative session and email your representatives to let them know how important this funding is for Murray students."

Upcoming Events

• MEF Pickleball Tournament: January 29–30 (Benefiting the Murray Unified Sports program).
• MEF Pinnacle Awards: March 5 (Honoring outstanding teachers).
• Adult Advisor Training: February 3, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Learn about the "Sources of Strength" program).