Indian Hills Middle School strives to cultivate a learning community that fosters creativity, encourages meaningful connections, and celebrates personal growth and academic achievement within a safe and positive environment.
School Community Council Meeting
September 8th, 2026
Attending: Shelly Karren, Rochelle Griffin, Tyler Germer, Patrick Latimer, Beckie Comer, Kierstin Draper, Lyndsi Seltz, Amy Shaw, Samantha Panunto, Tonya Rauch
Agenda:
Welcome and introductions (Shelly/SCC Chair*)
● Roster updates, new members etc.
○ Introductions of all members
○ Roster update: have members check their email addresses and phone numbers
● Elect SCC Chair & Vice-Chair
○ Ms. Karren: Explains role of SCC Chair
○ Asks for a motion to open nominations
■ Ms. Griffin motions to open nominations; Ms. Shaw seconds the motion
■ Mr. Germer: Willing to co-chair the committee
■ Ms. Draper: Willing to chair the committee
■ Ms. Griffin motions to elect Ms. Draper as chair of the SCC; Mr. Latimer seconds the motion
■ Ms. Draper is unanimously elected chair of our SCC
■ Ms. Griffin nominates Mr. Germer as vice chair; Ms. Draper seconds the nomination
■ Group votes unanimously to elect Mr. Germer as vice-chair
PTSA Updates (Nicole Harman)
Counseling Center Updates (Samantha Panunto)
● Ms. Van De Graaff moved back to Boise; Ms. Ariana Franco moved over from Midvale Middle School = brings great perspective, very calm presence
● Survived schedule changes
● Have popped into all grade levels with their “Introduction to the Wellness Center” lesson
● Just finished with individual 6th grade check-in with all 6th graders
● Social Worker, Sarah Gadsby, is beginning the middle school transition groups for 6th graders – focus on executive functioning, social skills and transition to middle school
School Updates (Shelly Karren)
● Citizenship & Canyons Portrait of a Scholar
○ Ms. Karren: Explained how traditionally citizenship grades were given
○ District has us moving towards aligning our citizenship grades with Canyons Portrait of a Scholar – skills we want all students to gain as they progress through our schools
○ All middle schools are implementing new system
○ New “Q” will allow teachers to compute a citizenship grade, using our new rubric
○ Group looks at the IHMS Citizenship rubric, focusing on Collaborator and Resilient Learner
○ BLT worked today on how to measure these skills in the classroom – both teacher feedback and self-reflection by students
○ Will use Warrior Weekly to explain new citizenship rubric
○ Hoping to assign these grades at mid-term and at end of term (except during this year’s 1st term as we build this in to our process)
○ May rotate these skills, working on how best to measure skills in all our classrooms
○ Ms. Griffin: Is there a plan in place to explain how the new rubric/system will work?
○ Ms. Karren: Starting with our SCC, continuing to explain in the newsletter, will continue to send out the disclosure each term, plan to focus on these skills for our Citizen of the Month awards
○ Encouraged the SCC to help spread the word as to why we are changing our citizenship grade
○ Ms. Samantha: Likes how it is more concrete and specific for how students earn their citizenship grade
○ Mr. Germer: Asked what caused the district to move towards citizenship grades and Portrait of a Scholar
○ Ms. Draper: Explained that around 2013 there was a shift to proficiency grading; explained historical debate on how to have things such as attendance, behavior impact grades. Found that nationally some high schools were calculating things like citizenship, behavior, attendance,
etc. into grades. Started trickling down to other states, districts. Districts started looking at standardization of differentiation between abilities and academic grades.
○ Ms. Seltz: Asked if we picked our two areas or if all MS would focus on the same skills?
○ Ms. Karren: Explained that the BLT selected these two areas. Most middle schools chose 2 skills. Could shift those skills next year.
○ Mr. Germer: Asked if there is a correlation between attendance and student achievement.
○ Ms. Karren: Explained that there is a stark correlation between the two areas. Many attendance initiatives statewide.
● BRAVE
○ Ms. Rauch: Explained new BRAVE acronym
○ Mr. Germer: Explained that these good skills for students especially following COVID
○ Ms. Draper: Explained that there is a way for parents to download the PBIS rewards app to see how their students are doing
● Policies: cell phone, school-wide disclosure, attendance
○ Ms. Karren: Explained the “off and away” policy for cell phones from bell-to-bell; seems to be working well. We do see them occasionally but kids are doing very well.
○ Students are being respectful when they are asked to put cell phones away.
○ School-wide Disclosure: grade weights were changed to match all middle schools
○ Attendance: not part of citizenship grade anymore. Tardies are tracked and we use targeted interventions to encourage attendance.
● Computer Tech use updates
○ Ms. Karren: Updated policies regarding new state law.
○ Last year we had an administrative intern track technology usage; was able to get to every classroom. Only 20-25% of the time students were using technology in the classroom. We will continue to evaluate our technology usage.
○ Mr. Germer: He is conflicted on technology usage as a cyber security professional. Sees need for technology usage but too much screen time is detrimental for students. It is definitely a balance.
● TSSP/Land Trust for this school year—review our plan
○ Ms. Karren: Provided a copy of our Land Trust/TSSP plan for everyone.
○ Reviewed our goals in ELA, math, and school culture
○ Mr. Germer: Praised the counselors checking in with all the 6th graders and how that will impact the school culture.
○ Ms. Karren: Encouraged the SCC to look over our budget allocations for 2026-27
SCC District Training Dates (see info on side 2)
Meetings for our SCC for this year:
● Oct.13th
● Nov. 10th
● Dec. 8th*
● Jan. 12th
● Feb. 9th
● March 9th
● April13th
● May 11th
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 13th
● Digital Citizenship, Safe Walking Routes, School Data*, etc.
Canyons District School Community Council Training Dates
The SCC Training for the 2026-27 school year begin soon. All will meetings be held in the Canyons Center at 9361 S. 300 East, Sandy.
SCC Training Dates:
● September 8 @ 9:00 am and 6:00 pm; SCC 101 @ 5 p.m.
● October 7 @ 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
All members are expected to attend one session; the principal and chair are required. The training will last approximately two hours, hopefully less.
Ms. Shaw made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Ms. Griffin seconded the motion.