Welcome to Park City School District

From the United Way of Salt Lake News Release:
United Way of Salt Lake Announces Results-based Financing for Low-income Preschool Students - Investment is the first of its kind in the country

The investment deal, in which Goldman Sachs and J.B. Pritzker commit several million dollars in private-sector investment, could potentially benefit up to 3,700 children over multiple years and save state and local government millions of additional dollars.

“Access to early education gives children a foundation they will build upon throughout their education and beyond,” said Lloyd C. Blankfein, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. “Through this innovative financing, we are pleased to partner with J.B. Pritzker and United Way of Salt Lake to provide the opportunity to thousands of children who otherwise may not have been able to attend preschool.”

In 2010, Voices for Utah Children, Granite School District, and UWSL began laying the groundwork for the transaction through a multi-year study of academic results and cost savings. The education program uses a locally-designed, structured curriculum to better prepare children for kindergarten, close the achievement gap and help them remain on track to complete high school, while decreasing the use of special education and remedial services in elementary school – resulting in cost savings for local communities, the state and the school district.

To date, Granite and Park City School Districts have successfully implemented the program, yet many children do not have the opportunity to participate.

“We are committed to solving our community’s most complex social problems,” said Deborah Bayle, president and CEO of UWSL. “Without high quality, early education opportunities, it will not be possible to achieve our State’s goals of 90 percent proficiency in core subjects, 90 percent high school graduation, and 66 percent of Utahns with a post-secondary education. That is why United Way of Salt Lake is proud to be part of this groundbreaking financing model.”

In a longitudinal study conducted between 2006 and 2009, the Granite School District preschool program demonstrated that 33 percent of low-income students would likely have needed special education services. After participating in the program, 95 percent of those children no longer needed special education, allowing the state to save an estimated $2,607 a year per child for 12 years.

“If we believe that every child deserves the chance to climb the ladder of success and achieve their full potential, we need to make sure they can at least get to the first rung on the ladder,” said Karen Crompton, president and CEO of Voices for Utah Children. “We are pleased to work with UWSL and the other partners on this initiative to ensure a brighter future for children.”

“Investing early and intelligently in the development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers significantly improves educational outcomes,” said J.B. Pritzker, president of the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation. “Early learning reduces social and economic inequality and builds a better workforce and a stronger nation.”

Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams has proposed that the County consider a public/private partnership to advance the preschool expansion.

“In other states where rigorous standards and a high-quality curriculum have been used to offer preschool to economically-disadvantaged children, the return on investment has been 7 to 1 – that is a $7 benefit to the local budget – money not needed for special education, crime or public assistance as well as higher wages for consumer spending – for each dollar invested. It’s the right thing to do for children, and the fiscally responsible course for taxpayers,” said McAdams.

“I am very pleased that private investors and United Way of Salt Lake have agreed to work together on this innovative proof-of-concept transaction that will reinforce how results-based financing can be successfully applied to fund early childhood education in Utah,” said Senator Osmond. “While I do not support universal preschool, I know that early education is a critical and real need for our most at-risk children and their parents, and this model reduces costs to the state long term. I look forward to working with the Utah Legislature to engage the State of Utah in this exciting and fiscally responsible approach!"

Because the need for high quality preschool is so significant, it is not possible for private philanthropy to address this challenge alone. This loan demonstrates a successful new model for financing early childhood education to be scaled statewide as well as replicated in other jurisdictions.

Conley is excited about the opportunity; “I’ve met with parents, teachers and administrators in Park City before considering this role; and was impressed by the community wide commitment to making Park City Schools among the best in the nation. My family and I are looking forward to contributing to that sort of engagement both professionally and as active community members.”

Teachers, administrators, parents and students were all involved in the rigorous candidate evaluation. There were nearly a dozen applicants the community based search committee assessed. Three finalists were examined during intensive individual 2-day visits to the district that included school visits, meetings with a variety of faculty and staff and interactive community forums.

The Board sincerely appreciates Tom VanGorder’s exemplary service to the District as Interim Superintendent while continuing to meet his responsibilities as Associate Superintendent of Student Services. VanGorder has expressed his support for Dr. Conley and will continue as a senior staff executive to the Superintendent.

Additional details on Dr. Conley:
Dr. Ember Conley is a native of Utah, born in Moab. She received her bachelor degree from Arizona State University and graduated with honors from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. After owning her own business for six years, she returned to Fort Lewis College and earned her teaching certification in Elementary Education. Her teaching career includes 4thgrade, 6th grade science, 6th grade math, and 7th grade math. She received her Masters of Arts Degree from the University of Colorado, Denver with a degree in Administrative Leadership with an emphasis in Policy Studies.

With this additional degree, she found her passion in leadership to assist students in maximizing their potential. She has served her students a high school assistant principal, high school principal, and elementary principal. In 2010, she graduated with honors from Argosy University with her doctoral degree, focusing on K-12 Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction. She was awarded the Arizona School Administrators Outstanding Dissertation in 2010 for her research in the learning styles of Native American Students. She has served the students and community in Maricopa, Arizona for five years as an elementary principal, deputy superintendent, and interim superintendent.

Jose and Ember ’s family will move to Park City later this summer. They have three beautiful children; Ruby is an Air Force Airman, Smoki is a dynamic teenager, and Delynger is the preschooler that runs the house. Their family is complete with pets, which includes Aries, 140 pound Rottweiler, Princess Selene, the 7 pound Schnauzer, and Midnight, the alpha cat . Family and children are the breathe of life in both her professional and personal life.

McPolin Elementary
2700 Kearns Blvd.
Park City

Monday-Thursday
June 17- July 23

Breakfast 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Lunch 11:30 am to 12:15 pm

435-615-0224