Superintendent Lyndsay Huntsman speaks during Tuesday’s Conversations with the Superintendent event at the Blair Education Center, where she highlighted Park City School District’s theme for the year: “One Park City — Where Learning Is Personal and Every Path Is Possible.” Photo: TownLift // Rebecca Brenner

"The purpose behind these conversations is really to get a pulse on the community," she said. "We're a bit too small not to have intimate conversations and address those here in person, versus airing our dirty laundry on social media."

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City School District Superintendent Lyndsay Huntsman met with parents and staff Tuesday morning at the Blair Education Center, using an intimate “Conversations with the Superintendent” session to discuss student achievement, safety measures, facilities projects, and evolving programs. The next forum is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the McPolin Community Center.

Huntsman said the quarterly meetings are designed to maintain direct and constructive communication. “The purpose behind these conversations is really to get a pulse on the community,” she said. “We’re a bit too small not to have intimate conversations and address those here in person, versus airing our dirty laundry on social media.”

She framed the year around the district theme, “One Park City,” and the tagline, “where learning is personal and every path is possible.” “We truly believe that every student should have a personalized experience within our school district,” Huntsman said, noting that post-high-school options now include trades and technical pathways. “College used to be the only destination. That has changed.”

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Achievement and curriculum

Huntsman said Park City High School juniors continue to outperform the state on the ACT. “Eighty-five point three percent of our students scored 18 or above as a composite, compared to 62.6% statewide,” she said, adding that last year’s junior class posted “right around 24” as a composite, the highest cohort result the district has seen.

Regarding literacy, she noted that 69% of third graders finished the year on grade level, which she called a point of pride. “We are the top public school district in the state for this,” Huntsman said. “The state’s goal is 70% by 2027. We are well on our way to surpassing that goal.”

She said that at the elementary level, the new English language arts curriculum, Wit & Wisdom, was implemented last year, and the district is eager to see results once state reporting catches up. “We’re very anxious to see what our scores are,” she said.

For math and science on the RISE state tests in grades 3–8, Huntsman reported continued gains in science and work underway on math. “I would love for those scores to be 100% — that’s what we strive for,” she said, noting new state math standards are expected in January, followed by a curriculum adoption process.

Cell phones and safety

Huntsman said the rollout of Yondr pouches at Ecker Hill Middle School and Park City High School is increasing engagement during the school day. “I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback in terms of level of engagement from students,” she said. While a handful of parents raised safety concerns, she said administrators met with them and reviewed safeguards. “Quite frankly, we don’t want kids on their phones in an emergency,” Huntsman said. “If every student is on their phone, we can’t communicate effectively. It impedes response time.”

She added that the high school’s single 40-minute lunch has changed the feel of midday on campus. “Kids are actually talking to one another,” she said. “It is very loud in there — much louder than it’s been in the past.”

Huntsman also said she expects further debate at the Capitol on student phone restrictions. “I suspect we’re going to see additional restrictions come this next legislative session,” she said. “Right now, it’s kind of optional during passing time and lunch, but the governor and some legislators are pretty strong about just no cell phones, period.”

Eric Esquivel, the district’s safety and security director, outlined layered measures — school resource officers in every building, ballistic film on windows, reduced entry points at the high school, the Raptor check-in system, panic buttons in progress, and ZeroEyes, an AI gun-detection platform tied to about 650 cameras throughout the district. The system sends detections for live verification and immediate dispatch notification if an imminent threat is confirmed. “Before we would even pick up 911, dispatch has already been notified,” Huntsman said. “I would say we have one of the safest school districts. It doesn’t mean we’re immune, but we do take this very seriously.”

Facilities and athletics

Demolition of Treasure Mountain Junior High is slated to start Monday, September 22, Huntsman said, with baseball and softball work ongoing at the Treasure Mountain Sports Complex and spring play the target. She emphasized that environmental protections remain intact.

“We have not penetrated the cap,” she said. “We have an environmental consultant watching and checking in with workers to ensure we’re doing what we said we would do.”

At Park City High School, the new library and commons are open, with a public open house set for October 9 at 5 p.m. Some specialized classrooms (film/video and photography) and the teen center are being finished.

The district has hired a middle school athletics coordinator to pilot low-cost programs, including basketball, volleyball, cross-country, track, flag football, and potentially swimming, with winter as the target launch date. “Parents have been looking for something that doesn’t have the price tag of a club sport but keeps their child engaged after school,” Huntsman said. Girls’ flag football made its debut at the high school this fall with two teams. “I would have played girls’ flag football if it had been offered when I was growing up,” she said.

Policy alignment and programs ahead

A proposed adjustment to volunteer screening — aligning with state statute by layering visitors and volunteers rather than fingerprinting everyone — goes to the school board Tuesday night for a first reading, she said. With 30 days of public comment, “the soonest would be October — the third Tuesday,” Huntsman said, which would put the earliest change at October 21.

Looking forward, she said the district will evaluate the Dual Language Immersion program at the elementary level to balance traditional classes and DLI tracks. “It’s not going to go away — it may just look different,” Huntsman said. “No decisions have been made. This is going to be a bigger conversation.'”

Teacher of the Year

Huntsman celebrated Park City High School teacher Joanna Andres, recently named Utah Teacher of the Year — a first for PCSD in the program’s 60-plus-year history. “She engages students. They are extending their academic discourse, talking about current events, and becoming civically engaged,” Huntsman said. “I couldn’t be more proud of Joanna.”

Feedback invited

Huntsman closed by asking families to use the district’s online feedback form. “If we don’t know where we’re falling short, it’s hard to make a change,” she said. “This is how we get better.”

The next Conversations with the Superintendent session is Wednesday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. at McPolin Community Center.