The Uintah School Board held its regularly scheduled work session and business meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the district office in Naples. A video recording of both meetings can be found on the district’s YouTube channel. The discussion of the Uintah Middle School Closure and School Reorganization Study begins at about the two-hour mark of the video.
Individuals who wish to provide online public comment about the proposed closure of UMS and reorganization of the district’s elementary and middle schools can do so by using this form. Online comments can be submitted until Dec. 21, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. This will allow the board time to consider your comments before it votes on Dec. 22, 2026.
Please note: Online comments submitted to the district may be subject to public disclosure under Utah law. Please do not include private information about students or other individuals. The form takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Only the first question is required.
Information about the UMS Closure and School Reorganization Study, including the dates of all upcoming meetings where the public can provide comment on the proposal, can be found on the district website.
Celebrations
The school board celebrated the district’s Students of the Month for October during Wednesday’s business meeting. The students are Zaeli Kirk (Central Cove Early Learning Center); Jazlynn Guevara (Ashley Elementary); Elizabeth Harrison (Davis Elementary); Liam Pearson (Discovery Elementary); Cassius Blackhair (Eagle View Elementary); Quinlee Carson (Lapoint Elementary); Emerie Peterson (Maeser Elementary); Violet Murphy (Naples Elementary); Zeryk Hacking (Uintah Middle School); Keira Warburton (Vernal Middle School); Ella Murphy-Paquette (Uintah High); and Jaxton Lamb (Ashley Valley Education Center/Uintah Online).
Congratulations to these outstanding students and thanks to everyone who supports them!
The board also celebrated Uintah High English teacher Amanda Muffler, who was selected as one of 10 Utah Education Association Excellence in Education award winners this year, and the Davis Elementary Dragons for achieving i-Ready’s Super Stretch status in math for the second consecutive year.
VMS Student Art Open House
Vernal Middle School and the Museum of Uintah County present “In the Minds of Illustrators John Kenn Mortensen and Edward Gorey,” with an open house at the museum on Monday, Oct. 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Inspired by the eerie and mysterious artwork of Mortensen and Gorey, VMS art students have brought their own creatures, characters, and dark dreams to life through Inktober, a monthlong challenge in which artists create an ink drawing each day in October. Visit the museum this month to explore what lurks in the shadows and support our student artists.
The Drowsy Chaperone – Tickets on Sale
Tickets are on sale now for the Uintah High Theatre production of The Drowsy Chaperone. The show is about a middle-aged, asocial musical theater fan who, feeling “blue,” decides to play a record of his favorite musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, for the audience. As the record plays, the show — a parody of 1920s American musical comedy — comes to life onstage, with the man wryly commenting on the music, story, and actors. The fictional musical in the recording features the intrigues of an about-to-be-wed oil tycoon and a Broadway starlet. The show runs Oct. 23-24, Oct. 26-27, and Oct. 29-30 in the UHS auditorium. Curtain time is 7 p.m. for all performances. For tickets, visit uintah.ludus.com.
UMS to Host ‘Rooted in Community’
Uintah Middle School invites families to “Rooted in Community: Growing Connections, Building Community” at the school on Monday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 p.m. The evening features Braxten Nielsen, a motivational speaker and professional rodeo cowboy who — after a life-changing spinal cord injury — learned to face challenges with determination and a positive attitude. His message is simple: you don’t have to be perfect; just try to become 1% better every day. Families can also connect with local organizations, including the Uintah Rec Center, USU Extension, AVEC, UBMC, TriCounty Health, the Uintah County Library, and more, to discover resources and opportunities. All attendees will be entered into a drawing for family fun baskets, including the grand prize of an annual family pass to the rec center. For more information, call (435) 781-3130 or visit https://wewereborntosucceed.weebly.com/.
Fall Break Is Next Week
There will be no school for USD students on Wednesday, Oct. 14, which is a parent-teacher conference trade day for school staff. All schools and district buildings will be closed Thursday and Friday, Oct. 15-16, for Fall Break. Classes will resume and district buildings will reopen at their normal times on Monday, Oct. 19.
Weekend Events
The Uintah High Marching Band and Color Guard will compete on Saturday at the Wasatch Front Invitational at Riverton High School. The Utes are scheduled to take the field at 3:15 p.m. Tickets are available on the Riverton High GoFan site. The band is currently selling fleece blankets and Mexican vanilla as fundraisers, and its annual mattress sale fundraiser is planned for Saturday, Oct. 17, at UHS. To support these fundraisers, visit the Uintah Band website and click the “Support Uintah Music” button.