Justice Department to help Canyons District with race discussion at Tuesday meeting

SANDY — What may have been a regular school board meeting weeks ago will now be a platform for discussing racism and discrimination in the Canyons School District.

The Canyons School District has asked the U.S. Department of Justice for help in dealing with the aftermath of allegations of racism at Alta High School.

"We want technical assistance," said Canyon School District spokesman Jeff Haney. "These are groups that have a lot of insight to how groups like ours can start the discussions community-wide."

A member of the Justice Department's community outreach program flew in from the department's headquarters in Denver Tuesday morning. She is here for a Tuesday board meeting specifically to help advise the school district and community on how to have healthy and constructive discussions about racism and discrimination.

"We feel it's important to start these sometimes difficult discussions," Haney said.

The recent incident wasn't the first that raised questions at Alta High. Haney says many people came forward with concerns about racism during this current investigation into what some took to be offensive actions at a Spirit Bowl assembly, where a student wore a white pillowcase over his head that resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood.

Haney says several of the allegations have been serious — like the text messages of a burning cross being sent from one student to another. He also says some incidents have been similar to one KSL learned about where a student at Alta High School found a racist message written on his locker.

"It goes beyond the spirit assembly and the text messages that the public is aware of," Haney said.

The principal of Alta High, Mont Widerberg, announced his early retirement last week in the wake of the district's investigation. He and the school's assistant principal, Mark Montague, were placed on paid leave after the assembly incident.

Haney says the district wants to make sure it is sending the right message to the community about why it's important to have an environment that is conducive to learning.

The Board of Education meeting will be held Tuesday night at Brighton High School at 5 p.m. The discussion is open to the public, and for the first time it will be streaming live on the school district's website.