Community Relations
Home
The Community Relations Department builds public understanding and support for schools in the Davis School District.
It is responsible for internal and external communications for the district. It publishes press releases, annual reports, internal and external newsletters, produces videos and answers inquiries from the public. It also serves as the liaison between the district and the community and assists in coordinating media coverage of the educational process in Davis schools.
Bragging Rights
Bragging Rights
It may sound a bit presumptuous to have a page entitled "Bragging Rights," but we have a lot to shout about. Just scroll down and read about some of what makes the Davis School District proud.
- The Davis School District was established more than 100 years ago in 1911 and is the second-largest district in the state of Utah with more than 72,000 students educated in 92 schools.
- Our district mission is: Learning First. Davis School District boasts a graduation rate of 94.2 percent, the top rate among school districts along the Wasatch Front. Graduating students in the district last year also earned more than $63 million in scholarships.
-
The district received the prestigious Best of State Award in 2020 for its efforts to close the achievement gap for Latino and English Language Learner students. Graduation rates for Latino students increased to match the district rate — a change of 10 percent. English Language Learner students also jumped 10 percentage points to a total rate of 88 percent —the highest rate in the state for that group.
-
Four other Best of State designations were received in 2021 — Davis Connect K-12, the district’s online school and the district’s Head Start and Title I preschool were among the recipients.
-
The district is also home to some of the best high schools in the nation. Davis, Viewmont, Bountiful and Woods Cross High were ranked among the top 25 schools by Niche. Also, Davis, Viewmont, Woods Cross, Bountiful and Farmington high schools were ranked among the top 25 in the state by U.S. News and World Report.
-
Syracuse High recently received a Learning First Achievement Award for increasing the number of students taking Advanced Placement tests by a whopping 171 percent in just one year.
-
The Davis School District is home to 16 Title I schools. Two are nationally acclaimed Title I Distinguished Schools. Twelve of our 62 elementary schools offer language immersion. Two of our schools are designated Microsoft Showcase schools and two as Apple Distinguished schools.
-
Its annual budget is more than $853 million and it operates 62 elementary schools, 17 junior high schools, nine high schools, three alternative schools and one online school. We also believe in being fiscally responsible and spend 89 cents of every dollar to directly impact students and their classrooms.
-
Despite a 36 percent increase in managed building space, the district has experienced a 13 percent reduction in energy usage. Thirty-one of our buildings now carry Energy Star ratings.
- The district is the second-largest employer in Davis County behind Hill Air Force Base and is recognized by the Davis Chamber of Commerce with its Legacy Award and by Davis Technical College with its Education Partner Award.
- Davis is also one of only two districts in the state to achieve accreditations for all its elementary, junior high and high schools. That designation originally came back in 2014 and again in 2019.
- Davis School District has half of the state's 16 STEM-designated Platinum schools (the highest rating available). Those are Bountiful Junior High and Canyon Creek, Endeavour, Odyssey, Stewart, Vae View, West Bountiful and Windridge elementary schools. Valley View Elementary is also a STEM-designated Silver school.
- Davis County residents continually support the district's efforts to build new school buildings and renovate existing schools. Voters approved the district's $298 million Building Improvement and Construction Plan by 61.5 percent in 2015, its $250 million bond by 63 percent in 2009, its $230 million bond by 79.04 percent in 2006, and its $190 million bond by 89.6 percent in 2002.
- The district has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the past 36 years.
Forms
Media Contacts
Media Contacts
The following are some of the media representatives who work with the Community Relations Office.
If you wish to receive assistance from the Community Relations Office in sharing news about your school or department or about an upcoming event, please call 801-402-5260 or 801-402-5633.
Television
KUTV • News desk • 801-839-1222 • newsdesk@kutv2.com
KTVX • News desk • 801-975-4401 • news@abc4.com
KSL • Assignment desk • 801-575-5500 • assignment.desk@ksl.com
KSTU • Assignment desk • 801-536-1313 • news@fox13now.com
Telemundo • Kimball Bennion • 801-231-7362 • kimball.bennion@nbcuni.com
Newspapers
Davis Journal • Becky Ginos • 801-859-2870 • becky.g@davisjournal.com • Peri Kinder • 801-915-6920 • pkinder04@gmail.com (covering Centerville and Farmington)
Deseret News • Marjorie Cortez • 801-575-5588 • marjorie@deseretnews.com
Salt Lake Tribune • Connor Sanders • 801-631-0239 • csanders@sltrib.com
Standard Examiner • Mark Shenefelt • 801-625-4233 • mshenefelt@standard.net
Radio
KSL • news@ksl.com
KUER • Jon Reed • O: 801-587-7452 C: 801-382-7359 • jreed@kuer.org; news@kuer.org
KNRS • Eric Ray • O: 801-908-1325 C: 801-450-5310 • M: 801-908-1509
Other
Associated Press • Brady McCombs • O: 801-322-3405 C: 801-783-6619 • BMcCombs@ap.org
Gephardt Daily • Nancy Van Valkenburg • 801-425-1823 • nvan@gephardtdaily.com
Christopher Williams
Director of Communication & Operations
Email: cwilliams@dsdmail.net
Phone: 801-402-5260
Tom Laughlin
Digital Media Specialist
E-mail: tlaughlin@dsdmail.net
Phone: 801-402-5394
Cassie Smith
Community Relations Supervisor
Email: cassiesmith@dsdmail.net
Phone: 801-402-5633
Amy Sather
Community Relations Specialist
Email: ashingler@dsdmail.net
Phone: 801-402-5628