APA Draper board takes a first look at a sexuality curriculum and a larger board

The Utah Charter Academies board meets at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at American Preparatory Academy's Draper campus, 12894 S. Pony Express Rd., Suite 400, and online through Google Meet, according to the posted agenda 4. The board is the governing body for the charter schools the network operates 14.

The sexuality curriculum appears on the agenda as "Health and Human Sexuality Curriculum - First Review," with "No motion required" beside it 4. The Draper Herald reported that the agenda does not describe the curriculum's grade levels, campuses or content scope, and that no vote is expected 1. A separate first review of the school's Comprehensive Wellness Policy, described on the agenda as a triennial review, carries no motion request either 4.

Three other items on the board business list do carry requested motions: amendments to the Parent and Family Engagement Policies, numbered A-2.3.2 and A-2.3.3; amendments to the School and Parent Compact policies, A-2.1.1 and A-2.3.1; and approval of a FY27 School Land Trust Plan for APA-Eagle Mountain in Cedar Fort 4.

The agenda carries a discussion item on board composition with a potential motion: "To add former board chairmen Rick Peterson and Brad Findlay to the UCA board, and direct Management to schedule interviews with additional applicants to bring the Board to 7 members" 4.

The Draper Herald reported that draft minutes from the board's Oct. 1 meeting list four sitting members: Thomas Hortin, Matt Howard, Thomas Young and Ruth Kellersberger 1. Those Oct. 1 minutes are themselves on tonight's consent agenda for approval, along with LEA license and endorsement approvals 4.

The board business list also takes the October management company report, with briefings listed on 2026 school improvement designations, the FY27 Title I plan and a Title III self-assessment and application 4. The agenda ends with a closed session, requested under Utah Code Title 52 Chapter 4, to discuss "the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual" 4.

The meeting comes during an unresolved dispute between the charter network and the Utah State Auditor over administrator pay.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that the auditor's office first asked for the charter operator's financial records in September 2025 and that the operator opened some of its books but withheld itemised records of payments to American Preparatory Schools, a similarly named private company, disclosing only yearly lump sums 2. The Tribune reported that the auditor subpoenaed the company in December, that the company's counsel said at the time it did not intend to produce records, and that the auditor filed a petition in 3rd District Court on Feb. 10 asking a judge to hold the company in contempt 2. The petition puts the payments at some $31 million since 2022, when the management contract began 2.

The Tribune reported that American Preparatory Academy received approximately $55 million in state funds in 2025, according to the petition, and that the auditor argued the charter should not be allowed to insulate public money from review by transferring it to a separate entity 2. The company told the Tribune it strongly opposed the petition, argued the auditor's authority does not reach a privately held contractor, and then said it intended to comply voluntarily with the subpoena 2.

In July the auditor asked a judge to expedite a ruling, the Tribune reported in an Oct. 21 story on a visit to the school by U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon the day before; the Tribune reported that the matter remained unresolved 3.

The Draper Herald reported that APA operates eight campuses across Utah serving more than 5,400 students, and that its Draper high school ranked among Utah's top 10 in U.S. News & World Report's 2026-27 rankings, citing the Tribune 1.

The public may comment at the meeting or in writing to publiccomment@apamail.org 4. The agenda lists the next meeting only as "November XX, 2026," and sets no vote on the sexuality curriculum for tonight 4.