More than half of a $45.8 million lease-revenue bond is being used to fund extensive upgrades at Jordan High School.

Visible improvements include a new west parking lot on the former Joanna’s Kitchen site at 9725 S. State St., a near-complete softball clubhouse, a new football scoreboard and ongoing construction on the east side for a black box theater and a 2,200-square foot field house.

Inside the building, patrons detouring through the counseling office will see a new main office and secure vestibule under construction, along with restroom upgrades — including the addition of unisex options. The secure entrance and office, along with some restrooms, should be ready for this school year.

Slated for completion by fall 2026 are renovations to the athletic locker rooms.

Newly remodeled single-use restrooms are amongst the projects in Jordan High which are being renovated with a portion of a $45.8 million lease-revenue bond. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

The total cost: $24 million.

“I worked really hard with the (Canyons school) board and (Canyons School) District to advocate for Jordan High,” said Principal Bruce Eschler, who stepped down from his position June 30 to take an administrative position with Murray School District. “From day one, I asked (Canyons) District about a five-year facility plan for Jordan High and it's one of the things I made sure I let them know because Jordan had some facility needs.”

Eschler, who spent his final days as principal in construction meetings with MHTN Architects and Hogan Construction, added, “Jordan deserves this; I wanted to see this done.”

Parking, restrooms and athletic improvements

The redevelopment began with transforming the former restaurant’s property into a new parking lot.

“It gives us greater access and additional parking for baseball, softball, all the field sports,” he said. “It’s going to help as we lost some parking for the field house.”

Restroom renovations were a top priority.

Jordan High teams’ scores will be shown on a new functioning scoreboard, which was installed this summer. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“I spent my first year trying to understand the needs at Jordan and I heard again and again, the bathrooms were gross,” Eschler said. “I got to take a sledgehammer to some sheetrock and knock down a wall in one of the bathrooms; it was fun to do.”

Restrooms are being upgraded in phases — with new plumbing, tile, fixtures and stall walls — to ensure continuous availability. Two will be unisex with individual stalls and shared sinks, but 85% will remain traditional. 

On the north side, a new football scoreboard now stands near the nearly-finished softball clubhouse. To the southwest, the field house under construction will feature indoor turf and a fitness and weight room, with completion expected by August 2026. Athletic offices and a training room are part of the improvement plan.

“We decided to put in fitness equipment and a weight room so this can be used as cross conditioning for PE as well as for athletics,” he said. “It actually gave us a little bit more turf.”

Performing arts upgrades

A black box theater is also in the works, set to open August 2026.

“We can configure it for different purposes; we could stream esports events, use it for a lecture and gathering space as well as for performing arts,” he said. 

Other performing arts renovations include upgrades to costuming areas, auditorium AV and lighting and improvements in the band and choir classrooms, to be finished by July 2026. Gymnasium sound systems are also being updated.

“I want to come back and hear the new speakers and see the new lights in the musical next year because we've had rental speakers since November 2023,” he said.

Main entrance modernization

As Eschler prepared to leave, his office was nearly empty — both for his move to Murray School District and because of renovations to the main office, which include a new secure vestibule.

“They punched in through what currently was our front office from our administrative conference room. Everything's basically getting reoriented, and it will seem like a new front office,” he said.

Although leaving, Eschler had hoped to continue pushing for more upgrades — including flooring, irrigation and improvements to career and technical education areas such as automotive, jewelry, family and consumer sciences and childcare.

“The whole building doesn't need to be torn down, maybe some moving walls and reconfiguring. Jordan is on the right path and there are going to be some growing pains, especially next year, when all of this is being done,” he said.

Already scheduled next summer are upgrades to the locker rooms “because we have tile coming up.”

A principal’s legacy

“It’s bittersweet this opportunity (at Murray District) came when it did, because I have a lot of love for Jordan,” Eschler said about his four years as principal. “I've advocated for the students, the parents and the community here and I'm grateful the board listened to me.”

On one of his last days at Jordan High, Principal Bruce Eschler checks out the school’s supplies for students who could use assistance. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

He recalled how COVID impacted morale when he started at Jordan in 2021.

“I think the community felt a little beat up from COVID and overlooked with other district construction projects. I wanted to spotlight the amazing things we were doing and help people realize, there's a lot of to be proud of,” he said. “Our faculty, staff and students love Jordan and have pride in knowing what it means to be a Beetdigger.”

He also expressed gratitude for the board’s support of Jordan’s naval program and AVID initiatives.

“I'm here today because a teacher, Kathy DeMaul, advocated for me at Highland High,” he said. “I just took it down, but on my wall, I had framed the word ‘advocate.’ I take that verb to advocate for students, teachers, administrators; that's been my North Star. My teacher told me ‘I have potential. You are more than what you think you are. Quit coasting.’ I hope I’ve been an advocate like that at Jordan.”

Editor’s note: See accompanying article titled "Back to school with big changes" about other current construction projects in Canyons School District.