From Deseret News archives:

Granite closures may be revisited

Published: Monday, Dec. 12, 2005 10:08 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
First, the Granite Board of Education voted to close no schools. Then, it took its final vote to close Canyon Rim and Meadow Moor elementaries, and reorganize Granite High into an alternative school, with smaller learning communities and a strong career emphasis.

Now, the board is poised to reconsider that last decision.

Three board members — Judy Weeks, Carole Cannon and Connie Burgess — requested a "motion to reconsider" agenda item for Tuesday's meeting, Granite District reported Friday. The board will discuss the motion at 7 p.m. at the Granite Education Center, 2500 S. State.

Residents also will be able to sign up to speak on the matter — typically excluded after the board has taken a final vote on an issue, the district reports.

But it's uncertain whether anything will change.

By law, the board must have five of its seven members favor reconsidering its Nov. 29 action.

Even if that happens, it's uncertain whether anyone will ask to no longer close the two schools, or leave Granite High as is.

"I just felt that we needed to . . . be open-minded, and I don't want any of the constituents to think we aren't listening to them," Weeks said. "I don't know that I will (suggest keeping the two schools open). I just felt we at least ought to put it on the agenda."

Story continues below
Cannon, the staunchest supporter on the board of keeping all schools open, says she plans only to ask that the board improve on its current stand.

Keeping schools open "is something that could come up, but I don't think I'm going to propose that," Cannon said. "I think we need to visit the cost of busing, the cost of the transportation, and whether these are the right boundaries for these two schools. . . . I wanted to have time to study these properly because they were brought up so late in the (last) meeting."

Burgess did not return a phone message seeking comment midday Friday.

Whatever the board decides Tuesday would be final, Board President Patricia Sandstrom said.

"What the public needs to understand is, if it's open again, everything is open again," Sandstrom said. "It's like the (Nov.) 29th (vote) never happened."

The school board's action is rooted in a spring report showing 8,700 empty seats costing $3 million to maintain. A district options committee of parents and school workers proposed closing several schools and realigning boundaries to maximize efficiency, improve educational offerings districtwide and keep students together from elementary through high school.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

I like how one person on here said "Separate funding for research from...

No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos

Hall got a national recognition. A lousy performance had to follow.

Thank goodness, we may finally get some reform. It is a long time over due....

Why does america have to be goodnicks and let people like that come to the...

No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos

Utah scores another 7. that's 7 more than our little brother put up on TCU....

i understand if your kids in having surgery bat a TOE or a back spassem give...

What a pounding Utes are taking

Yes, we don't need the military do we? Let's not defend ourselves, lets...

Rep. bashes Dems over health care

I'm keepin' my health insurance as it is. I got good insurance that pays 70%...

SLC council OKs gay rights policies

Reading the law, Deseret Book and all other properties fully owned by...

Advertisements
Advertisement