Granite School District could come out swinging on a handful of cities' proposals to create smaller school districts.

Board of Education Vice President Hank Bertoch on Tuesday proposed the board take a position that opposes creating small school districts. He fears special programs including those offered at the Granite Education Center and at Hartvigsen School for students with severe, multiple disabilities could be harmed if the district shrinks.

"I'm very much opposed to it. I think it's a bad idea," Bertoch said of splitting school districts after the board's study session. He also has questions on how a district split would affect administrative and other costs.

A proposed resolution is expected to be discussed Oct. 17, Bertoch said.

South Salt Lake, Holladay, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Sandy, Alta, Draper and unincorporated Salt Lake County have been looking into creating smaller school districts. South Salt Lake and part of Cottonwood Heights are in Granite District, the state's second-largest. The others are in Jordan District, the state's largest with nearly 80,000 students.

The Jordan Board of Education has not examined a stance similar to Bertoch's proposal, spokeswoman Melinda Colton said.

"The board is very supportive of any cities that want to study this issue," she said. Until more information from feasibility studies comes available, "the board really has no position."

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