The new Jordan School District signed off Monday on the second proposal created by negotiators to divide the district's assets and liabilities.

Now team leaders say they are just waiting to see if the plan is accepted by the remaining Jordan district transition team.

This is the second proposal crafted by the negotiating team, composed of two members of each Jordan transition team.

"From here we just need to wait and see what the response is from the west-side team, and then go from there," said Steve Newton, chairman of the Jordan-east team.

The last proposal was rejected by the remaining Jordan-west team based on disagreements on how to divide a $196 million bond. The bond has since been taken off the table, and the Jordan-west transition team will discuss the latest proposal on Wednesday.

Although the Jordan-west team has yet to discuss the new proposal, some say the team could take issue with a provision regarding the method to divide the value of district property.

Negotiators built into the proposal the ability to, if needed, separate the most controversial provision should the teams be unable to settle on an agreement. In other words, if the Jordan-west team agrees to everything in the proposal except the provision providing the method of determining the monetary value of real property, then that issue alone could go to mediation or arbitration.

Newton said arbitration is the last resort, since it's costly and timely.

"(The plan) has all of the key ingredients to achieve a fair and equitable distribution, identifies the form as a 50/50 split and recognizes the difficult issue is determining value of buildings," said Jordan-east team member Michael Petersen. "I think that by focusing us on that single issue it allows us to be successful in moving forward."

Last November, east-side residents voted to split from Jordan and establish their own district.

In March, the negotiating team presented recommendations to both teams on how to fairly divide district assets. After the Jordan-west team members rejected the initial proposal, both sides retained legal counsel, but leaders on both sides still say they want to avoid arbitration.

---

E-mail: terickson@desnews.com