Teams get nowhere in Jordan talks

East- and west-side leaders squared off Tuesday in dueling press conferences to announce the failure of Jordan School District transition negotiations as well as a resolve to ask the governor for a special session to delay the divorce of the two sides.

The east-side leaders declared an impasse in negotiations and a move to arbitration, while the west-side leaders argued the process needs more time to be successful since the transition teams have been unable to settle on an agreement.

"We concluded we are going backwards," said Steve Newton, chairman of the Jordan-east transition team, who was joined by four east-side mayors. "There is no attempt here to come to a deal, there is too much animosity, bitterness or whatever going on to be able to make this happen."

Eleven west-side legislators and city leaders crowded around a microphone at a press conference a few hours later to say that, rather than let the east- and west-side transition teams waste money on arbitration, the Legislature should be allowed to resolve the situation amicably.

Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan; Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville; Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman; and Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan, were among a long list of political and business leaders who signed a resolution asking Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to call a special legislative session to delay the Jordan District division. The group plans to present the resolution to the governor in the next few days.

"We are of the opinion that this is an issue that is so vital to the state of Utah that it needs to be solved amicably by the citizens and the parents who are concerned with the outcome, and not by arbitrators who say we can go (divide the Jordan School District's assets) 50/50 or 60/40," Waddoups said. "We need to do the right thing for the right reason."

Both sides have accused the opposing side of letting the process of dividing the Jordan District's assets shift to being more about money than the needs of students. The transition teams have debated scenarios for dividing the assets for the past few months but have been unable to compromise.

"I think we need to step back and consider the kids," South Jordan Mayor Kent Money said. "That's what this resolution is asking for. It's merely saying our kids are more important than an established date out there and we need to further look at this and come up with an agreeable solution. We're not against the split. The split is probably going to happen ... but let's make sure it happens in the right way."

The transition teams were charged with crafting a proposal to divide the district's assets and liabilities after east-siders voted to secede from Jordan School District last year.