School district named Canyons

Board approves teenager's choice for east-side Jordan

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 12:08 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
SANDY — Receiving a name is the first of many baby steps for Utah's 41st school district.

The school board of the newly formed east-side district voted unanimously Tuesday evening, in front of a crowd of about 200 people, to approve the name of Canyons School District.

"We can now move forward with a real identity," said Canyons district Superintendent Dave Doty.

The event took place in the Jordan High auditorium.

Other name choices were: Majestic Peaks; Sunrise; Horizon; Mountain View; Lone Peak; Wasatch Peaks; Mountain Ridge; Alta; East Jordan; Canyon Ridge and Mountain Peaks.

Some people are nostalgic for the old name.

"It's tugging at my heartstrings. I graduated from Jordan High, and it's hard for me to think of this district as anything but Jordan," said Carla Burningham, principal of Midvalley Elementary School in Midvale.

But others have been looking forward to something new. "Change can be a wonderful opportunity," said Polly Alles, head secretary at Midvalley Elementary.

Canyons got a big thumbs up from most people at the event. "I like it. It has a ring to it," said Marc Hunter, Jordan High School athletic director.

Story continues below

Prizes were given to the person who came up with the selected name, as well as two runners-up who suggested Alta and Wasatch Peaks.

The first-place winner, Nick Crawford, 15, a sophomore at Brighton High School, received gifts including: a $1,125 scholarship for higher education from Jordan Credit Union and Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan; $50 gift certificates for Gastronomy and Barnes and Noble; Lagoon Fright Night passes; Alta lift tickets; lunch at Rustler Lodge; Jazz tickets, massage and spa gift cards; and a case of Apple Beer.

Crawford said he chose Canyons because "this district is based between the two Cottonwood canyons."

Runners up received gifts including: $250 scholarship; $25 Barnes and Noble gift cards; Target gift cards; and Fright Night passes to Lagoon.

Voting for the new district's name closed last Friday with 4,138 votes being cast for 12 names out of the 500 submissions from the public.

Canyons district comprises Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, Midvale, Alta and Draper.

The west-side Jordan district consists of Bluffdale, Herriman, Riverton, South Jordan and West Jordan.

In November, east-side residents voted to leave Jordan district and form their own school district. Since then, the east and west sides of the district have not been able to agree on how to split assets and liabilities.

Both sides chose arbitrators in August. Arbitration proceedings are scheduled for December.

The east side contends it is suffering from declining enrollment and aging school buildings. The west side says it is worried about predicted rapid enrollment growth and the lack of school buildings to house the student influx.

The Jordan district division will be official July 1, 2009.


E-mail: astewart@desnews.com

Recent comments

We'll see how positive you are when you get your tax notice this time...

Positive? | Oct. 24, 2008 at 10:02 a.m.

I am embarrassed as I read the above comments. Why is everyone so...

Look for positive | Oct. 24, 2008 at 9:20 a.m.

I was hoping that they would come up with a name for the District...

Anonymous | Oct. 24, 2008 at 9:13 a.m.

Image
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

Nick Crawford, a sophomore at Brighton High, receives prize package Tuesday from school board members of new east-side district. He submitted the winning name.

previousnext

Latest comments

Machines to do court reporting

I'd like to ask a general question to any of you that might know. Have you...

“Cap and trade is free market oriented. When an efficient company sells...

NBA reported agreements

THis is the first sensible comment I have read. My hope is that a trade like...

Anonymous | 9:34 p.m I endured the Nixon recession that carried over into...

We've got plenty of options available to us. I still think some sort of trade...

I filled up my watter several times. Drinking fountain was on at my end.

Actually, the Spurs signed Richard Jefferson, not Al Jefferson.

Those who forget Teddy Roosevelt's words about walking softly and carrying a...

Don't forget that in an article last week Sloan (I think) said that they like...

From one with experience; no it's not easier being a GOOD single parent. But...

Advertisements