Students, parents look at merger of 2 schools

Hundreds of students and parents from Wasatch and Churchill junior highs gathered Wednesday night to ask questions and go over the game plan for the joining of the two schools this fall.

"It's a devastating loss, and we are dealing with that in many of our own ways," said Doug Bingham, Wasatch's principal. "But tonight I think it is important to look to the future with an eye single to making sure that our kids get a great education and get the experience that they could have had had this tragedy not taken place."

Wasatch Junior High caught fire last week in a six-alarm blaze attributed to an electrical problem with the main computer server.

Many parents' initial concerns have been quieted after the Granite School Board's decision Tuesday to move Wasatch to Churchill in a "school within a school" model.

In using portable classrooms Wasatch will get to keep the same programs and teachers and the kids won't be split up. Student leadership and extracurricular activities will remain in place.

But new concerns were voiced about the students meshing because they come from rival schools.

"A concern of mine is school rivalry — contention within the same building — they are not mean kids, but it's there," said Wasatch parent Denise Landvatter. "It's really unfounded though because they went to elementary with most of those kids, but there is a definite rivalry, probably attributable to their age."

Student leaders from the school also shared the same issues.

"Churchill and Wasatch are pretty competitive. I am kind of concerned about how we are going to interact," said David Weixler, Wasatch student body president. "But the thing is we are all going to end up at Skyline — we are just going to get to know everyone better before we get there."

Bingham said to ease whatever tension there might be the schools are planning some preliminary activities before the year begins — mix and mingle parties, a Churchill welcomes Wasatch activity and joint student leadership meetings.

"Hopefully we are going to be able to set the tone for our students — I have a lot of faith in these students," Bingham said. "We will do our best to be good neighbors or siblings — I am not sure what to call it."

But many Wasatch students are excited at the idea of being able to see old friends from their elementary days.