Some board members wondered whether Eastwood Elementary ought to be examined for closure instead of Canyon Rim, which one parent noted is nestled safely in a residential area.

A Morningside school committee member urged the district to consider effects of displacing a gifted magnet program and services for students through the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

Board President Patricia Sandstrom said closing Granite High would displace an at-risk student body where 30 languages are spoken.

"Now you tell me, are they going to fit into the bigger schools? I'm telling you, no," she said.

Colleague Judy Weeks reiterated the sentiment for Granger High.

Another parent urged the board to keep open Evergreen Junior High, called an ethnically and economically diverse school attractive to students from outside boundaries.

An Olympus parent asked that the school board keep their eyes wide open in making a complex decision. "You have to focus on . . . providing the best quality education you can for every constituent of this school district," said Frank Falk. "Listen to the people."

But Wasatch parents said they didn't get a chance to voice their concerns Tuesday.

"We just didn't get a chance to be represented and we should have been. We were told that we couldn't, and that there wouldn't be public input," parent Rich Matheson said, more than an hour after six parents from other communities were allowed to speak. "(Our) frustration is with the process."

District spokesman Randy Ripplinger was flabbergasted by the comments, and tried to sort out where Wasatch parents got the bad information. He also said anyone can call 646-4529 to make arrangements to address the board.

"Every call that came to the public relations office this morning or anytime prior to noon today was listed for public comment," Ripplinger said.

The board said they were listening to Wasatch parents, had kept all their e-mail correspondence, and would continue to listen to their concerns.

"We hear what you all are saying, and we want time to study this, and put this in the perspective of what's best for . . . the entire Granite School District," board member Carole Cannon said.

Parents, however, have to understand changes are coming, board member Sarah Meier said.

"It's always, 'We don't care what you do, as long as you don't change us,' " Meier said of comments she receives from parents across the district. "You can't look at it that way, because then, we would have status quo, and you have told us that is not acceptable. . . . So please, take off the blinders."

Paul Shepherd, director of planning and boundaries, said more information on the options will be posted online as soon as possible.

For more information on the options, or how they affect your schools, call the district office of planning and boundaries at 646-4123.

A final board vote is scheduled for Nov. 15.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com