Granite schools left reeling

Tears, frustration and protests at one school, and quiet sadness at the other. That was the reaction Wednesday to the Granite Board of Education's vote to close Meadow Moor and Canyon Rim elementaries and reorganize Granite High School to save district dollars.

The board Tuesday night reversed an earlier decision to close no schools. That had parents, teachers and students at the schools deal with the unexpected decision Wednesday through open discussions, endless questioning and a community rally.

"I am shocked, heartbroken, I am just devastated. This does not make any sense," said Tammy Hemmert, a sixth-grade teacher who has taught 21 years at the Meadow Moor. "It feels arbitrary. It feels like we are being punished. But what have we done but turn out great kids with great scores in a great community year after year?"

Canyon Rim leaders said that the decision was a bit of a surprise after last month's vote to close no schools, but since they were on the closure list of the three options they were more prepared for the blow.

"It was a sad day for the people here in the community . . . it was a really tough decision and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to make it," said Sally Sanders, Canyon Rim principal. "This will be the school's 51st year, and we are going to make it the best year ever and make the most of every moment we have left."

But Meadow Moor is not going down without a fight.

Along with Wednesday's protest, members of a parent committee contacted board members to set up a meeting and ask them to reconsider.

Parents and teachers at the school say the board did not fully consider the decision, and because of Meadow Moor's high test scores, strong parental involvement, earthquake safe facility and safe location it should not have gotten the ax.

Board member Hank Bertoch said the chance of reversal is slim but not impossible.

No dates have been set for the talks, but the group hopes to meet with board members within the next week.

"We would like board members to reconsider — we think they made the wrong decisions for the wrong reasons at the wrong time," Leslie Chatelain, former PTA president at Meadow Moor.

Chatelain said the school is one of only two schools in the area that don't require a rebuild. It is seismically sound, handicapped-accessible with an ADA approval.

"Out of all the schools in the area they picked the best building in the safest location to close at the last minute in a bunch of confusion — it just isn't right," said parent Rebecca Cowden.

Granite spokesman Randy Ripplingler said the district's next step is to notify the parents at the closing elementary schools and Granite High.

The process of ferreting out how the new Granite High will function has yet to start.