From Deseret News archives:
Granite sticks to earlier decision to close schools
Action infuriates several at fiery board meeting
Several community members stood up and shouted at the board in response.
"Cowards!" one man yelled.
"God gives us a mind to change our minds when we make the wrong decision," another shouted.
"We'll be your foes at the Legislature," a woman yelled. "You do not represent us in the community."
"School district in Holladay, just around the corner," called out another.
The outbursts disappointed board member Carole Cannon.
"It's unfortunate," she said outside the meeting. "We all need to support each other."
Some audience members did support the board's action and hoped for healing.
"No one wins when you close a school," Granger community advocate Terry Bawden said afterward. "But I certainly hope (people will find) there's an opportunity in the decision that has been made."
About 400 students, parents, community members and elected officials packed Tuesday's board meeting to see if the board would stick to its decision to close Canyon Rim and Meadow Moor elementaries, rebuild Wasatch Junior High and reconfigure Granite High as a nontraditional school. Some wore "Save Our School" T-shirts and stickers, and a few held up signs.
Three board members had asked to reconsider the Nov. 29 action in Tuesday's meeting.
"We need to put the right schools on the table, and we need to close them. But we also in all fairness need to relook at Meadow Moor," board member Judy Weeks said.
Cannon agreed to reopen the vote, "not necessarily to change our vote, but make sure we hear people and have time to study costs of relocatables and busing."
The district reports it will actually save about $4,400 in busing costs with the school closures. It says current trips are longer than new ones will be.
But others said there comes a time to stick to the decision and move on.
"When I was elected to the board, I said I would make decisions, even the tough ones. And this has not been easy," board member Sarah Meier said. "We can keep opening (up the vote) and talking about it . . . but there will come a time when the seven of us will have to live with the direction we've taken."
Board members Hank Bertoch and Julene Jolley voted with her.
The action infuriated and saddened many audience members.
One woman questioned how the district can justify buying a new building to house its offices, a technical institute for high school students and an elementary school — a move the district touted as a steal of a deal and a great move for taxpayers — then close down others.
