Interest high in seats on Granite school board

A flood of candidates have filed to run for the Granite Board of Education, an interest some chalk up to discontent over a controversial school closure process.

Of the four seats up for election this year, incumbents Judy Weeks and Connie Burgess each have one challenger, Julene Jolley has three, and Hank Bertoch has four, according to an unofficial list from the Salt Lake County Clerk's office.

As for the Jordan Board of Education, which closed two elementaries last year, incumbents Lynette Phillips and president Peggy Jo Kennett each face one challenger, and three newcomers are vying for a seat vacated by Ann Forbush. Incumbent Ellen Wallace is running unopposed.

By comparison, three Salt Lake City Board of Education members are running unopposed. Two of three Murray board incumbents are running unopposed. And half of the eight State Board of Education incumbents have challengers. Gary Swensen will not seek to retain his seat; former board member Denis Morrill will run for it instead.

"The last eight or nine months have been fairly contentious within the (Granite) district," said Dan Lofgren, a member of the Friends for Education Coalition, a lobbying force in the Granite school closures process. "I don't find it too surprising there are a number of people interested in running for the school board and, from their perspective, trying to make things right."

The Granite Board of Education last November, following a contentious study period, voted to close Meadow Moor and Canyon Rim elementaries and reconfigure Granite High School to focus on career and performing arts academies and oversee alternative programs.

The board aimed to balance educational opportunities, school enrollments and budgets. But some residents disagreed with the process and ultimate decision. Some felt the board picked the wrong schools to close; some thought all should stay open and close only as a last resort.

"I think that there are people who were unhappy with some of the decisions of the school board," said Terry Bawden, who will challenge Weeks. "Those decisions have had and will continue to have major impact in years to come."

Weeks praises the interest in running for school board seats.

"I am grateful people are taking an interest in what's happening in our district," she said. "The more people who are involved in the political process, the better it is for everyone."

The Friends for Education Coalition didn't specifically field candidates, Lofgren said. But it is otherwise likely to get involved.

"School board elections don't necessarily have the high profile of some statewide and national elections, but in terms of impact on people's lives, I don't know if there is a more important election," Lofgren said. "So if nothing else, I can imagine Friends for Education will be encouraging everyone . . . to pay particular attention and become involved, educated and engaged."

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