South S.L. hits barriers in a split from Granite District

SOUTH SALT LAKE — Still sour from the near closure of Granite High School, South Salt Lake is looking to start a feasibility study in hopes of ditching massive Granite School District for a smaller, locally controlled district. But boundary conflicts may force the Salt Lake suburb to stay in Granite.

"Part of the issue is determining who the other participants will be," said Council Chairman Bill Anderson. And although the city desperately wants to split, "There may not be a solution."

Recently passed HB77 allows first- and second-class cities to create their own smaller school districts — a bill South Salt Lake and neighboring Holladay strongly supported. But the new law would require a population of at least 65,000 to break away, so South Salt Lake would have to combine with other cities to reach that mark. South Salt Lake officials hope Holladay and Cottonwood Heights will form an interlocal agreement with the 22,000-population city and together, the three can complete the required financial feasibility study.

However, conditions in the law say a new school district cannot isolate or create islands within existing districts.

"It makes it particularly problematic for the little toe on the east end of Murray that includes Cottonwood High School but is not part of Murray School District," Anderson said. If a new district were set up, it would surround the end of Murray that is in the Granite School District.

South Salt Lake is also looking into joining the Salt Lake School District. But it could be an impossible task, the council said, because the new legislation would only apply when a new school district is created. Both the Granite and Salt Lake School districts would have to approve the change.

"And all the while, the clock is ticking to get this on the election ballot," said South Salt Lake Councilman Shane Siwik. Siwik is also a member of the Small School District Coalition.

The council hopes to meet with Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb and Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore to hammer out details of a possible new district.

Recent school closures were part of the reason the two east-side cities hoped to take local control of their school system. West Valley City also juggled the idea. Many argue the roughly 70,000-student Granite district, the second largest in the state, is too large, disconnected and impersonal.