School-board races stressed

Sometimes, it takes shuttering a school to stir interest in relatively obscure school board races.

But this year, there's interest — at least from candidates seeking seats in two Salt Lake County school districts.

All but one of the incumbents on the Jordan and Granite boards of education are being challenged following controversial votes to close elementary schools.

By comparison, in Salt Lake City, where four years ago candidates crowded the ballot and ousted two incumbents after the board voted to close Lowell and Rosslyn Heights elementary schools, there are no challengers, even to the lone candidate seeking an open seat.

In Davis County, board member Tamara Lowe is the only one being challenged, as is Murray's Lloyd Naylor.

Tooele, however, has a robust ballot: Incumbents Carol Jefferies and Kendall Thomas are not seeking re-election; Thomas is running for County Commission. Two candidates each seek their seats, and incumbent Jerry Powers faces a challenge from Carol Jensen.

Elections after controversial votes are difficult, says former Salt Lake board member Karen Derrick, whose eight-year term included the school clubs and closures issues.

"You find yourself so caught in the middle. You're elected to represent a precinct, but once you walk through that school board door, you're expected to vote in the interest of the entire school district," Derrick said. "When you make hard decisions, you're bound to make somebody unhappy."

The Jordan Board of Education in spring 2005 voted to close Cottonwood Heights and Mountview elementaries. Since, the Cottonwood Heights City Council has looked into breaking from the district and creating a separate district, along with other south valley cities.

Last November, the Granite Board of Education voted to shutter Canyon Rim and Meadow Moor elementaries and reconfigure Granite High School to focus on career and performing arts academies and oversee alternative programs.

Communities were split over the vote and by the studies and process leading up to it. Holladay and South Salt Lake have examined creating a separate school district as well, taking their cue from legislation passed this year that allows such creations.

Whether it was the school closure process, previous plans to run for the board or other factor, the ballots for voters in those districts are robust.