Land given for school at Daybreak

Kennecott Land donated eight acres Wednesday for the second elementary school to be built in the Daybreak community in South Jordan.

The Eastlake Elementary School will be be built in the center of Daybreak's Eastlake Village, within walking distance of most of the homes in the neighborhood.

Kennecott's donation is one of the largest in Jordan School District's history, at an estimated cost of around $3 million to $4 million.

"This donation allows Jordan School District to stretch its limited construction budget and build a much-needed school in the Daybreak development," Jordan District Superintendent Barry Newbold said in a news release.

The Jordan Board of Education is expected to take action on the Kennecott Land proposal March 13 and construction will begin as soon as possible. The school is expected to open in July 2008 and will likely be a year-round school offering four tracks.

The school grounds are adjacent to a large park that will include sports fields, playgrounds and a community garden.

"Building a school at Daybreak supports the board and the public's wishes of building schools within neighborhoods. It's a pleasure to partner with a developer who understands the importance of community schools," said J. Dale Christensen, president of the Jordan School District Board of Education.

Kennecott Land and Jordan School District have already teamed up on the development of the Daybreak Elementary School and Community Center. The 116,700-square-foot building houses 1,100 students up to sixth grade, as well as a variety of community activities.

Nearly 14,000 homes are planned in the Daybreak community, which is located on about 4,000 acres in South Jordan.

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