Will West Jordan form school district?

WEST JORDAN — West Jordan is preparing for an east-side exodus from the Jordan School District by making plans for its own school district.

The West Jordan City Council has OK'd plans to move forward with a feasibility study to examine the pros and cons of creating a new school district within the city's boundaries. The City Council has directed staff to prepare a request for proposals for the study, which likely will get under way in May.

Mayor David Newton said West Jordan is only considering the split because east-side Salt Lake County cities are primed to break away from the Jordan School District.

"We would not do it if the east-side cities weren't so intent on pulling out," Newton said.

Mike Kelley, a spokesman for the Jordan School District, said West Jordan's plans to conduct a study aren't surprising.

"The law allows cities to conduct a study," he said, "and we look forward to seeing what the feasibility study indicates."

After several schools closed or were almost closed on the east side of the county in 2005 and 2006, nearly all of the east-side cities began researching the idea of splitting from the Jordan and Granite school districts and creating their own locally controlled districts.

Studies commissioned by those cities show the smaller districts would have fewer students per class, more money per student and higher teacher pay.

Under state law, cities must do a feasibility study before the issue is taken to voters. If the creation of a new school district is put on the ballot and approved this November, it could begin operating in 2009.

South Salt Lake, Holladay and Salt Lake County already have entered into a feasibility-study agreement to examine the impact of a new district. Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Sandy, Alta and Midvale also have approved a study.

"We've been watching really closely what the east-side cities are doing to possibly pull out (of the Jordan School District)," Newton said. "Every indication is that they will put (splitting from the district) on the ballot in November. That puts us in a situation where we need to move forward and do a study."

Newton said there are many advantages to West Jordan having its own school district. The city and school district could share facilities such as parks, playing fields and even offices, he said.

But the driving force behind West Jordan's proposed split from the school district is money.