But some say the philosophy driving the school district split looks good for Granite High.

"What's really driving this is a desire to focus more on our neighborhood schools ... to keep the schools open, and to keep the programs and maybe improve on them," said Mark Crockett, Salt Lake County Council chairman and steering committee co-chairman. "So I would be very surprised if a potential split didn't make the school more viable over time."

Pace would want to preserve high schools, which tend to be how Utahns identify themselves.

At the same time, he is realistic.

"Dividing the school district does not avoid the hard questions. It doesn't avoid school closures," Pace said. "But when those hard decisions have to be made, they're made by people who live in the community who have some comprehension of that community."

There has been community chatter about the "what-ifs," Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb said.

"Granite's a concern for South Salt Lake," Webb said. "They love that high school. If there's a way to keep it open, they want to do it."

And maybe there is. Webb says there are "some terrific new programs coming out in different parts of the country that make schools work," including giving high schools a specific focus and opening enrollment to all.

"You may have greater education opportunities and Granite High totally full, because you focus on certain things the students in the district would like," Webb said.

The thought of a new way of doing business, and having a say in what it might look like — that's what Anderson likes about a new school district.

"If we take this opportunity to seriously consider the way we deliver education, that is exciting," he said. "If we can radically change education policy and education practice with a new school district ... that is something I would be willing to take the risk of the future of Granite High School for."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com