Many opposing closure of Provo elementary school

PROVO — Darren Breen had his mind made up about the possible closure of Grandview Elementary before he even walked through the doorway of an open house where the issue was to be discussed.

"I'm not on the fence at all," Breen said. "I want Grandview to stay open ... but I think the decision (to close the school) was made up front."

Breen was one of about 200 Provo residents at Wednesday's open house, which addressed the advantages (such as financial savings to the district) and the disadvantages (such as possible overcrowding at nearby Westridge Elementary) of closing the school, built in 1949.

Grandview is facing closure because a 14th elementary school on the city's west side, off Geneva Road and 1400 North, is scheduled to open next fall.

"I didn't come in with a set (opinion) one way or another," said Angela LaBranche, a Grandview Hill resident. "I wanted to see the options before I decided."

Residents took computer surveys before leaving the open house, and in the end LaBranche said she was likely to advocate keeping Grandview open. She said her work schedule would conflict with transporting her children to and from Westridge, where they would end up if the school closes.

The Board of Education is expected to vote at its meeting Oct. 9 about whether to close the school.

Superintendent Randy Merrill said he hopes the board also will vote on new boundaries at that time.

The boundary proposals on display Wednesday night included one that involves the school remaining open and two that would work if the school closes. A committee of parents that studied issues surrounding Grandview's closure and prepared for the open house only wanted one boundary proposal for the school-closure scenario, but the school board insisted on two, committee chairman Christian Faulconer said.

Faulconer believes closing Grandview is inevitable — although it makes him sad — because a previous committee identified it as a possible school to be closed on a long-term plan.

"I think most people are resigned to it," he said about residents at the open house.

Cathy Macfarlane fought to keep Grandview open three years ago when a proposal threatened to convert it into a middle school. She is continuing to fight, although she tried to put biases aside to volunteer on the committee.

"I felt like there was a distinct leaning toward closing Grandview," she said. "I don't feel like Christian was that way, but I did feel that from the board. I had to remind them of (positive) things" about Grandview.

The board will consider the responses of the computer surveys as it votes on the school's fate, board member Carolyn Wright said.

The entire city was invited to the open house, but mostly Grandview residents who are passionate about the issue showed up.

"I'm sure it's the people who care the most," board member Sandy Packard said. "It's not everyone on Grandview Hill. It's skewed, but there's no way we could mail out (survey) forms."

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com