Meanwhile, Herriman, which is too small to form its own school district, recently decided to appeal a ruling in which the city's lawsuit for an emergency injunction in the election was denied. The city is worried about how it will pay for the new school buildings that it needs if the Jordan School District — as it is today — implodes.

"It's apparent that cities need to do what they need to do, but ... I think we would have had more success if we had had more unity (in the lawsuit)," said Herriman City Councilwoman Raquel DeLuca. "I think we should be united with our east-side neighbors, because their concerns are the same as ours, but we haven't been able to be unified in that. As far as citizens go, I don't think there has been enough togetherness on this issue, because it's come so quickly."

DeLuca isn't the only west-side leader who feels like the district issue is like a "freight train headed to who knows where," Applegarth says there is a host of questions that worry his residents, like how the resulting district will pay for new buildings and provide classes for those with special needs if the east side separates from the west side.

"There is a general fear of the unknown of what is going to happen," Applegarth said. "The whole division is lacking detail, so what is going to happen? My feelings are, whatever it takes, we have got to make sure that every child has a good education, and that means, whatever I have to do to see that my grandchildren, those that live in the Jordan School District, whatever I have to do to see that they have a good education, I'm willing to do ... . We have to make sure there are good schools for every student in Riverton."

Although the city is in a holding pattern of not knowing what will happen, Applegarth said, if nothing else, at least the general election on Nov. 6 will give one answer.

"I worry about the single-parent mom with a few kids who doesn't have access to the system and how scared she must be," Applegarth said. "There is nothing more important than our children and our grandchildren, and this uncertainty creates a lot of insecurities. It will be nice to have it decided and be on our way and start talking about concrete solutions and that will give them hope."

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