From Deseret News archives:
Home-sale lull may help schools
Slowdown is giving districts a breather in explosive growth rate
Davis School District leaders say they are two years behind in their building projects due to unprecedented rapid growth. Two of the district's junior highs have larger enrollments than some of Davis' high schools. And despite the district opening two new elementary schools and a high school this fall, schools are still packed.
In Jordan School District 10 elementary schools are operating well over capacity with more than 1,000 students.
Two years down the road Alpine will be opening up a new high school, a new junior high and two elementary schools but could still lag behind the growth.
Leaders from each of the districts say the problem stems from explosive, unprecedented growth. That, coupled with rapidly inflating construction costs, has posed problems for growing school districts.
Chase Rogers, planning director for Davis School District, said construction costs have nearly doubled in the past five years. For example, when West Point Junior High was being built five years ago, the district's bill was around $102 per square foot. To build that exact same school today would cost nearly $190 per square foot.
Rogers said the rising costs can be attributed to more global competition for materials like steel and cement. And with a limited labor pool currently in the construction industry, it creates a perfect storm for rocketing costs, Rogers said.
But aside from high costs, the birthrates and in-migration rates are so rapid in some areas of the state that it is nearly impossible to keep up.
"You only can do so many projects at a time," he said.
However, school leaders hope the drop in home sales will give the districts a breather. And officials from Washington School District, which is on the very end of their enrollment influx, say it will do just that.
Rogers said during the past five years in Davis County building permits have been going at a rate around 3,000 a year. Last year they dropped to 2,500, and this year only about 1,300 permits were sought.
In Alpine and Jordan the situation is similar.
The lull in new home construction has been felt statewide, and Washington District leaders say the slowdown was their saving grace.
"The growth occurred just a little earlier for us than it did in northern Utah, but we've been in the very same situation that they're in where we were just behind but we have already taken the breath that they're anticipating," said Marshall Topham, associate superintendent in Washington School District.
A few years earlier Washington County was the fastest-growing county per capita in the nation, with the student population growing anywhere from 6 percent to 9 percent per year. Then last year it dropped down to around 2 percent growth. That year allowed the district to catch up.
"We thought we would never get the buildings done and we would be full when we opened them, but because of that year we are very comfortable in terms of room," Topham said. "Because of the slowdown in growth, our new buildings will be able to accommodate the students easily and we will have room for growth."
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com
Comments
- British panel to begin war inquiry 10:05 p.m.
- TRAX victim still in critical condition 9:58 p.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Fandemonium 9:57 p.m.
- Iraq's election to be delayed 9:57 p.m.
- Nevill, Cummard withFlash 9:54 p.m.
- Alternative to climate change? 9:52 p.m.
- Climate-change debate heats up 9:52 p.m.
- Hate crimes against gays rose 11% 9:51 p.m.
- Man trapped in own body for 23 yrs 9:49 p.m.
- Jazz Gameday 9:45 p.m.
- Real Champions
- Bronco, Kyle rubber match
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
- BYU's Lamb, Jorgensen reprimanded
- Plenty on line for rivalry game
- Time for big matchups in WAC, MWC
- BCS at-large bids up for grabs
- Hall, Johnson matchup key
- Is talking about religion taboo?
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
214 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
212 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
194 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - BYU records with win
132 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
131 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
130 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
103 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
102
Associated Press Personal Finance Writer Candice Choi offers gift-giving...
Yes, upsets are more likely to happen in a single soccer game than a seven...
I agree with Rob. Rep Matheson, we need your vote for healthcare reform. I...
to not have any tv viewing at home. Throw the thing out!
Since UTAH is 5-4 since 2000, how can BYU "FAN" talk? With two BCS wins in...
a 30-something to 3 is not a classic.
I'd like to see Utah have another crack at Oregon.
If he's competent enough to be evaluating which defense will serve him best,...
Its amazing how many people commenting on this board live right next to...
Here's a question for any of you Palin-haters: Name 1 area you think she...
1st, awesome job RSL. 2nd, yes people flop in soccer, 'though last night I...



You can be the first to comment on this story.