Legislator worries Park City charter school is unsafe

PARK CITY — Representatives from a Park City charter school filed an ethics complaint Thursday against a legislator who they say used his state position to inappropriately push state entities to close the school.

Weilenmann School of Discovery opened its doors for the first time Wednesday, welcoming 550 children and, to the school board's chagrin, a disgruntled member of the House of Representatives. In response to calls from several concerned citizens, Rep. Larry Wiley, D-West Valley City, decided to drive to Summit County to determine whether the school, which is still under construction, was safe for children.

During his visit to the school, Wiley said he noticed children playing outside next to dump trucks. Several of the school's exits were blocked by construction debris. At least one smoke detector was not in working order.

School administrators said they've obtained the approval of local safety inspectors and a "temporary certificate of occupancy." Wiley, who spent 27 years as a building inspector, still has doubts.

After he looked over the building, Wiley relayed his concerns to the State Office of Education and the commissioner of public safety. Both entities came to Weilenmann School of Discovery Thursday to inspect the premises. Both entities determined the school was fit for use.

By compelling the State Office of Education and the Utah Department of Public Safety to further investigate the situation, Dallis Nordstrom, the Weilenmann board member who filed the ethics complaint, said Wiley exercised "undue influence" on other government entities, which defied the Legislative Code of Conduct. Wiley "demanded that State Board of Education employees leave meetings and head to WSD to inspect our facility right now," she wrote.

In the complaint, Nordstrom further indicated her concern that Wiley's "threatening" behavior toward school administration was an inappropriate use of his power as a legislator. Wiley represents residents of West Valley City, South Salt Lake and Sugar House — not Park City.

"You can't just throw your legislative business card around threatening people who aren't even in your district," said Nordstrom, who is a lawyer.

The job of a legislator is to "make laws," not, she said, to police the State Office of Education and the Utah Department of Public Safety.

"There are other people whose job it is to determine if a building is safe," she said. "He is not one of them."