Jordan, Canyons school districts launch arbitration

Arbitration stretched into its second day for the east and west sides of Jordan School District on Tuesday.

The process began Monday and is scheduled to run through Dec. 19. How much the arbitration will cost Jordan District is yet to be seen. The district division will be official July 1, 2009.

In November 2007, east-side residents voted to leave Jordan District and form their own school district. Since then, the west side and the east side, which is now named the Canyons School District, have not been able to agree on splitting assets and liabilities.

The east side contends it is suffering from declining enrollment and aging school buildings. The west side says it is worried about predicted rapid enrollment growth and the lack of school buildings to house the student influx.

"We just have very different needs on each side of the river. It was hard to find a way, in going forward, that you could balance the desires of both sides," said Mike Shelton, member of the east-side transition team.

"It's easier to deal with it in two different districts than in one," Shelton said. He attended Tuesday's hearing in the Utah Supreme Court chambers at the state Capitol.

Steve Newton, chairman of the east-side transition team, took the stand Tuesday morning.

In his testimony, Newton said he feels it isn't fair for east side to be paying for new schools on the west side. He believes the west side doesn't need to new schools for at least 10 years and could opt for year-round school to get by until then.

"It's probably not painful," Newton said.

Jordan District Superintendent Barry Newbold, who voiced his opinions on the stand Monday, said, "Every question was a fair and legitimate question. I don't have any concerns about what I was asked or concerns about my responses."

The two districts recently failed to strike a deal to temporarily share office space and payroll, insurance, transportation, maintenance.

Canyons District comprises Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, Midvale, Alta and Draper.

The west-side Jordan District consists of Bluffdale, Herriman, Riverton, South Jordan and West Jordan and Copperton township.

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