Granite High to close in current location
Decision is expected to save the district $1.3M in annual operating costs
Granite High School will cease to exist in its current location this fall, a move Granite School Board members deemed necessary to meet needed budget cuts for the coming school year.
The board voted 4-3 late Tuesday night to close the school.
District staff presented data pinpointing lagging enrollment, lack of academic rigor and high overhead costs.
"We have a great sense of responsibility in making all of our students succeed," said board president Sarah Meier. She voted for the closure.
Others believe the school is working well and needs support. "Closing a school is literally the last place to go to balance a budget," said board member Dan Lofgren. He voted against the measure.
The budget cuts, including the Granite High closure, were recommended by Granite District Superintendent Stephen Ronnenkamp. "This has probably been the most difficult thing I have done," he said.
Granite District needed to cut $28 million from its proposed 2009-10 budget which goes into effect on July 1. The district had already slashed $25 million but needed to pare another $3.4 million.
Closing Granite High, 3305 S. 500 East, will save the district $1.3 million in annual operating costs.
Ronnenkamp emphasized this doesn't mean the Granite High building will be torn down. "That certainly is not the intent of the recommendation," he said.
South Salt Lake officials, as well as Salt Lake County representatives, have expressed interest in using the building for office and recreation purposes.
The Granite High program will move to the district's alternative school facility, Granite Peaks High School. "Alternative isn't a bad word," said board member Julene Jolley.
Board member Gayleen Gandy said, "These students can be successful wherever they go."
Granite High is a magnet program with 12 teachers instructing 295 students from throughout the district.
Seventy-five percent of Granite High students are on free or reduced lunch; 53 percent are minority students; 37 percent are English language learners, and 33 percent don't have parents or siblings who graduated from high school.
There is a 47 percent student mobility rate, according to data collected by the school.
The Newcomers program at Granite High helps transition students who are new to the country and are learning to speak English.
E-mail: astewart@desnews.com
Recent comments
Maybe sell the property and buildings to Judge! Would be central for...
JUDGE PARENT | May 6, 2009 at 9:16 p.m.
Go ahead. Try and convince the public that you are going to "trim"...
re:re:Wilson, etc | May 6, 2009 at 5:51 p.m.
No cutting teachers shouldn't be the last resort if they are bad or...
re: Wilson, etc | May 6, 2009 at 4:53 p.m.
- New 3rd District judge appointed 12:12 p.m.
- Richmond teen dies week after crash 12:10 p.m.
- Prep swim rankings 12:05 p.m.
- Woods' wife asked neighbors to call 12:03 p.m.
- Stocks climb after econ reports 11:57 a.m.
- Missionaries talk to Michigan paper 11:49 a.m.
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention 11:45 a.m.
- NBC sale to Comcast cleared 11:14 a.m.
- Palin book goes platinum 11:12 a.m.
- 2 arrested in Roy double slaying 11:09 a.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
900 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
393 - Max Hall issues apology
385 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
330 - Utes won't respond to Hall
268 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
150 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
123 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120
My husband was teaching his 6th-grade class in Salt Lake last year when...
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
@ S. Reno, Are you saying that abortion is not a religious issue? When...
I don't remember any Utes chasing George. The only Utes in the picture...
MY experience is just the opposite. I have been insulted and mistreated in...
Adult thinking: The man who died in the nutty putty cave deserves respect...
Mendenhall and Whittingham need to take a stand and cool this thing down....
No to the bridge! Thanks, Utah Valley Sierra Forum, for your forward...
I cant believe South Sevier is not in the top 20. This is crazy. they took...
All I hear is my team this, my guys that, but continue to see consistently...
possibly be because you LOST could it? If you had won, everyone would just...
Juan Diego was not runner up last year, Logan was.


