Music plays on in Granite District, Granite High reacts to closure

An audible gasp could be heard across the nearly packed board room as the words "elementary music program" and "cut" popped onto the Power-Point screen.

Music teachers in Granite School District have worried for weeks that their program would be ended. District administrators and board members have been telling them not to fret, that no decision had been made.

Later in Tuesday night's meeting, it was revealed that the Granite Education Foundation would subsidize the elementary music program to the tune of $40,000 and the district wouldn't touch the remainder of the $970,214 program.

"I'm so proud of the board for advocating the arts," said Katie Greenfield. She is one of the many roving elementary music teachers for eight Granite District schools.

Granite School Board's hours of budget-cut decisionmaking were full of high drama, with more public comment, piles of pleading letters presented and tears from board members. The meeting went past midnight Tuesday.

Granite District had to cut $28 million from its 2009-10 budget. The district had already slashed $25 million but still needed to pare $3.4 million.

The cuts were recommended by the superintendent and approved by the board.

One of the more unpopular decisions, closing Granite High this fall, will save the district $1.3 million in annual operating costs. The school has 295 students.

Administrators vow to collaborate with South Salt Lake and Salt Lake County to transition the old school building, 3305 S. 500 East, to civic and community use. "We have no interest in tearing this building down," Ronnenkamp said. South Salt Lake has talked about converting it to a recreation center.

The dozens of students attending the meeting Tuesday night were disheartened after the board's 4-3 vote to close the school.

"We wanted to throw our shoes," said Travis Moore, 16, a Granite High sophomore.

Some students said they wondered why they should even bother with their end-of-level tests.

Wednesday morning, Granite High School principal Carole Harris gave students a pep talk. She told them to make the most of the remainder of the school year and things will work out. The school's last day is June 5.

Counselors will be working with the students to help them transfer to new schools.

The district will grant special permits until June 1 for the students to register at a school other than their assigned home boundary school.