Board OKs boundaries for new high school

The Jordan School Board voted 6-1 Tuesday night to approve boundaries for its new high school being built in Herriman, and to adjust boundaries for Bingham and Riverton High Schools.

Board member Rick Bojak voted against the measure. He is worried that enrollment projections indicate over the next eight years West Jordan High School would lose students while the new high school in Herriman would become overcrowded.

The board's decision follows four open houses and a public hearing, along with approximately 800 comments from an online survey and the Jordan School District Web site.

"It's an extremely sensitive and complicated process to look at boundaries," said board member J. Dale Christensen, adding he believes district staff did a good job of presenting data to the public.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to officially name the school Herriman High School.

The new school is being constructed at 11971 S. 6000 West. It will open for the 2010-2011 school year. Boundaries for Bingham and Riverton had to be adjusted as a result.

Herriman High is being built with funds from the bond approved by voters in 2003. The Board approved the project in March 2008. The school is being built for approximately $75 million.

The new school is needed because approximately 5,600 students live in the combined boundaries of Bingham and Riverton high schools, whose combined capacity is 5,000.

Students will be allowed to attend their school of choice in fall 2010.

The boundary option will save the district $51,000 annually in transportation costs. It also keeps neighborhoods together, according to district officials.

Visit the Jordan District Web site: www.jordandistrict.org for a map and specific streets of the boundaries.

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