Reader comments
Cities, county must team up to fix schools

Mr. Fullmer has MOST of his facts incorrect. The east side has NOT done its due diligence. It has rushed this entire process and has the philosophy of "vote now, questions later." I e-mailed my legislators, the Draper city council and county council. Mayor Carroon was the only one to respond to my e-mail. He seems to be the only voice of reason in any of this. The feasibility study conducted by the east side cities has numerous flaws and doesn't bother to mention all the schools that will need to be closed once a new east side district is formed. The study also presented tax rates that are too conservative. And since when (in the history of America) taxes every gone down? I reside in Draper and have always felt my educational needs were being met and exceeded by Jordan School District. Why mess with a District that has an established national reputation? What is the big rush to get this done right now? I hope the County Council will do the moral thing and vote no to putting this on the November ballot. It needs more study and has too many unanswered questions for the public to make an educate vote.

Mr. Fullmer:

First: "...if the voters so chose"? You probably mean, if the voters who FAVOR the plan so choose, since the bill allows only the voters on the east side to vote - even though the action impacts the west side as well.

Second: "Granite District has not perfected its plan"??? How is it that you do not know that it is NOT Granite District's plan? The fact is, Granite District oposes the plan. It's the Small School District Coalition's plan, and again, most of Granite District patrons would not get to vote.

Third: You've got it right, except for "Cottonwood High and its feeder system . . . remain in Granite." The current proposal, nutty as it is, ties a small portion of the boundary around Cottonwood High to the remnants of Granite School District. However, it would strip the school of the Holladay City students who now attend there, Murray City would take it's students, STILL leaving Cottonwood with only 350 students and no junior high school feeding into it.

Fourth: If the east side is condescending enough to look out for the west side of Jordan District, then why not let both sides vote?

Fifth: Does the discomfort over "governance" and "management" also includes an unspoken reference to "those kids on the west side?"

Sixth: Yes, the east side provides more money. They HAVE more money. Shall we apply the same formula to tithing?

Seventh: Cart before the horse. You seem to say, divide the district, then let's see if the legislature can fix it. Let's do it the other way around, and let's have all affected citizens vote. Your comment about NEW money for a tax equalization plan is right on!

Both of these comments are right on!!!! Mr. Fuller has the same ego I detect in our current state legislators who have the R designation after their name -- and the Small Districts Coalition in both districts. It's all about me and what I want. Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead. Only Mayor Carroon and a couple of County COuncilmen and two from Holladay City seem to "get it." These plans are flawed and the tinkering with Cottonwood High School will not solve the problem. It is reprehensible that only those who want to split get to vote. I think in the 1860s our forefathers fought over that issue.