Reader comments
Legislators decide county has no say in split

The Senate offered a substitute bill to also give all voters in the school district, not just those in the area that wants to secede, a say in a school district split. I love the language used here. Secede, didn't a group of states try that once before and we ended up in a Civil War.

I also love how I read over and over about the tremendous amount of time that was taken to study this bill originally then we have to come back and adjust numbers from 65,000 down to 50,000 so that Cottonwood Heights can be taken care of. The all knowing legislators thought it was critical that County Councils have a say in the breakup of districts, until country councils didn't vote the way the wanted them to.

I am also grateful that they didn't make the people of Salt Lake City have to pay the brunt of the bill for this breakup. Now I get to help pay for it with the "equalization" being statewide rather than county wide. I am sure that the growth needs of my home county (Tooele) will be taken into account, and our building needs will be subsidized as well. Isn't sad long time residents of the south west side of the valley have been paying for all the schools on the east side for years and as soon as the growth moves west the east side wants to "secede"

I love words like equalization to when we talk about taxes. The anti tax republicans with their "equalization" will cause school districts without growth, or school districts off the Wasatch front to raise there local taxes.

The Legislator is much wiser than than the county. The Jordan School District split is the best long term result for both the East and the West. Families and communitities will have much better relationship with smaller school districts. The study done on the split indicated that small districts are more responsive, provide a better education and have smaller class sizes. The current 80,000 student district will double and triple with future growth and then communities and families will have virtually no say in their childrens education.

My disgust with this entire POLITICAL process will manifest itself in the voting booth!

Fred. There are no "long time residents" of the south west side of the valley. The schools on the east side are all older than the vast majority of the homes on the south west side, and even most of the residents were not born when those schools were built.

One has to wonder about the Legislature's actions. It seems they want to micro-manage the school districts, take away the responsibilities of the school board, and in the process, create "districts" of only socially-acceptable people as determined by their standards. Splitting the districts isn't about "being more efficient" in district administration or "getting closer to the people." The public needs to know that these districts are already among the most efficient in the nation for per student costs. What the public is missing is that their involvement at the local school is where they need to focus their attention. The local school is where it happens.

Bryant, go to the Granite School District website and see what the University of Utah really said about responsiveness and academic achievement relating to small and large school districts. Jordan is very near the top among Utah schools in achievement and Utah schools exceed the national norms and AP and college entrance success.

If smaller districts really are better and will lower class sizes, why does the feasibility study show a tax increase just to maintain the status quo? It does not show that we are financially better off in a smaller district. If money is so tight now and we can't pay enough to attract enough teachers, why in the world are we willing to raise taxes for now apparent gain?? You can show me ten million studies that say smaller is better, but unless you show me how it would work here in Utah and really improve education with smaller class sizes, better programs, etc. I will never buy it! This is NOT about better education. This is about elitism and control. A small group on the east side (in Granite's case) would rather pay higher taxes and keep half-empty schools open. That is what this is all about!!

BOTH the House & Senate had end-run attempts to amend the bill to remove the right of self-determination - Both amendments ultimately failed. Voting rights haven't been "removed" in this process, they are granted. To feel entitled to that right is juvenile.

The 65,000 to 50,000 change does NOTHING for Cottonwood Heights - apparently you're not to familiar with the facts. It DOES affect South Jordan which now would become eligable to pursue a feasibility study. Don't make the mistake and assume there is no interest there...

The County Council mistakenly took upon themselves the role of judge & jury about the law. Their role was to represent ONLY the unincorporated citizens in an intelocal agreement. They instead said "we represent everyone" and "we should determine what the legislature really meant". That arrogance pointed out a short-coming in the law that was then fixed. Why did the City Countils even have to vote if they were to decide for all? Maybe we should leave EVERYTHING up to them and dissolve our municipalies??!?!? I think not.

This vote was NOT along party lines.

Fact: Sure the west contributed (a little) to schools on the east (just as the east contributed to those on the west) HOWEVER the west has NEVER paid a majority of those funds (thus they have always been subsidized), yet have 1/2 (47% to be exact) of ALL the schools. The subsidies from East to West have always been there - and the East Schools/Chilren are now suffering for it. Should that continue?

I would hope that any voter will study this POLITICAL issue and vote on facts, not just emotion - but you're free to choose.

I am very upset about this decision by the legislature. It ignores the fact that very large districts, such as Jordan, can provide unique programs for academically gifted students or students challenged by various handicapping conditions that smaller school districts cannot provide because the smaller numbers of students in smaller districts needing such programs does not provide the necessary economy of scale to make such programs cost effective.

I AM ENTITLED TO MY VOTE!!! The right to vote is constitutionally guaranteed! Where is my right to self determination when you are forcing me to support your desire to create another district?

BTW: I grew up on the eastside and attended eastside schools. My parents paid for those schools. We all now live on the westside and are paying for those schools. Why should we pay for you broken down old schools?!? Because it is in the best interest of the community!

Fred, go ahead and create your own district. Just remember to not come whining to us when you find out you will have to pay for new buildings to replace the ones that are falling down around your children's ears.

Sorry, boys and girls, when Olympus and Skyline were built, the real property taxes in Granite and Jordan were being paid by Kennecott, Hercules, and the sugar beet farmers. When the westsiders suggested a split way back when, who do you think was yelling loudest? Twernt us!!!!

Way to go legislature!!!

Disenfranchising the West side from a possible vote on the split virtually ensures the demise of Jordan (and eventually Granite) School districts. Now the mediocrity of having the highest graduation rates nationally can be remedied, and we can all pay double the money for more localized control.

The best part is that when the district is split, everything has been so properly spelled out over who gets what facilities, equipment, materials and supplies and most importantly bond debt.

The legislature has done such a wonderful job of clearing up the air I think that we should have them take over all the educational responsibilities we currently have for teachers, get rid of school boards and listen to those the most wise and prudent.

Chad the decision does not ignore the issues of special needs and gifted students. Please read the feasibility study (at least the one from the Jordan District Area). The proposed new district is still 35,000 students - very capable of supporting all the programs currently provided.

Furthermore, many studies cite the dis-economies of scale is districts >40,000 students.

Old Westsider - you need to do your math. Kennecott may have benn the single largest taxpayer at one time, but to theink that single payment exceeded all the taxes from every property east of the Jordan River is ludicrous.

Disgusted at Freds - try to follow along. Fred was on "your" side. I'm not forcing you to support my desire at governing myself. You simply have a mis-guided notion on what your "rights" truely are. You have no "right" to tell you neighbor what he can do with his propety (within the law, of couse), and you do not have the right to give "permission" to me to focus my efforts in my neighborhood.

Are you so dependant upon subsidies and welfare that you can't kick the habit - even for more responsilibity and control for yourself?

You sound like the 20-somethings that move out of Mom & Dads house but still want all new furniture, applicances, and electronics, but don't want the responsiblity to get them.

Disgusted at Freds: Why do you believe you have the right to prevent those on the East side from separating from your district? Should not individuals have the right to self determination? Why do you have the right to tell me what I can or cannot do with regards to my children's school? I do not live on the East side, but I believe they have a right to decide for themselves. Should the county have the right to prevent towns from incorporating because it would hurt their bottom line? No, and neither should school districts. You can have your say with regards to your schools only.

The idea that the impact created when a community decides to incorporate is complete disparate to the impact of splitting a district. I am NOT opposed to splitting Jordan District, in fact, I would vote in FAVOR of the split because I believe the split would benefit my children. The impact is much greater because the split would disproportionately shift the costs of education to a group who have no say in the matter.

By the way, Chad & Co, my family is not on welfare and I am not 20-something. I am quickly approaching my middle life years, I have a healthy income, and my house is valued by the county assessor at over $750k. Also, I have been living on my own for well over 20 years now? How about you? Also, whose the poor schlub here? The one whose going to pay for your split without a say, or you the one who is okay with the denial of my constitution rights because my family has chosen to leave the rotting infrastructure of the eastside for the new and quickly appreciating properties on the westside? Either way, I lose because you and others like you cannot see past your stereotypes.

By the way Chad & Co, yes, it is possible that Kennecott paid more in property tax than all of the eastside residents because they didn't (and will never) qualify for the residential exemption. Of course that fact won't help us westsiders now because they are shutting down their operations and converting the land to residential use which will, wait for it!, LOWER potential tax revenues for westside schools due to the residential exemption which is granted to primary resident properties.

Don't forget us "lucky" ones who don't live on the Wasatch front who will be taxed (statewide equalization plan) to help pay for this little east west battle.

when I read the paper, the proposed Granite split does sound elitist. But having been a parent without a school for three years, it looks different from here. I don't have a $750,00 house, but the tax rate is higher on my $175,00 house than that of my west-side colleagues. Notice, I said rate, not dollar amt. I am willing to spend more of my property taxes for education, but in our case Granite has done a LOUSY JOB! (Property taxes are for buildings and maintenance, not teachers' salaries). Our building went up in smoke, and the only east side school that meets minimal building codes is Olympus Jr. High. But Granite's beautiful new offices do. The problem is with Granite,
Granite, Granite, not the west side.