Reader comments
Jordan school split may not cut into choice

Interesting article. The split may change a few of those kids, and then again it may not. This was a HUGE issue with Cottonwood High if Granite were also seeking a split. But the east side High Schools are just fine in JSD.

The split is a horrible 114 million idea (projected start up cost). Magnet and gifted programs should remain intact, but secondary programs that are very specialized will be in jeopardy like foreign language and college prep type classes that share a teacher across the valley or the specialty schools like Valley and the Redwood campus. Valley is the only High School on the east side that could be adversely effected.

This whole article is a scare tactic. The Desnews editorializes against the split, and then can't be objective in their further articles. Splitting the Jordan School District will have no impact on school choice. Further, the studies show there are more than enough resources to replicate all of the current JSD programs on both sides of the district. Thus, if students want to travel to a different school for specific programs, they'll have that opportunity. However, both districts will have the chance to have the same programs, instead of a single district and a single program where kids have to travel from all across the huge Jordan School Distict to attend.

This is a strange story. This issue has nothing to do with choice. Why are only those who favor this split quoted? You can't believe anything Brian Allen or Carelen Walker say. Why wasn't anbody from the district talked to or someone who opposes this split? It's a very one-sided story. This article fails to mention all the specialty prgrams (South Valley, applied technology center and Valley High) all located on the west side. It's only common sense that Jordan has no obligation to offer any of those programs to kids outside the district should the vote pass. Their first priority will be to take care of its own kids -- as it should be. Nobody can still give me any really good reasons to vote yes on this issue. I'm sticking with my no vote and will encourage my east-side neighbors to do the same.

Another hokus-pokus bogeyman thought up by the administration to scare people against the division that is so overdue.

Anonymous, the start-up cost figure you have is more falsehood to scare people. There is no need for it unless you try to replicate the whole big district administration!

This is way overdue! Let's get it done for the sake of our children.

What? We hae school choice? I thought that we needed vouchers so that we could have school choice.

As a resident of Draper, I am voting Yes for the split along with everyone else Ive spoken with. I believe its pretty much a done deal.

To What: Now since when could you not trust Brian Allen. My understanding of his record is that it is fairly upstanding. No dishonest dealings as a state rep. Nothing shady as a lobbyist. He has been on the national board of Volunteers of America. Your words border on slander my friend.

Back on topic, The school district split is actually a good idea. Think about since when has a bloated government work. Look at the USSR large gov't bureaucracy and it failed because of it. Secondly, because of the size the district often times students and teachers are ignored.

One such instance is when a horrible principal who avoided discipline and awarded wrong doings was fired only after a year long war between parents and the district.

Another instance this is from students is a teacher showed students Pornography and Jordan school district ignored the petition of students and parents to have this man fired he still works there even though it is well known that he showed it to students, 90+ students can't all be liars can they?

The same old strategy by the Deseret News Editorial Board. Publish an editorial against an issue and then provide a series of articles up to election day to support their position. I have great respect for the reporter who wrote the story. However, and sadly, you can see the influence of the good old boys on this story. I cannot imagine a school district not doing all possible to accomodate students with special needs, even those living in another district. The creation of the new school district might even start a new trend in public education called shared resources. Instead of duplicating specialty programs, districts could share costs and facilities and put the interest of the children ahead of bulding kingdoms. I say it again, the real culprit behind this issue is the Jordan School District and their total failure to project the magnitude of growth in the district and their lack of courage to have come to the public 5 years ago and explain the crisis. Not once during the debate of this issue has the Jordan District offered any solutions or attempted to facilitate constructive public dialog. I will vote yes to create a new school district.

it comes down to rich vs poor the east side wins because our local leaders work for them just like the voucher issue. they even made a law so not everyone being effected by it can vote only the rich east side. that is why cottonwood was built on the east side, even when it was well known the large growth is on the west side. as long as people vote for republicans in utah, only rich peoples issues will be on any plate.

JD says,

"The creation of the new school district might even start a new trend in public education called shared resources. Instead of duplicating specialty programs, districts could share costs and facilities..."

Let me get this straight. If we split the district, the new districts could then "share resources... specialty programs... costs and facilities".

Somebody please help me here. If these are the "positive" outcomes of the split, why would we splitting the Jordan School District?

Arm of Orion,

Your accusation should be taken to the State Licensing board if what was shown truly was pornographic. But I would check to make sure that most others would deem it as such as well. After all we view things a bit differently than most of the world.

For example, I have a letter to the Provo Towne Centre Mall (and all businesses at the mall) that was demanding a boycott and end to a store that had a provocative picture of a woman. I must have walked by it a hundred times without noticing it going to the food court. I kept the letter for a good laugh now and again even though I don't know what the picture was that upset this couple so much.

Another example would be classical art. I know many who were offended that the David by Michaelangelo would be in a fifth grade textbook. But if it was truly some form of pornography the state would suspend or revoke his/her license.

We are splitting the district because...well....because if we don't do it now, we won't have the chance to do it in the future.

sadly "sad" is sadly mistaken? Rich vs Poor? Reps vs. Dems? Not a single fact in this issue supports either contention - in fact, the facts point out the opposite.
Whining for the sake of whining is pretty sad...

Local control equals local focus and means better schools. That't true even if you are a Democrat, Republican, Rich, or Poor.

Simply because JD didn't include all the other positive reasons to create a new eastern school district (local control, local governance, more responsiveness, school repair/rennovation, parental involvement) he/she is wrong? Perhaps he/she was simply being concise! [and RIGHT IMHO]
I'm voting YES - so is my neighborhood. A new smaller district is long-overdue.