Deseret News | Reader comments: Appeals court hears Jordan case

Reader comments
Court hears Jordan school split

Chuck | 9:50 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

NOBODY'S constitutional rights were violated! The people on the east side have a right to decide if they want their own school district, and they did! Herriman has NO right to deny the east side's right to vote to do this.

Rep. Wimmer | 4:45 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

That "quote" is not what I said. I said I STRONGLY support the lawsuit, but question at this point whether or not it will be successful! I also excoriated the split, and how it was conducted. I said "based on principle, I support smaller districts, but the way this one was split was WRONG and irresponsible, the cart was placed before the horse!"

I had to put this in there, because the way the story has me quoted is makes it seem as if I don't support the lawsuit, and that I support the split how it was
conducted. Neither are true.

Anonymous | 5:33 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

The East side did not have the right to create a new district for SJ, WJ, Herriman and Riverton. However, that is exactly what they did. The West may have got to keep the name, but they have had to find a new office and will have to rehire everyone. No one should be able to vote to raise someone else's taxes either!

Comments continue below

saddend | 7:12 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

In any case, we have made a huge mistake. This split will end up being the costliest divorce in our State's history. Furthermore, why haven't we read anything about the promised reforms for students, teachers or classrooms in the Canyons? All I see are articles about the massive new layer of administrators and how much their salaries are. As an east side resident, I want to know how my taxes are going to go down, as promised, with a 600 million dollar bond on the horizon?
I hope that the Herriman law suit is successful so that we can cut our loses and start thinking about students again.

Dumbest thing ever | 7:32 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

SO, all this time we heard "too big of a District", blah, blah, blah. And now the "Kanyonz" District wants to site "declining enrollment as one of it's problems.

Man the people that did this just are too dumb for words.

Re: Chuck | 7:53 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Quit thinking you know everything -- you don't KNOW if the vote was unconstitutional or not -- that's why it's in an appeal. Even though the east side may has the right to create its own school district, remember there is always a price for that freedom. My biggest fear is that the price will be paid by our kids.

Get real | 8:59 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Wouldnï¿½t it be a real joke if they declare the vote unconstitutional? What are they going to do fire the new district board and district staff and stick both sides back together? That should make everyone happy again. The only good thing that could possibly come out of this for either the east or west side is movie rights. What a movie; it has greed, power, love of both confecting sides the innocent victim, and comic relief. But then would it be the east or the west that got the royalties? Ah, I see a sequel in the making.

Movie rights? | 9:18 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Of course the east would want all the royalties. They are the real "stars" of this comedy/tragedy.

Voice of the Voiceless | 11:54 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

We will All pay for this, but what about the kids? Taxes will go up on both sides. A smaller tax base for each side will result in fewer program options for All students. The West found themselves without a District Office and Auxiliary Services building for their personnel. The East gained buildings with no personnel. July 1 is fast approaching. The biggest issue is preparing for a seamless transition, to not interrupt student education and services. Futures are at stake here. Kids, employees, families, communities. We ALL live in this valley together. I can only hope for success on both sides. We all deserve it, the kids deserve it. The kids are counting on it. Counting on us. Regardless the decision(s), WE have to ensure our future for the kids, ALL kids, East and West. They have no voice in this. They are what this is ultimately about. We All owe it to them. We have no choice but to find solutions, work together, ensure their future. If we don't, East and West will have failed our most important resource, our children.

Democracy in action | 12:38 p.m. Jan. 15, 2009

I would like to know how much this is costing Herriman City? Talk about pouring money down the drain. Even if it prevails, where does that leave both sides. If it wins, Herriman will NEVER realize the massive bond it wants for new schools. If it loses, it has wasted tens of millions of dollars. Instead of wasting all this money on attorneys fees, why doesn't it put that money toward schools -- that is if it's kids it really cares about? Why doesn't it spend that money managing its own growth -- that is if it's really growing to the degree it claims it is?

Also, as far as the right to vote. Under the law, Herriman could have voted to form it's own district, as could any other west-side city if they so chose. In fact, West Jordan City did put the matter on the ballot and citizens voted it down. The east-side communities were exercising their constitutional right to decide for themselves their own destiny. I can't think of anything more democratic.

Re: Democracy in action | 3:40 p.m. Jan. 15, 2009

You are misinformed. Herriman City is not large enough to for its own district. The law states it has to be second-class city of 50,000 or more. I applaud Herriman for at least attempting to stop this. That is more than the other west side cities were willing to do.

Scott | 3:11 p.m. Jan. 22, 2009

Chuck, you are clueless. Yes, the east side had a right to vote, but the problem is that they are voting on something that greatly impacts west siders as well. The fact that no one on the west side had the chance to vote is ridiculous and one of the most glaring cases of constitutional violation I have ever come across. It is just one more example of east side money and supposed "privilege" which is not only divisive, but angers many west side people. It is just sad that we still have the east side-west side split. If this goes through and the districts split, I would propose that NOT ONE single east side student should EVER be allowed to attend a west side school--no matter the circumstances. They complain about bad facilities--well the west siders paid to build schools on the east side and now that the east side elitists don't want to build west side schools, they should NEVER benefit by sending their kids to one. I GUARANTEE that east side kids will want to come to newer west side schools under the open enrollment policy. They SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO!

Get over it | 4:09 p.m. Jan. 22, 2009

You are all up in the night. Make the best of what ever happens. I agree the split is a stupid thing, but if I was going to divorce my husband, would I have to ask my next door neighbor's permission? Exactly my point. This is nothing more than an ugly divorce. We all need to work together to make the best of it.

As for the west side paying for the east side schools, there was no west side to speak of when the east side schools were built. They were built and used to educate those who now live on the west side as well as the east side. Give it up.

Frustrated Insider | 5:23 a.m. Jan. 29, 2009

The split is a costly mistake to all involved except the new highly-paid administration. I was just informed last night that the Canyons decided to not split all our amazing curriculum specialists. The East thought they could have their teachers go to other districts for training, but were turned down flat. So, now they will have to spend yet more money bringing in specialists. I am working on my math endorsement and now will not have the opportunity to finish with the specialists I started with and, worse yet, may not have anyone to teach the rest of the classes. This is just one example of what I fear will be many poor decisions that will hurt teachers and our kids. I know of NO teacher in my East-side school that believes this split is wise. Soon to jump ship.
Veteran Teacher

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