Enter comment The east sides needs were not being met?....How many YEARS have the west side been the step sister to the east side extravancy? West side students have had their needs neglected for years. Without the right to vote their needs are still not being met.

Alpine district spokeswoman Rhonda Bromley said the district follows the law. She added, "There would be a lot of challenges if we split."

Of course, the bureaucrats would make sure there are a lot of challenges. Would we taxpayers expect otherwise?

Who cares about the survey results now. You needed to do this survey BEFORE the legislature approved this ridiculous law. Oh yeah, I forgot -- the legislature doesn't pay attention to surveys or public opinion.

Once again, if the entire district votes, the district administrators will play one side against another prevent ANY divisions.

We need to divide up the big districts some how as they grow way too big.

As a product of both the East Side and the West Side of Jordan School District I can say I think what the East Side is pulling is pure and simply BS. Now that they have aged and the West Side paid to pamper the East Side children through school, the East Side wants to seperate. It's ridiculous. Our taxes paid for them but they can't pay for us. Unbelievably selfish and un-American. At this point, I say good ridance to them. Let them rot the decaying Eastside with closing schools and businesses. And when they come crawling back in 5 years begging to reunite, I say no way, let them suffer the consequences. I hated going to school on the East Side and was so much happier and learned much better on the West Side. I know the future of this valley lies with the West Side and that is where I will invest.

West Side Resident - "West side students have had their needs neglectied for years."

What, you couldn't hear the WOOSH of cash flowing from East to West to build all of those new schools on the west? That's why residents of the east side voted to split from the district. All of the money was going to new schools in the west, with little going to the east side.

West Side - "Without the right to vote their needs are still not being met."

You have every right to vote to split from any group you feel slighted by. Say there are 6 families that own a cabin. If 3 of the families feel (for any reason) they are getting a raw deal, they can vote to leave and talk 1/2 of the land/equity/whatever with them. You're saying that the remaining 3 families have a right to stop them from leaving, and forcing them to stay in the deal. I say they don't have that right.

Methinks there is just sour grapes on the west side, because they're now going to have to pay their fair share in property taxes. Just like the east side has done for years!

#1- when you split a district both sides DO get to vote, it's been the statute for decades. It was a major point of Herriman's lawsuit. THIS process (creating a new district along municipal boundaries) is a different animal and the media (and therefore a lot of people) just don't seem to realize that. In a "split" how do logically deal with those hundreds of kids in CH that live in Granite School District that are now going to be in the new east side district. Are THEY ignored? or should the other 75,000 kids' parents in Granite also be tossed into the mix?
#2-I'm sure West Jordan, South Jordan, Herrmina, Riverton et al (and EVERY OTHER CITY) in the state would hate to have to ask permission of their neighbors (or any-city for that matter) to enact a zone change or ordinance within their boundaries - yet the "we have a right to vote on anything that affects us" group insist that that is the case? The entire county does not vote on a NEW city/taxing authority's creation, nor should they be allowed to. The entire county/district/state should not vote on a new taxing authority(school district) either.

It seems to me that all of the assets still belong to the Jordan School District. I feel, since that is the case, the new district should pay full market value for the buildings and assets that they will be getting. Charge the taxes to the east-side residents by increasing their property taxes, and send the money to the Jordan School District, where it belongs. This has been all about money for the east-side residents, so let's show them how much it is really going to cost them.

"You have every right to vote to split from any group you feel slighted by."

Bravo braov and wow what an point you have going on there
"East Side Resident"

That same arguement really worked for South Carolina and the rest of the Confederate states back in the 1860's.

Okay now that I am done sarcastically and historically blowing a hole in your arguement let me end by saying that once in a UNION all parties must be consulted in order to leave the UNION. Succession is not an option unless both parties agree to it.

Mark Twain often said there are statistics and and %$#@ed statistics. I'm sure with very little effort I could ask a question that would show that 72% would show the opposite.
The survey and questions are/appear to be leading and biased. Couple that with a lack of information the general public and what do you expect?
Ask anyone "do you feel you have a right to vote" on almost ANY issue and see what the results are. People would alwyas prefer to have more control/say in their government! (Whoops - that's just what the east side has been saying.........)

I know a lot of Democrats that feel they have a right to vote in Republican Primaries (remember last Tuesday?). Does that mean they should or that they have a right? Should the Democratic Party really have a say in the Republican Party nomination process? After all, this IS Utah and the results of the primary will VERY LIKELY have a great AFFECT on those Dems...

Simply thinking that you ought to have everything you think you ought to have a right to doesn't make it so, nor does it make it right. This type of questionaire serves no purpose.

West Side Resident - compare the new Herriman schools to any school in Midvale and then we can talk about extravaganze.

Jake - personal bias has clouded your thought process. The west side has never done anything financially for the east side except to take and take and take. JSDs own growth summit data show this. The pampering has always been done by the east side to the west. BTW, I hear Pampers has a great new toddler size. Where can I send you a box?

Stick It - an apt moniker since that is the over-riding west side sentiment. I'm curious, did your west side city reimburse the county or any other city when it incorporated and took over the roads, sidewalks, storm water systems, etc.? If not, why not? As a political subdivision, similar to a school district, aren't the rest of the residents who helped pay for it entitled to something?

Bravo - you make an apples and mangos argument, and it is just silly. A school district is not the same as a state.

Mr. Newton is correct, what's done is done. Move on, people.

We deserve what we are going to get out of this great idea created by our legislature. East and West will both suffer. Those who think that one side or the other will save tax dollars and cut administration costs are fooling themselves

The responsible party for this mess is a state legislature that feels it is exciting to fix an educational system they have no idea about.

At the end of the day, students will have less money and lawyers will have more.
This was and still is bad legislation. The east side pushed for the legislation by sharing feasibility studies that showed everything would work out. They now say that their own studies were not accurate and they need hundreds of millions from the west.
If the studies were not accurate, they lied to the voters and to the legislators to get this passed and now the students from both sides will have less money.

It's interesting that a bunch of politicians wanted the district to split, and as usual they spun the facts to get what they wanted. Jordan School District is rated in the top 10 school districts in the country and has won numerous awards. The problem we have here is a bunch of spoiled east side whiners couldn't get their way so they decided to "take their toys" and go home....

Steve Newton said, "It's not as if districts have to cater to every whim — but they need to be responsive. The bottom line is it's done, and it's excellent public policy."

Thanks, Steve, for that thoroughly unbiased assessment! The only thing "excellent" about it is that YOU support it!

Being raised in Utah and attending all eastside Jordan School District schools, I believe it was totally wrong for the eastside to break away without a proper vote. For years the westside supported the huge growth on the eastside of the district. Now that the growth has moved to the westside, the eastside decides to breakaway.

This action was really a decision of a dozen elite eastsiders who were able to pull it off and sell it to the voters without looking at the bigger picture.

Enter commentThis is just another game

The people who count lose

Mr. Newton is/was right. The core of our American beleif in government is by the people and for the people. The point of the revolutoin was to simply have the right to govern ourselves.
Allowing a majority to alway hold a significant minority captive (especially in this case where the "minority" has neglected needs and sufficient means to provide for them absent the selfish motives of the "majority) to their wishes is contrary to those beleifs.

rules the day on both sides of this argument. Unfortunately as a society we don't seem to be able to look at what's best for everyone. It's all ME ME ME. Also unfortunate, is the fact that our legislators are the best example of this "me first" attitude that is so pervasive. As a long time resident of the east side I knew taxes were being paid to build on the west side. Somehow I knew that, as a society, this is what we do. Just like when people started building and moving to the south, and further north.

Leave it to the uneducated, arrogant east-siders (yes, I live among them and know how uneducated they were on this issue) to break away from something good. The best school districts in the US are huge, and with that huge size comes lots of money and fantastic bond ratings so everything a school needs can be purchased with cost effective measures. JSD had so many wonderful programs in place; those who think it was too top-heavy have NO idea how little money was put toward administration - one of the lowest rates in the country. Now, we get to have a bunch of uneducated, uninformed parents (just because they had a baby doesn't mean they know the first thing about quality education) telling us how best to educate our kids. No wonder Utah is full of MLMs and real estate agents - if the residents actually listened to professional educators, our children would be able to get what the rest of American kids get - quality education. Instead, we get communal home schools (aka charters) and a new, inexperienced district. No wonder America has no respect for this arrogant, incompetent state.

Excellent public policy, Mr. Newton?

You and your east-side voters bought a school district without knowing the terms, conditions, or even the price of the purchase.

Smart!!!!

That may be excellent public policy in your world, but the vast majority on both sides disagree.

Now hold on a minute - I teach at a middle school on the east side of the Jordan district. I have always given 100% effort to make my 43+ classrooms as successful an environment as possible, and will continue to do so no matter what happens with the district. I resent the implication that our students' education will suffer as a result of this action. There are many, many fine educators on both sides of the line who will see to it that the children in either district receive the best we have to give.

"East side parent" is self-fulfilling and shows ignorance in rampant.
#1 - "best district are huge" well, none of the studies agree with you. Ask anyone that's tried to deal with LA County schools and find our if they feel LA County is effective. How about Clark County that has been trying to divide for decades in order to better focus resources.
#2 - the division will have NO effect on bond ratings. Ultimately school bond ratings are backed by the Utah State rating which is about the best there is. ANY effect would be negligable
#3 - No special programs/activities NEED to be discontinued due to a new district. It's well documented that districts of 35,000/45,000 kids can support every necessary educational requirement and service.
#4 - JSD does not come clost to thaving the lowest admin cost per student in the State, let alone the country
#5 - parents shoudn't be involved in how their kids are educated?!?!?!?!? REALLY!?!?!
#6 - we should all just leave it to whiny, arrogant, non-caring "professional" as you appear to be? You don't get my vote...

Bond Rating will be affected because each half has less resources. Don't forget the East side has to pay for the 2003 bonds still. They can't just cut and run from that obligation. The quality rating will also gradually decline. The last issue is voice. Considering the East had more of the board, and the new board will be made up of people voted in from one of the lowest turnouts in primary recent history (why did they choose the primary as the final say), the say will be just the same as before.

The ignorance of Chuck and other pro spliters annoys me. They always forget the truth. The West built the East in the 60's and 70's and early 80's. The East started paying more than it was getting in the 90's. They still got new schools in that time. Jordan High, Oak Hollow, Willow Springs, Copperview just to name the more recent were built.

Bond ratings will not be affected. PERIOD. That statement is from specialists/experts in public bond financing. Do you claim some superior knowledge? Saying its true doesn't make it so. If you're curious, ask an expert like LYRB, or JSD's own bond counsel.
The truth is the east side has ALWAYS paid a majority of taxes for capital improvements in JSD. The trush is in spite of that fact half the schools are on the west side of the river. The truth is that 75% of the total capital assets' valued is also on the west side of the river. The west side has merely paid a (substantial) minority share in everything in the district but has a significant majority asset to show for it.

Apparently The truth annoys you so much you're much more contecnt to manufacture new "truths" to meet your needs. This is called living in la la land.

"if the residents actually listened to professional educators, our children would be able to get what the rest of American kids get - quality education."

ROFLOLOLOL <wipes tears from eyes> You have GOT to be kidding! Or smoking something...

Yes there are some really good teachers out there. Hogtied with regulations, crowded classrooms, and kids whose parents don't support their education, or don't speak English, or have myriad other problems that the schools aren't equipped to deal with. Most kids in this country get a very mediocre education - just ask the colleges what percentage of kids need remedial classes to learn what they should have mastered in K-12 years.

"Instead, we get communal home schools (aka charters)" - ok this one gets me cranky. Home schooled kids generally score in the 80-90th percentile on standardized tests - for those who are math challenged that means better than 80-90 percent of all test takers, most of whom are public schooled. Charter schools also generally score better, especially if you only look at schools that are established - open for more than a couple years. And take into account that some charters take care of underperforming groups.

Not the Truth,

What I stated is correct. The new districts must each establish bond ratings with lenders and they won't be quite as good because neither side has the same assets as before (hence the ability to pay off those bonds).

I was also correct with assets. The East has roughly the same percentage of developed assets. The West has more undeveloped assets. Those facts make you a liar, not a truth sayer. The assets combined are going to be closer to 58% in favor of the larger West side.