Comments about ‘Poll: Jordan District split resulted in inequity’

Cowdell sounds like a state representative. "You just don't know all the facts. Just shut up and let us rule for (over) you."

Of course there is inequity. Every time the government strays from its constitutional powers, there is inequity. The sole purpose of government is to protect us from crime and foreign invasion. If we are to have equity, the government must limit its activities to that sole purpose.

I think Cowdell was saying that people in a poll tend to answer based on gut feelings or their emotional stake in the issue. To reduce the complex issues involved in the arbitration of the Jordan District split's assets and liabilities, and in the larger issue of educational equity, to an up or down poll question adds nothing to this complex poltical issue. After very long and complicated political, legislative, judicial, and electoral processes, such a poll serves to only further inflame emotions and social divisions.

Being disadvantaged holds sway over possible advantage in most all political circumstances. The talking points continually expressed by members of the Canyons District elite are becoming tiresome. Their comments continually imply ineptness in the Jordan School District management. Perhaps all the facts are being ignored and purposely distorted by those advantaged by the split.

This whole issue has stunk from it's beginnings a few yrs ago. When are we going to stop following the "GOLDEN RULE"... those that have the gold makes the rules. Leaders are givin a stuardship to lead the people, for the people. not for their own agenda. This situation is for "someones" agenda and not for the good of the community. Geez I live 2hrs North and the stink from this is overwhelming, even this far north. My heart is with the front line folks on this... the kids and the teachers. Has anyone realized the stress they are under? I know that it is not good! how many of us could go to work each day knowing that we won't have a job come Sept. and still give 110%.... is that really fair to all those that don't have $$$$'s at stake in all this.

Barry Newbold has only himself to blame for the problems that exist in his district and ultimately the district split itself. Newbold has used the division as an easy scapegoat. The reason he keeps hearing from his constituents is because he himself keeps blaming the split for his problems instead of fessing up, claiming them as his own and trying to solve them. That's what a true leader would do.

Jordan's own budget documents show that the split cost it $8M yet it is receiving $12M a year in equalization and another $25M a year in paid bond debt, all to fund Jordan's own brand-new schools. Instead of fueling the fire with more whining about "unfairness," how about demonstrating some leadership and focusing on what the two districts have in common, like a desire to both deliver a quality public education for thousands of students. Time to take some responsibility and stop capitalizing on perceived "inequities." After all, you thought it was more than fair when you got 59% of the assets and 58% of your bond debt paid in arbitration. What changed?

Where are the people surveyed? East side? West side? both? outside of Salt Lake County?

The inequalities between east and west in Jordan School District (and, honestly, Salt Lake County, some of Davis, and Utah County for sure) have been there for decades! The reality is that the Jordan District split finally put faces and amounts on how MUCH the east side has been able to sway (buy) votes and funnel money their way. Funny that a split was never talked about by the southeast end of the valley until they actually had to more equally SHARE money and timing for school fixes and building. It truly wasn't until the building of Draper High was put off because the population need for a new school was on the WEST side that the EAST side started whining, griping, and threatening to split. I think all this poll shows is that at least SOME people realize what rules the roost in UT....

Greed and money....not "fairness" and equity!

As a former West side Jordan District student and teacher, I was known to say in the mid-1990's that if the state ever allowed a split east/west they would be paying for it for years. Too bad no one listens to students!

I agree with anonymous 5:49. That info would be good to know, as well as how many of those surveyed have children in Canyons vs. Jordan??

It pays to make pay.

The schools and other facilities in the Canyons district were built with revenue from the west side.

Never forget that the largest taxpayer in the county is Kennecott, and Kennecott payed to build the east side schools.

Whatever dude...keep telling yourself that. Never saw any money from the westside pay east-side schools. In my lifetime, I have seen multiple west-side schools go up, as east-side schools are closing down!

Let's face it. The vote should never have left the west side out. Our foolish legislature is to blame. This vote was simply illegal.

The Canyons District got exactly what it voted for. Cullimore and his crew were more than anxious to agree to paying their share of the bond as a way of pushing the split legislation forward. They also knew that their buildings were older, that was never brought up as an issue during the legislative committee mmetings. Everyone needs to understand that the split never was about students, it was always about money. Cullimore even talked the West side Mayors into resolving the issues related to the division of assets if the West would just pay the East $30,000,000. The West side mayors agreed to that proposal and if it had not been for the West side Transition team, the deficit the Jordan district is facing would be a +$30,000,000. The legislators from the West side legislators had a chance to stop the split legislation when it was first sponsored by Rep. Cox. They chose to vote for the legislation. Rep. Newbod said, "gee if I would have known it was going to reaise our taxes I would have against the Cox bill." We need to vote out Newbold, Wimmer, Butters, etc. The incumbants need to go.

@ JSD old timer | 9:40 p.m. March 8, 2010

Kennecott did not pay to build any schools -- either east or west. It is a "centrally assessed property" and as such its tax dollars are pooled and redistributed to districts statewide.

@ Inequalities.... | 6:01 p.m. March 8, 2010

Time to take that chip off your shoulder. The two districts are mirror images of each other including student achievement, median income, median home values and yes, political clout (The Senate President is from the West Jordan area.)

If Jordan District really cared about "fairness and equity" instead of "greed and money" then it would have never let children learn in 60-year-old buildings with huge cracks across their foundation. If it was really a matter of "fairness and equity," Jordan would be paying to fund the four (of five) Title I schools Canyons inherited. If it was really about "fairness and equity," Jordan would support statewide equalization instead of only supporting equalization when it is the sole beneficiary.

ILLEAGAL?!? So despite multiple federal courts & judges saying the contrary, we should just believe you, an anonymous blog expert?

Perhaps you should read those courts' decisions & see why the vote was not only Legal, but necessary the way it was done. Maybe, just maybe those Legislators who supported it studied the law and understand legal principles a bit better than you know...

The Utah Supreme Court as well as the 10th Circuit of Appeals disagree with you.

I have never been so ashamed of this state. I live in Utah county and have been lucky to acquire many rental properties. I look forward to paying property tax because I know it benefits students and future generations.

I hope you people realize that problems like this will only increase because the victims are the future. What a disastrous result stemming from pride and childish behavior.

So how is this any different than what has been going on for years now? Granite district students (on the west side of town) have been getting the shaft for as long as I have been around. The only reason this is now a huge issue is because the wanna be east side schools of the west side are now effected. Welcome to our world.

What ever happened to self-reliance?? Who ever said we should TAKE from our neighbor so we can be equal?? Life's NOT fair. Never has been. Never will be. We take care of our own and do the best we can with what we have and are better for it.