Reader comments
Granite High to close in current location
31 comments | Read story
Former Granitian | 7:39 a.m. May 6, 2009
Another icon and piece of Utah history gone. Of course population changes and
things must be done to balance the budget. Now if you could just figure out a
way to get rid of the bad teachers you protect. It would be nice to see cost
cutting measures affect them. I enjoyed being part of Granite when it was in its
glory days with >2500 students.
Now it is serving a unique need. If more of our immigrants could get a "welcoming" education (adults as well as kids), maybe English could still be our official language. Seems like a need that should be growing, not being shuffled to a corner somewhere.
Now it is serving a unique need. If more of our immigrants could get a "welcoming" education (adults as well as kids), maybe English could still be our official language. Seems like a need that should be growing, not being shuffled to a corner somewhere.
Sally | 7:44 a.m. May 6, 2009
As a former Farmer this is a bit sad, but I hate to see a once strong school
with such a rich heritage dwindle like it has.
I no longer live in the area, whatever happened to Central Jr. High? I thought they were using that facility as the magnet high school.
I no longer live in the area, whatever happened to Central Jr. High? I thought they were using that facility as the magnet high school.
Comments continue below
Central High | 8:04 a.m. May 6, 2009
The district just recently rebuild Central High four or five years ago. It was
ridiculously expensive and not needed. Central High is one of the nicer
buildings in the Granite School District. Dumb!!
Granite High Graduate | 8:19 a.m. May 6, 2009
This has been in the coming for quite sometime.
I was at Granite High School, a few years ago, for a night of talent sharing. Our group was a choir of students. We arrived and had to wait for a little while for our time to be called. However, before that could happen we took our students and left. What we saw there was VERY disturbing and we felt unsafe.
I graduated from Granite High in the 80's and it was a great school. One of my last years there our football team made it to "STATE" and the news paper headlines read, "street kids make state". We were then known as lower class, but now it seems it has become a school for toubled teens.
Sad to see it go.. but we were sad to see the old swimming pool go too.. but change happens.
I was at Granite High School, a few years ago, for a night of talent sharing. Our group was a choir of students. We arrived and had to wait for a little while for our time to be called. However, before that could happen we took our students and left. What we saw there was VERY disturbing and we felt unsafe.
I graduated from Granite High in the 80's and it was a great school. One of my last years there our football team made it to "STATE" and the news paper headlines read, "street kids make state". We were then known as lower class, but now it seems it has become a school for toubled teens.
Sad to see it go.. but we were sad to see the old swimming pool go too.. but change happens.
Evergreen... | 8:35 a.m. May 6, 2009
feeds into Olympus. Wasatch is the junior high that burned down and was rebuilt.
It feeds into Skyline.
Granite | 8:42 a.m. May 6, 2009
Finally - put it out of its misery. But why don't they tear it down and
sell off the property for commercial/residential development. Wouldn't
that help with revenue, rather than saving the building for sentimental reasons?
Very Upset | 9:07 a.m. May 6, 2009
The Central Jr High building is now Granite Park Jr. High. The Granite District
has no clue what they are doing. I have driven around and looked at some of the
school properties. They have so many schools that sit on huge properties that
are all grass, that are not even used. But they pay thier maintance people to
mow the lawns and keep them green. They build a brand new school for troubled
kids that don't even want to go to school. Just so they can graduate, they
rebuild a school that burns down that was on the chopping block at the time the
school burnt down. They have at least 7 properties in South Salt Lake that they
do not have to pay property taxes to SSL. SSL loses millions of dollars because
of Granite Disctrict. And now SSL will have not high school. What family wants
to move into a city that has no local HS. They close a school and keep the
property for stupid reasons. Instead of giving back to the comunity. Homes could
be built where the old Woodrow Wilson is. They do not care about the students
that want to learn.
Amazing | 9:13 a.m. May 6, 2009
How in the world did it get to a 4to3 vote..the 3 gutless board members that
voted to keep it should be kicked off the board. If the entire auto industry can
go under so can a delapadated 100 year old building waiting to fall apart go
under. Do these people realize we are in financial crisis and keeping a building
like this openend for 300 stuudents is rediculous. Cottonwood, Skyline and
Olympus all have plenty of room to accomodate these students. To the 4 that
voted to close Granite, thanks for saving taxpayers millions in renovations on a
building that should have been condemed years ago.
school fix | 9:14 a.m. May 6, 2009
They need to consolidate all the school districts into one which cut down on
adminstrative costs and other overhead. Further, the current boundaries shold be
tweaked so student sizes are equalized.
Specifically, the boundaries for schools such as Skyline & Highland would stretch further to the South and West which would cause Brighton and Alta's territory to shift. Thereby, reducing class sizes out west.
Boundaries would then be redrawn every so often to alleviate overcrowding.
Specifically, the boundaries for schools such as Skyline & Highland would stretch further to the South and West which would cause Brighton and Alta's territory to shift. Thereby, reducing class sizes out west.
Boundaries would then be redrawn every so often to alleviate overcrowding.
Very Upset... | 9:45 a.m. May 6, 2009
You should know that Granite Peaks is not a school for students who do not want
to learn. These students have chosen to come to the school as a last resort
because they want to graduate. In fact, the attendance policy is much more
strict at this high school than at any other school in the district. Students
who miss more than three times are dropped from the program. Clearly, one must
truly want to learn if they are going to attend Granite Peaks. We cannot give up
on students who struggle because our society's well being is at stake.
Educated people can support themselves better. They lead more fulfilled lives
and are less likely to need to collect unemployment or welfare. Don't
belittle their attempts simply because you think you know their attitudes toward
learning.
Central High?! | 9:46 a.m. May 6, 2009
to the person who thinks Central HIGH (not junior) is in Granite: I believe
Central High was in Sandy, in JORDAN District. It was rebuilt by Jordan further
west. It's the alternative High School.
Sad day | 10:45 a.m. May 6, 2009
The decision to close Granite High was really made three years ago when they
removed all boundaries for attendance (No one was assigned to the school, you
could go there IF you wanted) and removed all sports programs. The Board was
trying to appease the City of South Salt Lake as well as students and staff . I
saw the neighborhood school turn into a school with transient apartment dwelling
students who were there one day and gone the next . They did their best as they
struggled to keep a job to put food on their families table and attend school.
Dont judge the present GHS students by where they live or how they dress; they
are great kids who need a significant adult to care. They dont always get this
at home. Hopefully there will be a teacher in their new school who will take
an interest in them. As for the City of South Salt Lake, my fear is that the
community believes that you have worked so hard to maintain all of your
outstanding programs, and that the sports, activities, and parties are all for
naught now that you have lost the cog of your community.
affluence is the power | 10:59 a.m. May 6, 2009
History often teaches valuable lessons. It is sad that elected board members do
not look to history. A previous post wrote about the rebuilding of a junior
high school that burned down in 2005. Seventeen years previous, the Salt Lake
Board of Education closed South High School. Studies showed that the growth was
occurring in the west end of the city. Seventeen years later, that has been
proven. The board should have closed East instead of South, but those with
money and so called "tradition" would not allow it. Now areas that
feed into East do not have a neighborhood school. Students travel across the
valley (from as far as Redwood).
Lesson learned? No. The land that Wasatch sits on should have been developed with the profit benefiting the district. Olympus should have been made into a junior high and Granite should have remained as a neighborhood high school. Boundaries would have been re-drawn and made equitable. But, as was the case seventeen years earlier, Skyline (like East) parents rallied, created petitions, and used their influence to rebuild an unneeded junior high.
Our educational concerns are far bigger than a district, Utah's educational values fall short.
Lesson learned? No. The land that Wasatch sits on should have been developed with the profit benefiting the district. Olympus should have been made into a junior high and Granite should have remained as a neighborhood high school. Boundaries would have been re-drawn and made equitable. But, as was the case seventeen years earlier, Skyline (like East) parents rallied, created petitions, and used their influence to rebuild an unneeded junior high.
Our educational concerns are far bigger than a district, Utah's educational values fall short.
concerened parten | 11:48 a.m. May 6, 2009
We all need to be paying attention to who we elect as Board Memebers. They have
alot of power and a few of them have their own private agendas. We now have a
Jr. High on the east side that we don't need and didn't need, they
should have not rebuilt Wasatch and placed all of those kids in Church Hill Jrs.
Building and renamed it Skyline Jr. High, but instead they wasted millions of
tax payer dollars to build another school we did not need. We need school board
memebers who think with their brains and not with their emotions. The closure
of Granite High School is sad, however when the financial sitiuation is what it
is, sometimes their is no choice, however if in the past we would have had
better decisions made maybe we wouldn't have been in the situtation we are
in. Please pay attention to who is running for School Board and vote out those
who have private agendas, there is now room in public education for private
agendas!!!
re: Central High? | 11:58 a.m. May 6, 2009
No Central high was the name of Granite's alternative high school for most
of it's life. It was located in South Salt Lake in what is now Granite Park
Jr high.
Four years ago it was renamed to Granite Peaks when they rebuilt it on 3900 South 500 East, just down the street from Granite High.
To the person who complained about rebuilding evergreen...they didn't they rebuilt wasatch which was a huge waste of money. While it was being rebuilt those kids attended school at Churchill and the combined population of those two schools was less than churchill's capacity.
Four years ago it was renamed to Granite Peaks when they rebuilt it on 3900 South 500 East, just down the street from Granite High.
To the person who complained about rebuilding evergreen...they didn't they rebuilt wasatch which was a huge waste of money. While it was being rebuilt those kids attended school at Churchill and the combined population of those two schools was less than churchill's capacity.
Some factoids | 12:06 p.m. May 6, 2009
Wasatch was rebuilt mostly with the insurance settlement.
Central Junior High was renamed Central High when it became the alternative school.
The bulk of the South Salt Lake students voted with their feet to attend other schools long before the changes of three years ago.
The big issue here is the $25 million it would take to make the building viable and safe.
South Salt Lake chose to be an industrial hub instead of family friendly several decades ago.
The facility on 3900 South is large enough to accommodate more than 800 students and would make a great Granite High School. It can support today's technology and could be the so-called smaller learning communities some seem to want.
The sad thing is that the people who were pushing to keep the school open so the kids wouldn't fall through the cracks convinced the kids they can't succeed in the real world. I know young people are resilient and I'll bet they can!
Central Junior High was renamed Central High when it became the alternative school.
The bulk of the South Salt Lake students voted with their feet to attend other schools long before the changes of three years ago.
The big issue here is the $25 million it would take to make the building viable and safe.
South Salt Lake chose to be an industrial hub instead of family friendly several decades ago.
The facility on 3900 South is large enough to accommodate more than 800 students and would make a great Granite High School. It can support today's technology and could be the so-called smaller learning communities some seem to want.
The sad thing is that the people who were pushing to keep the school open so the kids wouldn't fall through the cracks convinced the kids they can't succeed in the real world. I know young people are resilient and I'll bet they can!
Closing wasn't the right choice. | 12:09 p.m. May 6, 2009
As Dan lofgren a GSD board member said last night...
"Closing a school should be the absolute last resort to balance the budget. We should be holding this meeting the parking lot of granite high school before we decide to close this school"
Yes hard cuts were made in a lot of places, and between the granite music program and granite high, perhaps granite high closing is the right move. But there were a lot of other items that weren't on the table that should have been, and we will always have to wonder why.
"Closing a school should be the absolute last resort to balance the budget. We should be holding this meeting the parking lot of granite high school before we decide to close this school"
Yes hard cuts were made in a lot of places, and between the granite music program and granite high, perhaps granite high closing is the right move. But there were a lot of other items that weren't on the table that should have been, and we will always have to wonder why.
South Salt Laker | 12:23 p.m. May 6, 2009
I'm glad they closed it: my barrio could use a little gentrification. As
for having no school here as if I would send my kids there anyway.
Re: South Salt Laker | 12:55 p.m. May 6, 2009
Hey, good luck on that gentrification happening in your lifetime... as if you
even know who your kids are anyway.
Anonymous | 1:12 p.m. May 6, 2009
If they want to save money, why do they have the grandos Granite District office
on State Street -
Don't cut schools, cut the high overhead of all those workers and edifice they reside in - what a joke!
Don't cut schools, cut the high overhead of all those workers and edifice they reside in - what a joke!
factoids... | 2:49 p.m. May 6, 2009
"The facility on 3900 South is large enough to accommodate more than 800
students and would make a great Granite High School. It can support today's
technology and could be the so-called smaller learning communities some seem to
want."
That was an alternative put forth by at least one board member, faculty at Granite and Granite Peaks. They decided it wasn't a valid alternative. Besides, they never bothered to create the academies they promised at granite originally, why would we think they would do it if they had moved granite to the granite peaks facility.
"The sad thing is that the people who were pushing to keep the school open so the kids wouldn't fall through the cracks convinced the kids they can't succeed in the real world. I know young people are resilient and I'll bet they can!"
Some probably can, but the school boards actions and comments last night made it clear they refuse to accept that some students learn differently and those needs should be addressed. Instead they stated that all students learn the same way in the same environment. Despite all the evidence to the contrary.
That was an alternative put forth by at least one board member, faculty at Granite and Granite Peaks. They decided it wasn't a valid alternative. Besides, they never bothered to create the academies they promised at granite originally, why would we think they would do it if they had moved granite to the granite peaks facility.
"The sad thing is that the people who were pushing to keep the school open so the kids wouldn't fall through the cracks convinced the kids they can't succeed in the real world. I know young people are resilient and I'll bet they can!"
Some probably can, but the school boards actions and comments last night made it clear they refuse to accept that some students learn differently and those needs should be addressed. Instead they stated that all students learn the same way in the same environment. Despite all the evidence to the contrary.
Some thoughts | 2:52 p.m. May 6, 2009
There were two Board Members who voted NOT to rebuild Wasatch Jr. High, they
could see the writing on the wall ... the East Side does not need another Jr.
High. And, to think that these East Side board members are helping South Salt
Lake is ridiculous. These people simply dont want "those kids"
walking into their schools. The school board is mandated to have a balanced
budget...it had to be done and thank heaven at least 4 board members had the
sense to do the hard thing, but the right thing.
Amen to Anonymous! | 3:02 p.m. May 6, 2009
Why doesn't anyone else question the GSD office building?? It's no
wonder that teachers call it the Taj Mahal! There's the biggest waste!
Wilson | 3:10 p.m. May 6, 2009
From a previous post - As Dan Lofgren a GSD board member said last night...
"Closing a school should be the absolute last resort to balance the budget. We should be holding this meeting in the parking lot of Granite high school before we decide to close this school"
NO, cutting teachers should be the last resort or raising taxes should be the last resort. Keeping a high school open for approximately 300 students is not fiscally responsible. Folks - it's a building!
"Closing a school should be the absolute last resort to balance the budget. We should be holding this meeting in the parking lot of Granite high school before we decide to close this school"
NO, cutting teachers should be the last resort or raising taxes should be the last resort. Keeping a high school open for approximately 300 students is not fiscally responsible. Folks - it's a building!
other parent | 3:50 p.m. May 6, 2009
Actually, I believe Julene Jolley was the only one who voted not to rebuild
Wasatch Jr. She was re-elected after that.
I think that most of the school board members are voting the way that their constiuents want them to vote . . .it doesn't do much good to gripe about someone else's school board member - can't do a thing about it . . .
I think that most of the school board members are voting the way that their constiuents want them to vote . . .it doesn't do much good to gripe about someone else's school board member - can't do a thing about it . . .
Granite District Police | 4:35 p.m. May 6, 2009
If you want to save money and cut expenses you should disband the Granite School
District Police. Jordon School District did this some years ago to save money
and the local authorities service the school's police needs. In most cases
the local police have school resource officers in the school. This is simply a
duplication of services that is very unecessary and very expensive. Every day I
shake my head at the cost of this "mini" PD and what in the world are
we thinking not to disband it yesterday. The board needs to check themselves and
figure this one out. This could be a one day fix for a heck of a lot of savings.
Homer | 4:50 p.m. May 6, 2009
How insulting! This was not merely a choice as some claimed at the board
"discussion" between music for elementary children or closing an
expensive program to help challenged or at-risk students.
The board didn't have any problem using millions of dollars to rebuild a completely unnecessary east side junior high that houses students from other school districts and who were more than adequately housed at Churchill. So, how can they with good conscience turn their backs on a school in the heart of the district that serves challenging students who actually live in the district.
And those statistics used by board members in their arguments were ridiculous. So, if a students are tardy or having trouble with school, you'll just close the building and too bad for them.
Our public education system needs to live up to its mission if it is going to continue to use taxpayer money. It must serve all the public, not just the "good" ones, or the influential neighborhoods. Look, the "good" ones are easy to educate. The true test of a teacher or a school is how it teaches those who many would consider "unteachable".
The board didn't have any problem using millions of dollars to rebuild a completely unnecessary east side junior high that houses students from other school districts and who were more than adequately housed at Churchill. So, how can they with good conscience turn their backs on a school in the heart of the district that serves challenging students who actually live in the district.
And those statistics used by board members in their arguments were ridiculous. So, if a students are tardy or having trouble with school, you'll just close the building and too bad for them.
Our public education system needs to live up to its mission if it is going to continue to use taxpayer money. It must serve all the public, not just the "good" ones, or the influential neighborhoods. Look, the "good" ones are easy to educate. The true test of a teacher or a school is how it teaches those who many would consider "unteachable".
re: Wilson, etc | 4:53 p.m. May 6, 2009
No cutting teachers shouldn't be the last resort if they are bad or not
needed. It wasn't a building, that's the whole point that some people
fail to understand. They could have moved Granite to be a school inside a school
at Granite Peaks, they could have moved Granite to the district offices. there
were a lot of choices that they wouldn't even look at. The building
wasn't what was closed, the school was, and the school isn't the
building. It's the community.
Why didn't the district look at cutting back sports like many states did this year. And before most of you say it's because of the money sports bring in, they don't. Most high school sports are non-revenue producing activities, football and basketball make money across the board, most the rest don't.
Cutting two games out of baseball, soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball could have saved granite. Reducing Jr high sports programs could have saved Granite, there were a lot of other places they could have and should have cut before they closed a school.
Why didn't the district look at cutting back sports like many states did this year. And before most of you say it's because of the money sports bring in, they don't. Most high school sports are non-revenue producing activities, football and basketball make money across the board, most the rest don't.
Cutting two games out of baseball, soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball could have saved granite. Reducing Jr high sports programs could have saved Granite, there were a lot of other places they could have and should have cut before they closed a school.
re:re:Wilson, etc | 5:51 p.m. May 6, 2009
Go ahead. Try and convince the public that you are going to "trim"
sports programs. Mobs of parents would be all over you.
Granite High has been considering themselves as an Alternative school. GSD already has an alternative high school in Granite Peaks High School. Keeping both is duplicating programs. In fact, both mission statements from both schools were pretty close to the same. If these students don't feel like they can do a big high school, then they can attend Granite Peaks.
Granite High has been considering themselves as an Alternative school. GSD already has an alternative high school in Granite Peaks High School. Keeping both is duplicating programs. In fact, both mission statements from both schools were pretty close to the same. If these students don't feel like they can do a big high school, then they can attend Granite Peaks.
JUDGE PARENT | 9:16 p.m. May 6, 2009
Maybe sell the property and buildings to Judge! Would be central for all who go
there to commute to.
Add your comment
Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.
Words Remaining
E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.
Granite School Board President Sarah R. Meier, left, District Superintendent Stephen Ronnenkamp and Business Administrator David Garrett listen during the school board meeting Tuesday in South Salt Lake.
- Brooks, Landry power Rockets 7:55 p.m.
- Woods gives his side of the story 7:53 p.m.
- Senators want charges for crashers 7:38 p.m.
- Texas A&M gets unexpected lift 7:36 p.m.
- Wallace leads Pistons past Hawks 7:28 p.m.
- Suns beat Raptors 113-94 7:26 p.m.
- Boy Scouts seek new recruits 7:18 p.m.
- Celtics top Heat 92-85 7:15 p.m.
- Recent prosecutions for Demjanjuk 7:10 p.m.
- German trial is twist for Demjanjuk 7:10 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
796 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime468
- Thunder rolls by Jazz136
- BYU is champion of the state130
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies117
- Cave to be sealed with body inside116
- Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin113
- Rivalry Week is highly profane90
- Hall's legacy measured today79
- Y. focused on 10-win season74
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
Latest comments
Utah had double the penalties as BYU, and most of those personal fouls. I...
the BYU athletic program is a shining beacon to the world. I've been told...
Let's just all let the water roll off our backs and then move on to...
When I decided to attend university to read Theology and Religious Studies,...
There definetly is a chapel in center city philadelphia. I was there when it...
Oops - too late
That BYU fans and players should now be rooting for a Utah bowl win so that...
Hall just said what Utah fans think and want to say about BYU. The only...
Sure Max Hall can say whatever he wants. But there's a way to say it with...
Fun game to watch from the stands. Always a bi-line associated with the game...
Advertisements
How can we expect our children to learn critical thinking skills when those in charge of their education don't model it.