Jordan District raises questions

It wants vote delayed until split issues are resolved

By Jennifer Toomer-Cook
Deseret Morning News
Published: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 12:17 a.m. MDT
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The Jordan Board of Education is poised to ask east-side mayors to hit the brakes on pursuing a vote on a school district split until constitutional — likely, that of one man, one vote — and other issues its attorney has raised are answered.

"Because no one knows the answers to these critical questions, the time might not be right to proceed to the electorate this November," states a draft letter the Jordan Board of Education discussed Tuesday. "As a school board we have begun a study of this important issue and intend to further our efforts. We invite you to join us."

The letter, expected to go out to all mayors in the district plus state and local educational groups and superintendents, does not specify the issues — a legal opinion from an attorney working for the board will go out when the letter does, and not before, officials said, citing attorney-client privilege.

But board President J. Dale Christensen said they center on the constitutional guarantee of one man, one vote. State law allows only those living within the boundaries of the proposed new school district to vote.

Other questions include what to do about splitting district offices and specialty schools, including those for severely disabled students, that would end up in the new district, Christensen said.

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"We think a letter like this will invite an opportunity for people to be educated," Christensen said after the meeting. "What we're trying to do is appropriately balance out their opinions ... about what we know about public education and what we know about Jordan School District and continuing a high level of educational opportunities for kids. Really, that's the bottom line."

But at least one east-side city doesn't seem eager to act on the district's request.

"If there are constitutional issues, our first obligation will be to validate those issues," including seeking the opinion of the Attorney General's Office, Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore said.

But resolution on that could come before a potential November vote.

Cullimore also noted the law allows 18 months to work out specifics of a district split, and that to try and answer all questions beforehand might take years.

"There would not be an appetite on our part to delay," Cullimore said.

Alta, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Midvale, Sandy and Salt Lake County commissioned a financial feasibility study about breaking away from the state's largest school district. The study showed an east-side district would have more taxable value per student than the remaining growing west district, which could need tax hikes to make ends meet until the west grows its commercial base.

The west remains concerned about how it all might shake out. Officials are especially concerned that the law allows only those in the proposed school district to have a vote in the matter.

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