This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Jordan District has formalized its opposition to threats of a possible split.
The board approved a resolution at its Tuesday board meeting against the idea of South Jordan City splitting from the school district.
The resolution claims a split would mean fewer educational opportunities for South Jordan students; increase costs for taxpayers because of the duplication of services; affect the seniority and benefits of current employees; be divisive for the southwest valley; and possibly create other unintended consequences.
The resolution also states that the district would like to work with South Jordan City to help students.
South Jordan City Councilman Chuck Newton has said district leaders don't seem interested in the facts. He also has said that kids would not lose out on educational opportunities should the city split from the district.
The South Jordan City Council recently decided to spend as much as $50,000 on a feasibility study of a possible split. The council decided to order the study out of concern that the district isn't keeping up with the city's rapid growth and that other cities are getting the new schools that South Jordan needs.
The results of that study are not expected until August, at which point the City Council could vote on whether to place the question on the November ballot. It would ultimately be up to South Jordan voters to decide.
Council members have generally said they would like to wait to see the results of that study before deciding whether to move forward with the split proposal.
The district plans to deliver copies of the resolution to all the mayors and city council members of cities within the district's boundaries.
This isn't the first time Jordan has faced a split. In 2007, east-side residents voted to split from the district, eventually forming the Canyons School District. That split cost Salt Lake County taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.