Should West and Highland high schools see massive upgrades? Bond ballot question divides SLC voters.

Parents and alumni shared mixed opinions late Tuesday about the possibility that a $730 million bond proposal appearing on Salt Lake City ballots this November could fuel what officials call urgently needed upgrades at West and Highland high schools.

The majority of speakers hailed from Highland High and expressed support for the Salt Lake City School District bond proposal. That included former University of Utah football defensive end and Highland alum Nate Orchard. Orchard went on to play for several NFL teams for seven years.

“Highland is near and dear to my heart,” said Orchard. ”I know that this school means a whole lot to the community. … Whatever we can do to help make this happen and push it through, that’s why we’re here.”

Voters will ultimately have final say on whether the multimillion-dollar bond proposal passes this November. Such bonds are a type of loan backed by property taxes and require voter approval.

One parent, whose daughter is currently in first grade at east-side Dilworth Elementary School but will likely attend Highland in the future, said upgrades are “desperately needed.”

“I would say to the people who are afraid of their property taxes going up, think about the resale value of your home if there are excellent schools in your neighborhood,” the parent said Tuesday.

In addition to modernizing West and Highland high schools, the bond would also fund the construction of an athletic field house at East High School, as well as sustainability improvements throughout the district.

Passing it would lead to an estimated annual property tax increase of about $220.80 for residents, based on the average home value of $576,000, according to the proposal.

The exact increase would vary depending on individual home values, school district spokesperson Yándary Chatwin previously told The Salt Lake Tribune. Homeowners could expect to pay roughly $38.33 more in annual property taxes for every $100,000 of their home’s value.

Bond pushback, and concerns about west-side input

Not all backed the proposal, though. Salt Lake City resident Ryan Smith said he’d be happy to spend about $18 more a month if the bond passes, “but that’s assuming that my dollars would be spent where they’re needed the most.”

Smith called the $730 million price tag a “waste,” arguing that nearby districts have constructed new high schools for less than what is projected for revamping Highland and West.

Jorge Jimenez, of the Utah Community Advocate Network, said that while the district has shared information about the bond proposal in English on its website, he didn’t find information posted in any other languages — ”which we know is a constant need in the Salt Lake City School District because it’s very multicultural.”

Chatwin, with the district, said all information on the district’s website can be translated using a small button on the bottom left of the page. Chatwin said she informed Jimenez after the meeting and told The Tribune the district is working on a tutorial for its website and social media accounts to better inform others. She added that the district also intends to mail out informative flyers in English and Spanish closer to the election, with translations available in other languages upon request.

Jimenez at the meeting also argued that while the 7 p.m. start Tuesday was generally a good time for parents and families to attend, hosting it at the district’s downtown-area administration building wasn’t a convenient location for west-side residents.

“I don’t know how much engagement or outreach or marketing has been done so that more people can be here,” Jimenez said.

Chelsie Acosta, a teacher at Glendale Middle School, echoed Jimenez’s concerns.

“I think I’m struggling being a brown Latina and a teacher on the west side and seeing the amazing representation from Highland but, as my ‘gente’ [people] have said,” Acosta said, referring to other Latinos who spoke Tuesday, “I’m really struggling that I don’t see families from the west side here. That is not their fault. I do believe that there is an access gap.”

She suggested that the district host additional meetings on the city’s west side and provide translators.

Several options for West and Highland upgrades

As Utah’s first public high school, West High holds historical significance for many residents. It was founded in 1890, and the building that stands today was first constructed in 1922.

But the aging campus no longer meets the needs of 21st-century students, school officials have said.

In 2022, the Salt Lake City school board commissioned two feasibility studies for West and Highland. The studies were carried out by separate architectural firms and each hosted multiple community and staff meetings to gather input. The district also surveyed residents, gathering over 2,000 responses. Three revamp options were proposed for Highland and four for West.

[Read more: Utah’s oldest public high school urgently needs upgrades — and could see a complete rebuild]

Preserving the entirety of West High’s original 1920s building while upgrading it would cost the district upward of $412 million. Doing so could also take 8½ years, and students would have to be in portables for seven of those.

That’s why the district’s preferred option involves preserving the original main entrance — a tribute to the school’s history — while replacing everything else.

This option would relocate the school’s main academic buildings to the opposite side of 300 West, where the baseball field, track and tennis courts are currently situated.

The historic main entrance would be flanked by a new auxiliary gym on one side and a main gym on the other. A new field house would also be constructed. To help ensure student safety, a sky bridge would connect the academic buildings across the street to the athletic fields, eliminating the need for students to cross traffic.

While the football field would remain in its current location, it would be upgraded with a new track encircling it. Gean Plaga Stadium, named after West’s acclaimed football coach who died in 2005, would be rebuilt but keep its name.

If the district picks this option, the project would take approximately seven years, but students could remain in the current building while the new one is constructed across the street. The new main building would be done in about three years. The estimated overall cost is around $304 million.

The preferred option for Highland High would involve moving the main school building to the north end of the property, closer to 2100 South. The project would take approximately 6½ years to complete and would be executed in four stages.

With this option, students would not have to be put into classroom portables and could remain in the existing building while construction is completed on the new one. Estimated project costs range from $295 million to $310 million.

Two more open houses scheduled for parents, residents

To reach residents, the Salt Lake City School District is hosting three informational open houses before the November election. The first already took place, with the remaining two scheduled for October.

The Sept. 12 open house was held at West High, where architects and representatives from both schools were available to answer questions.

Natasha Jensen, a parent of two students at West High, shared that while her older children won’t benefit from the bond, her youngest son will start at West High in about six years.

She’s worried that construction — which could take seven to 10 years depending on the district’s rebuild plan — might disrupt her son’s high school experience.

“He wants to do sports, so, if the field is taken over by buildings, that’s a kind of a concern,” Jensen said.

She said she’s undecided on whether she will be voting for or against the bond and wants to learn more before making a decision.

“The questions kind of are, how much is it going to increase for taxpayers? How long will that increase last? . ... I have a feeling a lot of the community members may not want to do it,” she said, “because they’re already struggling financially.”

The district estimates that it will take approximately 25 years to pay off the bond. As interest rates fluctuate over that period, the impact on taxpayers could vary.

Salt Lake City resident Josh Stewart said during the Sept. 12 open house that he opposes the bond if it means tearing down West High.

“They need to do more studies to try and save the building and get that cost down,” Stewart said. “I think there’s a lot of value in saving older buildings.”

The remaining two open houses will take place:

• Wednesday, Oct. 9: 6-8 p.m. at Edison Elementary (in the multi-purpose room).

• Wednesday, Oct. 23: 6-8 p.m. at Highland High School (in Dean Collette Commons).

Both events will offer live Spanish translation. Residents can request translation for other languages by calling 801-578-8378.