The South Jordan City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to take the first step in crafting its own school district: conduct a feasibility study. Salt Lake City-based firm Lewis Young Robertson & Burningham Inc. is being tapped - with a $32,000 contract -for the assignment.
That means the state's largest school district could be whittled down to one of the smallest in the Salt Lake Valley. Only Herriman, Riverton, Bluffdale and some unincorporated areas would remain in the Jordan district if split proposals for South Jordan, West Jordan and the district's entire east side succeed.
It also could signal waning support for a west-side lawsuit to block an east-side secession, led by the cities of Sandy, Draper, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale and Alta.
Many west-siders argue the state law that allows district divisions is unconstitutional because only those breaking away get to vote. Herriman plans to file a lawsuit early next week - whether or not South Jordan or Riverton decide to sign on. Both those cities have expressed interest, and South Jordan has set aside $15,000 for the cause.
South Jordan City Manager Rick Horst said Thursday the city should "ride both horses": the lawsuit and the plan to create a citywide district.
"It's fair to say none of the cities on the west side . . . created this situation. We're just playing the cards that we were dealt and trying to find a winning hand."
But council members, who are scheduled to consider Tuesday whether to officially join Herriman's legal challenge, have expressed diminishing support for a lawsuit.
The West Jordan and east-side school district measures will be on the November ballot, but South Jordan's proposal is tardy. The feasibility study isn't due back until December.
Horst hoped the city could score an election in February, alongside the presidential primary, so it could still "be at the table" when Jordan's assets get split among any new districts created.
Councilwoman Leona Winger said the decision to consider a new district is about improving education for kids and is not meant to harm any of the city's neighbors.
"We want the best possible education for every single student in this county and in this state," she said.
Riverton Mayor Bill Applegarth and Herriman Mayor Lynn Crane said, in interviews, that they don't begrudge South Jordan's decision to pursue a citywide district. (Neither city meets the new, lower population threshold of 50,000 to form its own district.)
But Crane criticized the east-siders' move to defect.
"It affects everybody in the district, and everybody in the district ought to have the right to vote," he said. "I'm not happy to see the [district division] dialogue give way to politics and money at the expense of children."
A feasibility study of the proposed east-side district found east-siders could see a decrease in property taxes, while west-siders would face a tax hike to cover the cost of new schools needed as the area continues to grow.
South Jordan Mayor Kent Money said the Legislature should require that capital costs be shared throughout the present Jordan district, regardless of what pieces break away. Lawmakers have discussed plans to distribute expenses statewide or county-wide, but that would siphon money away from Salt Lake City, Granite and Murray school districts.
"The most important issue facing us now is the equalization issue," Money said.
A South Jordan School District would have roughly 10,000 to 12,000 students, Horst estimated. The city contains one high school, Bingham High School, two middle schools and seven elementary schools.
