As state law currently stands, only residents in cities intending to form new districts would be allowed to go to the ballot box.
"It's not that we're outright opposed to splitting of districts," said Susan Kuziak, Utah Education Association executive director. But teachers don't want children's education to suffer.
The UEA House of Delegates passed a resolution supporting a district-wide vote on district splits. The association has about 18,000 members and is a powerful lobbying force in matters related to schools.
Jordan and Granite school districts, two of the state's largest, are poised for possible division. Advocates say the move would give east-side residents more local control and, in Jordan, potentially lead to smaller schools and lower taxes. Critics say district splits could lead to funding inequities and an increased tax burden for those who remain.
Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights, who sponsored recent changes to the small school district bill, explained that legislators modeled the law after the rules of incorporation. An area that wants to become its own city is the same that votes.
"If the entire area votes in the Jordan district split or the Granite district split, it will probably doom it to failure," Walker said. "I really feel that this a principle of self-determination."
But everybody in the current boundaries of a district has made an investment through bonds and other taxes, Kuziak said.
"We believe they should have a voice in any major change affecting that investment," she said.
This stance is not new for the teachers' association, whose board of directors passed a motion on the issue in January.
Robin Frodge, president of the 2,000-member Jordan Education Association, said she also believes all residents in a district should be allowed to vote.
"Without that, you risk advantaging one group of people by disadvantaging another," she said. "A healthy school system benefits everyone in the state."
The bottom line is that change can be unwelcome, Walker said
"It is the nature of an entity whether it's a county or a school district to keep the status quo," she said.
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* JULIA LYON can be contacted at jlyon@sltrib.com or 801-257-8748.
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Upcoming meetings to discuss possible district splits include:
* Town hall meeting regarding Jordan School District on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Midvale Middle School, 7852 S. Pioneer St. (300 West).
* A presentation regarding Granite School District tonight at 7 at the Canyon Rim Community Council meeting at Christ United Methodist Church, 2375 E. 3300 South.
