As part of its 2007-2008 budget, the Jordan School District Board of Education signed off Tuesday on the plan to sell $196 million in bonds. That money is expected to primarily be spent on new schools on the west side of the district, where student numbers are skyrocketing.

The money comes from the remainder of the $281 million bond voters approved in 2003. The actual sale of the bonds, which the board still needs to approve, will likely happen this fall.

Later this year, voters on the east side of Jordan may decide to break off and create a new school district. If that does happen, taxpayers in both the old and new districts would be responsible for paying off any of Jordan's past debt, which includes the bonds.

Though selling such a large chunk of bond money all at once is atypical for the state's largest district, officials say the bond decision is about the urgent need to build schools and not the potential split.

"All I can say is that all of the mayors throughout the district have encouraged the board to issue the debt and build the schools that are needed as soon as possible," said Superintendent Barry Newbold.

Board member Tracy Cowdell agrees the growing district needs the new schools, but he has some concerns.

"The concern I do have is . . . if the district does split, saddling the east side with that debt for 10 years when they don't see the benefit of that bond," he said.

Because the money is already dedicated, the responsible thing for the board to do is to move ahead with the projects, said J. Dale Christensen, the board president.

"We don't see any need in delaying and possibly confusing the issue in the middle of other serious questions," he said, referencing the potential district split.

Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore, one of the east-side leaders exploring the possibility of a district division, welcomes the bond decision.

"The sooner they get them built the further the money will go," he said.

jlyon@sltrib.com