The board had been discussing whether to request the county hold a districtwide vote on the potential split if - and only if - east-side cities decided to put the question to their voters. The majority of the board voted against the request.

What several of the board members agreed on was that the potential division would inevitably lead to lawsuits, which they said wasn't a proper place to spend education money.

"I think probably what's going to have to happen is the cities are going to have to hire attorneys to fight the battle for all of us," said board member Sherril Taylor.

At issue is the future of the Jordan district, the state's largest, as politicians and parents debate whether to ask voters on the east side to break away and form their own district. Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Midvale, Alta and an unincorporated area of Salt Lake County have been mulling the issue this spring. Supporters of the division say a smaller district could mean more local control and increased attention to east-side needs.

Under a newer section of the school district division law, only the residents living in the cities that want to break away would get to vote. The Jordan board had been discussing another part of the Utah law that would allow the entire district to vote.

But the deadlines in that law - including a feasibility study - had left some wondering if the district could pull it off.

"I don't think they could do it by this election cycle," said Robert Rees, an attorney at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

The fact that one of the deadlines set by the law is July 1 made several board members suggest that moving forward wouldn't be productive.

"I'm not convinced that the county would do it or could do it in a timely fashion," said Board President J. Dale Christensen.

Despite the board's decisions, at least some board members made clear how strongly they supported a districtwide vote.

"I fervently agree that every citizen and patron of this school district has a right to vote, should have a right to vote because it will have a direct profound impact on every student," Christensen said.

jlyon@sltrib.com