In a vote of 4-3, the majority of board members supported a resolution advocating a unified Jordan district just days after thousands of taxpayers received a newsletter informing them of the board's neutral position.

How or if the board would attempt to communicate this new stance to voters remained unclear.

"My dad says, 'You can do anything with time and money,' " said board member Ellen Wallace, who initiated the new vote. "Is the time it's going to take to get another school district up and running worth the time and money for what the kids will lose?"

Many questions remain about the unknown educational consequences of the decision, she said.

Wallace represents Sandy taxpayers, one of the municipalities along with Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Midvale, Alta and an unincorporated area of Salt Lake County that will vote this November on whether to break off from Jordan, the state's largest district, and form a new district.

"I wanted people to know how the board felt, and it wasn't getting out there," she said.

In June, the board adopted a neutral position on the split.

The perceived quickness of that 4-3 decision frustrated some board members who felt it did not adequately represent the view of the board.

Board member Peggy Jo Kennett, who expressed major concerns about a potential division, pointed to the likely increase in west-siders' taxes. She questioned whether it was fair even though those residents could not vote on the split.

As to the possibility of dividing a great institution, either the board stands for or against it, said J. Dale Christensen, the board president.

"The very thought of secession or division is contrary to the historical culture of this community," he said.

But others were adamant Tuesday that the board remain neutral and suggested a new position could cause taxpayers to view the information about the split contained in the newsletter as biased.

"The flip-flopping on this issue is eroding the confidence of our employees and patrons in general," said board member Sherril Taylor.

Board member Kim Horiuchi also saw the value in maintaining a neutral position yet talked about the strengths of a smaller district the board had recently visited in West Virginia during a conference.

"How can we unify a district by taking sides?" she asked. "I am saddened because I believe the message the board is sending to east-siders is, 'Your views and desires don't matter.' "

Board member Tracy Cowdell also supported the neutrality position.

"It doesn't matter which position we take - there isn't much we can do," he said. "That's why in my mind . . . we needed to stay out of the fight."

Cowdell said he was concerned that people in favor of the split have such high, unreasonable expectations that schools will be rebuilt, class sizes will be small and teachers better compensated.

He asked what would happen in a few years when people wonder what happened to those things.

Though taxpayers from both sides of the issue addressed the board, Felicia Boothe, an east-side parent, said she had been skeptical when she read about the board's neutral position in the first place. She had assumed it wasn't true.

"It's sad this body is willing to act out of fear," she said.

jlyon@sltrib.com