After 13 years at Bell View Elementary, the fifth-grade teacher until recently never could have seen herself anywhere else.

But like many Jordan School District teachers, she feels she faces an uncertain future as the state's largest school district prepares to split.

"It makes me sad," said Ramsay, who is considering transferring to a different school so she can remain in the district Jordan will become after Sandy and other cities form a new east-side district.

She craves the stability that remaining in Jordan may provide because she is fearful of what the new east-side district might offer in terms of salaries, tenure status and retirement.

Ramsay and other teachers feel unsettled when officials tell them they just have to wait and see what will happen.

"The whole thing is about security, not knowing," she said.

Jordan district employs about 3,500 teachers, and officials emphasize that none is expected to lose his or her job as a result of the split.

After the split occurs on July 1, 2009, an estimated 1,623 teachers will be in the new east-side district and 2,116 teachers will be in what remains of Jordan. Those numbers do not include teachers in any of the districtwide special programs. The new school boards still must decide how those programs will be shared or divided.

Gayle Shuler, a teacher in the district's gifted program, is concerned about what will happen to teachers like her. "I don't know what to do," she said.

A teacher for 17 years, Shuler is considering whether to stay at Riverton Elementary in what will remain of the Jordan district or transfer to a school in the new east-side district, where she lives.

"The best scenario would be if there was another position either in the gifted program or a specialist position," Shuler said. "I want to continue to do something similar."

Jordan Education Association President Robin Frodge said her organization is working hard to make sure all teachers are treated fairly in the split. JEA is helping to form a new association to represent teachers in the new east-side district. "I'm very hopeful that when we get a new school board, [members] will say things that are reassuring to the employees."

Jordan School District Superintendent Barry Newbold knows teachers are nervous, and said the district is doing what it can to alleviate worries.

For example, it's making sure teachers know about the district's transfer policy, which provides a way for teachers to move to schools that will be in the district of their choosing.

Jordan is two weeks into the transfer season. Newbold said teachers have this year and perhaps one more transfer season to analyze their circumstances and decide whether they'd like to switch schools.

He added the district is obligated by law to abide by its contract with teachers. In addition, teachers who are concerned about their retirement benefits should know accrued retirement will follow teachers regardless of which of the two districts they end up in. Any changes to teacher compensation would be made publicly and teacher input would be part of the process, he said.

"I tell people: 'Know what the law is, know what is being said and done. Know how your school board members feel about those areas of concern and apply that in your own circumstance and you'll do well,' " Newbold said. "Make an informed decision based on fact and not based on either rumor, uncertainty or fear."

Randy Olsen, an English teacher at Sandy's Crescent View Middle School, said he is unconcerned about his future and sees the split as a great opportunity.

He said the biggest disadvantage to the split is that teachers in the east-side district will not negotiate their own contracts until 2010.

But he looks forward to that time. "Let's go to the table, and let's talk about what would make an east-side district as strong as it can be," Olsen said. "How can we reward teachers for the great job that they do?"

He and other teachers who will work for the new east-side district received some reassurance last week from current Jordan School Board members who will have seats on the new east-side board. In a letter, they stated their commitment to maintaining scheduled salaries and benefits, including retirement, and seniority rights.

The board members said any changes will come from good-faith negotiation. They acknowledged that adjustments would be needed for teachers in districtwide positions. "But we do not anticipate a reduction in staff as a result of the split," the letter stated.

Newbold said both districts recognize that their most valuable asset in the public school system is the teacher. "There is a heightened awareness on the part of the board members to not do anything that would communicate negatively to teachers because they really are our lifeblood."

rorellana@sltrib.com

Timeline for Jordan School District split

Following are the key upcoming dates in the division of the Jordan School District:

* June 24: Election will be held for new school board members to serve on one of the two boards representing the two new districts.

* July 15: Newly elected school boards will begin serving simultaneously with the current Jordan School Board.

* June 30, 2009: The Jordan School District will cease to exist.

* July 1, 2009: The two new school boards begin to operate their own districts independently.