The law they crafted was something like a do-it-yourself divorce document that two unhappy marriage partners might find on the Internet. The law is short on specifics and doesn't consider the impact on children in both the old and new districts, something one might expect from such a law.

Since five east-side cities and an area of unincorporated Salt Lake County in the Jordan School District voted to form their own district last year, the law has led to confusion amid charges and countercharges of unfairness and ulterior motives.

Two "asset transition teams," representing the new district and what's left of the Jordan district, have argued to an impasse about how to divide assets between the two new entities. The law gives little guidance, providing only that if they can't come to an agreement, three arbitrators will make the decision for them.

This is no way to create the school districts that educate Utah's children. The law should be amended so academic considerations come first and financial interests second. And it should more specifically provide for the division of assets so that arbitration would not be necessary.

As for the division currently under way, a compromise drawn up among the mayors of all affected cities seems the best way to move the transition teams to conclude their negotiations. The deal would require the remaining Jordan district taxpayers to allocate $33 million to the new east-side district to pay for a new Draper middle school, something east-siders expected to receive when they voted in 2003 for a $281 million district bond.

The proposed settlement recognizes that east-side residents will continue to be obligated to repay their share of the 2003 bond. And it simply turns over ownership of schools and other property to the district in which the property is located.

If the two transition teams cannot accept the mayors' compromise, the asset division will be decided by arbitrators, and both sides will lose control over the outcome. In truth, that might be the best way to make this division.

One way or the other, the two districts should conclude the division-of-assets part of their divorce and get on with educating children. Enough squabbling, already.