To Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem, the discussions signal progress.

"The fact that we're now dealing with these issues suggests we're moving ahead," he said.

Members of an ad hoc small school-districts committee agreed Utah's new law allowing for the creation of small school districts will need to be amended.

One amendment, for example, could create some type of interim group to manage the transition should voters in school districts choose to form smaller school districts, officials said.

An amendment also may be needed to clarify that all taxpayers in the original district would be responsible for previously issued bonds if some residents vote to form their own district.

The new law passed by the 2006 Legislature gives cities of at least 65,000 residents the power to create their own school districts. Smaller communities with contiguous borders also can join together to form a district. Orem is one of a number of cities, some commissioning feasibility studies, that are contemplating such a move.

Rep. David Cox, R-Lehi, who sponsored the small school district legislation, compared the creation of small school districts to the birth of new states during the colonial era.

"We must look ahead and someday there will be those who say, 'Thank goodness they didn't just keep getting bigger,' " he said.

jlyon@sltrib.com