Here’s what would happen to teachers, students if 4 Salt Lake City schools shut down

Four Salt Lake City elementary schools could close their doors next year: Bennion and Hawthorne on the east side, and Mary W. Jackson and Riley on the west.

Each was named in an initial list of recommended closures that the Salt Lake City School District presented Monday, following a monthslong study of whether the district should close up to seven elementary schools to save taxpayers money.

Wasatch, Emerson and Newman elementaries were spared from that initial list, which brought some families relief. But nothing is final — leaving everyone at the studied schools in technical limbo, awaiting a board vote as early as Jan. 9 that could decide their fate.

Juan Carlos Murguia, whose daughter attends Riley, said Monday that his little girl has started making friends. “The sad thing for her is that a lot of her friends won’t be hanging out together [if Riley closes].”

The district on Monday also presented a slew of potential school boundary changes, many of which involved campuses not involved in the closure study. And in their 52-page report, officials proposed where certain schools’ special programs could end up — or remain in place.

“This is the first time I’ve actually seen the school district show some vision,” said Wasatch Elementary parent Ezra Jones. He and other parents have previously criticized the district for not being transparent during the study process. “I appreciate that it’s finally here.”

If any schools close, here’s what that could mean for students, teachers and staff alike, according to the district’s proposal:

Where could school boundaries change?

According to the draft proposal, should the four initially recommended schools shut down:

• Bennion students would be reassigned to Emerson, Liberty, Uintah and Wasatch elementaries.

• Hawthorne students would be sent to Emerson and Whittier elementaries.

• Mary W. Jackson students would be reassigned to Backman, Rose Park and Washington elementaries.

• Riley students would be sent to Edison, Franklin, Mountain View and Parkview elementaries.

Parents of students at those four schools can view more detailed maps on the district’s website, which further specify where their children may go depending on where they live, should the campuses shut down.

But the district still suggested school boundary changes for 14 other elementary schools not included on its initial closure list. They are: Backman; Edison; Emerson; Ensign; Franklin; Liberty; Mountain View; Newman; Parkview; Rose Park; Uintah; Wasatch; Washington; and Whittier.

The goal was to better balance enrollment figures across the district in a way that more strongly supports “sustainable neighborhood schools,” according to the proposal.

Parents of students at those elementaries can view the district’s full report online, which includes a detailed explanation of each included school’s suggested boundary changes.

Again, a final decision has not yet been made and will not be issued until at least January. The district will hold a public hearing Dec. 5 at West High School at 6:30 p.m., where community members can still voice their questions and concerns.

What would happen to teachers?

A chief concern among parents during the closure study process has been a simple question: What happens to our teachers?

Superintendent Elizabeth Grant sent district employees a message earlier this month declaring that all current faculty and staff “will be offered equivalent employment opportunities within the district” should the school they work at shut down.

Grant clarified during Monday’s presentation that such impacted teachers, classroom paraprofessionals, lunchroom staff and custodial staff “will move with students to the new communities.”

“The community, students and families will see familiar faces; there will be continuity in change.” Grant said.

Where could special district programs end up?

With the proposed school closures comes a proposed shakeup of special district programs, some of which are currently housed at schools on the initial closure list.

Should the four initially recommended schools shut down:

• Mary W. Jackson currently hosts a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. That program would be moved to Newman under the draft proposal.

• Hawthorne currently houses a Magnet program. That program would be moved to Indian Hills Elementary.

Emerson was not recommended for closure, in part because it’s what the district calls a special education “hub” — a school that offers specialized behavioral and academic support. Moving that program would significantly disrupt “one of the district’s most vulnerable populations,” the district said.

But Emerson also currently houses a combined Magnet/DLI program, where students have to test into the Magnet program before attending the DLI program.

Under the draft proposal, that combined program would instead be shifted to Nibley Park School, and all students currently enrolled would be allowed to finish the program there. The district explained the proposed change is linked to its “foundational decision that a school should only house one special district program.”

In the meantime, the district would stop offering the combined program to new students and instead establish a separate, open enrollment DLI program at Nibley Park for first and second graders in 2024-2025, according to the proposal.

On the city’s west side, the district also proposed establishing a brand new Magnet program at Edison Elementary — the first of its kind in the area.

Board member Jenny Sika teared up while talking about the suggestion, saying that she has long been fighting for such a program on the west side.

“My community is ready,” she said.

More information about the district’s proposals for special district programs can be found online in the district’s full report.

Next steps, if schools officially shut down

Once board members issue a final decision, the school district will implement a “transition” plan to support students, families and staff.

That plan calls for “robust” communication to help families navigate the changes, and mandates that school leadership at both closing and welcoming campuses work with families, School Community Councils and parent-teacher groups.

Schools will also host meet-and-greet activities and other events for students, families and staff, according to the plan. And social-emotional support will be offered to students at their closing school.

After a final board vote, the district also plans to open up a special open enrollment period for families potentially impacted by the decision.

“We can create new communities in the Salt Lake City School District. We can create new communities in our schools. We can create new communities in our neighborhoods,” Grant said Monday.

“These children that would be moving to new schools must be treated like they are our own,” she added. “These families that may be moving to new schools must be treated as if they are our neighbors, which they are.”