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Traveling to Grouse Creek takes some hard driving time.
The 200-mile route from Salt Lake City is a winding one, via Interstate 15 and Interstate 84, then back-tracking to the south along State Route 30. Burley, Idaho, is 70 miles away, but nearly two-thirds of the road between there and Grouse Creek is graveled. The hamlet, population 80, stretches along unpaved roads along the foothills of Grouse Creek Mountains.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gary Herbert chose a helicopter to visit the isolated ranching community on the first of a four-day tour of Utah's rural communities.
"Government doesn't listen very well, but I'll be listening hard," said Herbert via a Utah Education Network (UEN) video conferencing connection provided at the Eccles Broadcast Center at the University of Utah.
Herbert added that he has no specific goal or plan for economic development during what his staff is calling a rural jobs tour. He added, however, that "sometimes government just needs to get out of the way," particularly in regard to overregulation when it comes to rural communities.
The governor spoke from Grouse Creek School, which has 17 students attending classes from kindergarten through the 10th grade. His video conference underscored the ability for rural students to get a quality education, even with limited communication infrastructure, and highlighted how technology can increase the diversity of job opportunities in rural areas.
For years, the address for the school was 1 W. Buckaroo Blvd. But modern times have brought new coordinates — 76785 W. 11900 North.
"The address is so long that I have to have a sticky note to remind me," said Tawni Blanthron, who is school secretary and librarian.
Grouse Creek is among 93 small schools in isolated, rural areas. The schools receive extra funding because they cannot realize economies of scale. For instance, it costs around $20,000 to educate a single student in all three of Daggett District's rural schools each year, while the price tag in the urbanized Alpine District is around $6,000, state officials say.
There have been discussions among lawmakers about whether funding for the small schools should be reduced.
Grouse Creek has two teachers, Cathe Runyan and husband Duane, who also is principal.
Julile Tanner, who doubles as an aide and custodian, said the school is vital to keeping or attracting young families. Without it, children would have to be home schooled or sent far away to board with relatives or friends. Tanner's grandson, Jordan Nilsson, is in the eighth grade at Grouse Creek.
Many older students must board in Tremonton, 140 miles away, to complete their last two years of high school. Families also send their children to Brigham City, Oakley, Idaho, or Wells, Nev., Box Elder District Superintendent Ron Wolff said in a telephone interview.
Box Elder administers two other small schools. Snowville has 39 students and Park Valley 47.
Wolff said challenges facing rural schools come in attracting qualified teachers who are certified to teach a variety of grades and subjects. They also must be willing to live in isolated communities. Teacher pay checks are comparable, whether the school is large or small.
"In an urban area, one school may have two or three U.S. history teachers, while in a small school a teacher may have to teach five or six different subjects every period of the school day," said Wolff. "Districts do get additional funding if the schools qualify, but because costs are significantly higher at small schools, districts can only come close to breaking even on the expenses."
The Associated Press contributed to this story
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Utah's smallest schools
Fourteen of the state's 41 districts operate schools with 100 or fewer students:
Box Elder • Grouse Creek 17, Snowville 39, Park Valley 47
Daggett • Flaming Gorge 29, Manila 74, Manila High 65
Duchesne • Thompsen 24, Tabiona 87, Tabiona High 77
Garfield • Boulder 11, Antimony 17, Escalante 78, Escalante High 83, Panguitch Middle 82
Kane • Lake Powell 26, Big Water 71
Millard • Garrison 11, Eskdale High 7
Piute • Oscarson 32
Rich • Rich Middle 100
San Juan • LaSall 24, Bluff 84, Navajo Mountain High 31
Sevier • Koosharem 43
Tintic • Callao 4, West Desert 15, Eureka 87
Tooele • Ibapah 18, Vernon 43
Washington • Springdale 38
Wayne • Hanksville 37
Source: Utah State Office of Education —
Governor's listening tour
Tuesday • Box Elder County
Wednesday • San Juan and Grand counties
Thursday • Juab, Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, and Garfield counties
Friday • Beaver and Millard counties