A proposal to close Eastwood Elementary School in Millcreek has ignited significant community opposition and raised questions about transparency within the Granite School District. Parents and students are actively campaigning against the closure, citing concerns over declining enrollment data and potential conflicts of interest.
Key Takeaways
- Granite School District proposes closing Eastwood Elementary due to declining enrollment and low utilization.
- Parents have launched an 'SOS Eastwood' campaign, gathering over 1,600 petition signatures.
- Community members question the district's data and suggest a potential conflict of interest involving a school board member.
- Eastwood is a Gold STEM school, a designation parents argue is being overlooked.
- The district maintains transparency, but parents point to a past bond issue as a 'bait and switch.'
District Cites Declining Enrollment and Low Utilization
Granite School District officials have stated that the primary reasons for the proposed closure of Eastwood Elementary are declining student enrollment and low building utilization. Superintendent Ben Horsley reiterated that these factors are the sole drivers behind the recommendation.
According to district data, Eastwood Elementary currently operates at just 54% utilization. This means only about 270 students are enrolled out of a possible 500. Ideally, schools function at 80% to 90% capacity to allow for growth and program expansion.
Enrollment Decline Projections
- Granite School District's K-5 enrollment is projected to decline by 2.6% next school year.
- A 13.7% decline is projected over the next five years for the entire district.
- Eastwood Elementary specifically faces a projected 24.1% enrollment decline in the next five years.
Superintendent Horsley acknowledged that the declining birth rate and the inability of young families to afford homes in the area contribute to the district's challenges. The median home listing price in Millcreek is $625,000, while in Emigration Canyon, it is more than double at $1.7 million.
Community Questions District's Motives and Data
Parents and students at Eastwood Elementary are not accepting the district's explanation at face value. They have conducted their own 'community study' to counter the district's population analysis and launched the 'SOS Eastwood' campaign, complete with a website and a petition that has garnered over 1,600 signatures.
"It makes no sense for Eastwood to be the one that’s getting closed," said Jenifer Tomchak, an Eastwood parent. "So, it makes you wonder, what is it that they’re actually looking at?"
Sarah Harman, another Eastwood parent, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that there might be unstated motives behind the decision. "The only way that this decision makes logical sense is if there are ulterior motives at play that they’re not disclosing to us, because we have very strong arguments," Harman stated.
Potential Conflict of Interest Allegations
Parents' investigations led them to question Granite School Board Member Julie Jackson. Jackson represents Precinct 1 within Area 5, which includes both Eastwood and Morningside elementary schools. Her family's property management company, Beckstrand & Associates, raised concerns among parents about a potential conflict of interest given Eastwood’s desirable location.
Christopher Jennings, whose two children attend Eastwood, expressed his worry. "I’m concerned about the disposition of the land for purposes not oriented towards teaching children," he said. Jennings believes the district is considering the closure "in the name of real estate."
District's Response to Conflict Allegations
Eastwood parent Nastasya Mangone formally requested Board President Nicole McDermott to have Jackson recuse herself from the vote. McDermott responded, stating she found "no evidence" of a conflict of interest under Utah law, as recusal is typically warranted only when a board member personally gains from a decision. District officials supported this conclusion, emphasizing they are "not interested" in selling the property and have not sold previously closed school properties.
Eastwood's Strengths and Community Alternatives
Beyond the enrollment figures, parents argue the district is overlooking key attributes of Eastwood Elementary, particularly its status as a Gold STEM school. This designation, awarded by the Utah STEM Action Center, recognizes schools with robust STEM programs and strong teacher support.
The Utah STEM Action Center was established by lawmakers in 2013 to enhance K-12 STEM opportunities across the state. Parents believe losing such a school would be a significant detriment to the community and the district's educational offerings.
Alternative Solutions Proposed by Parents
Instead of closing Eastwood, parents have put forward their own recommendations in their community study. These include:
- Merging Oakridge and Morningside elementary schools.
- Utilizing Eastwood’s Gold STEM designation to create a magnet program at the school.
- Delaying any closure decision for at least a year to allow for a re-evaluation by a truly representative committee with community oversight.
If Eastwood does close, its students would be reassigned to Oakridge Elementary, located about two miles south. While academic performance varies annually, Oakridge slightly outpaced Eastwood in all subjects during the 2023-24 school year, according to Utah State Board of Education data.
The 'Bait and Switch' Allegation Regarding a Past Bond
Parents also point to a 2017 Granite School District bond as evidence of a lack of transparency. The $238 million bond was intended to rebuild and update several aging schools, including major projects like the reconstruction of Cyprus and Skyline high schools, as part of a 40-year strategic plan.
Eastwood Elementary was slated for a rebuild starting next year, funded by the district's ongoing capital funds. Now, with the closure proposal, some parents feel misled.
"They got us to vote for it by saying that Eastwood would be rebuilt," said Jenifer Tomchak.
District officials maintain that Eastwood remains on the rebuild list for now. They added that any future adjustments to this list would require a decision by a future board. The district also stated it has the most extensive and transparent process and policy in the state regarding community engagement.
Impact on Students and Families
For young students like 8-year-olds Ellie Ballantyne and Scarlett Cropper, the potential closure means the end of their daily routine and close friendship. They met on their first day of kindergarten and have been inseparable ever since.
"If Eastwood shuts down, me and my friend will be separated," Scarlett said, hugging Ellie. "Me and Ellie won’t be able to walk [to] the same place, or even be able to say ‘goodbye’ to each other at the end of the day.”
Ellie added, "I feel really sad."
The uncertainty is pushing some families to consider schools outside the Granite School District. Jenifer Tomchak, for example, plans to send her daughter to Indian Hills, an elementary school in the Salt Lake City School District. "I hate that, because I would love for my daughter to go to the same school that my sons went to," Tomchak explained. "We will stay in Salt Lake District, and they will lose us forever."
