Unhappy over a high school siting decision by Jordan School Board, Sen. Brent C. Richards, R-Riverton, has asked for a bill that would require seven school board members in every Utah district that has more than 20,000 students.
"Seven members would provide a better unit of representation in the districts," said Richards. In large districts, neighborhoods would be better served if there were more board members, he believes.Richards was among residents of Riverton and South Jordan who wanted a new high school in the far south end of Salt Lake Valley. The Jordan Board ultimately chose a site in West Jordan, based on current student statistics. The decision was hotly contested. Although Richards says he did not actively campaign for the south site, he preferred that the new school be located there.
The decision, which he thinks allowed east-side board members in Jordan District to unduly influence a matter affecting the west side, convinced him that a larger number of board members would be more fair.
"The east side has more population, but the westside is growing faster," he said. He will sponsor SB30, which would affect Alpine, Granite, Jordan, Davis and Weber school districts.
Salt Lake District already has a seven-member board based on an earlier legislative provision that allows larger boards in metropolitan districts if desired. All other Utah districts have boards of five.
Granite School Board Member Lynn D. Davidson thinks that reducing the size of precincts in Granite to carve out territory for two new board members would be counterproductive.
`It could create more factionalism," he said. School board members, while they are elected from precincts, must consider decisions that affect the entire district. When the interests of one area are pitted against another, decision-making becomes clouded, he said.
"The larger the board, the more divisive issues are likely to become on a geographic basis. Having board members concentrated on neighborhoods localizes issues instead of allowing members to look out for the general interests of the district. Instead of looking at the big picture, they get involved in side issues," Davidson said.
Darrell White, executive director of the State School Boards Association, said he sees "no significant advantage" in having seven-member boards in the large districts. The costs of local boards would grow. He said that to his knowledge, USBA did not have any input into Richards' call for a change in the current law.