Residents of East Carbon and Sunnyside vowed Wednesday night to fight to keep their high school open.
Superintendent Robert N. Hanson announced plans to close East Carbon High, as well as Durrant Elementary and Westridge Middle School in Price, to help the district's financial problems.During a meeting Wednesday night at Mont Harmon Junior High School in Price, residents who spoke in favor of keeping the high school in Sunnyside open were met with applause and standing ovations.
Several said East Carbon High School, with an enrollment of about 200 including junior high school-age students, is not just a school but a community center.
"It is the social and recreation center of our community," said businessman Jim Leonard. "Everyone attends the junior prom."
"I noticed a change in attitude when the high school was built in 1959," said former state legislator John Garr. "Instead of just another coal camp, we became a community.
"We fought like hell to get that high school and we will fight like hell to keep it."
Hanson, however, said district enrollment is down 600 students since the peak year of 1986-87. Projections indicate the slide will continue, Hanson said.
School revenue is based on the number of students. While it declines with falling enrollment, many costs - salaries and building maintenance - remain the same. He said Carbon salaries are significantly below the state average, and class sizes are among the highest.
Greg Wakefield, mayor of Sunnyside, one of the communities served by the high school, and Paul Clark, mayor of East Carbon City, said their area is the economic bright spot in the county because of two new industries: the landfill being operated by East Carbon Development Corp. and the Sunnyside Power co-generation plant.
Wakefield, a former principal of the high school, said its closing has been rumored for the past 20 years. He said closure would be devastating to the area.
Several speakers said students at East Carbon have excelled. Because of the small student body, they can participate in as many activities as they can fit into their schedules.
Hanson said if students were bused to Carbon High School, as they were before East Carbon High was built, activity buses would be provided.
Hanson said expenses at East Carbon High School exceed revenues by 36 percent. The school has required subsidies for many years, varying with enrollment. Last year the subsidy was $191,000. He proposed closing East Carbon High at the end of this school year.
Richard Robinson, school board member from East Carbon, said the recommendation to close the school may encourage staff to leave. He said the board should review data during the coming school year and make a recommendation next December. He said he will request an independent audit of both financial and enrollment data before any decision is made.
The superintendent recommended closing Durrant at the end of the 1994-95 school year but beginning negotiations now to sell Durrant to College of Eastern Utah, which is nearby.
If Westridge Junior High were closed, sixth-grade students would go to elementary schools and seventh-graders to Mont Harmon Junior High. He recommended closing Westridge at the end of the 1997-98 school year.
Walter Borla, school board president, said none of the board members or administrators are hard-hearted. He said they understand the group's feelings.
An informational meeting on the school closings is set for Friday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at Mont Harmon Junior High School.