Davis County school officials met last week with Hill Air Force Base commanders but still aren't any closer to finding a new site for an elementary school.
Before administrators can buy property, they want to see an updated version of a map prepared by the Air Force. The map will show areas inappropriate for building because of aircraft noise - the reason the school's original site was dumped."The Air Force couldn't tell us definitively whether we'd be fine with the sites we're looking at now," said Superintendent Rich Kendell. "We're just waiting for them."
School leaders had planned to open the new school off Church Street this year. It was supposed to ease overcrowding at eight nearby schools, most of which have at least three portable classrooms.
But base commanders and elected officials, namely Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, killed the plans because they worried the school's location would hurt the base's chances of surviving closure in 1995. A federal committee that studies and recommends bases for closure uses noise encroachment as one measure for possible closure.
Kendell said Hill commanders believe the final version of the map will be ready next month. "Whatever the case, we've got to break ground next March."
The delay in construction means Layton's other schools will have to bear more portable classrooms for another year. Adams Elementary, for example, will get two more portables instead of losing two. And others won't get relief until late in the 1994-95 school year or at the beginning of the 1995-96 year.
In all, the eight schools will have 28 or 29 portables compared with 21 now. The new school would eliminate about eight portables.
District officials are currently negotiating with owners of three sites, Kendell said. They must close a deal soon so site work, such as engineering, can begin. The land must also pass clearances from the Environmental Protection Agency and other government regulators.
The district won't sell the land on Church Street. In fact, it may consider it for a future site if leaders can't find one suitable nearby, Kendell said.