A Juab School District committee has recommended the district build a new high school just east of the present one.
Carol Tompkins, chairman of the 23-member committee, told board members the committee had given serious consideration to year-round sessions and to alternative scheduling.All had been rejected because the committee found those concepts would not be well-received by the community and because neither would provide a long-term solution to district problems.
"Any amount of growth will put a strain on the existing buildings," said Tompkins.
John Taft, Edwards & Daniels Architects, reported to the committee that East Juab County had experienced a 9.7 percent growth this year. The district should increase approximately 600 students in the next two years. A growth rate of 4.5 percent has been projected for the next year.
"We researched the year-round and alternative scheduling concept," said Alan Sperry, committee member. "For the most part, those seemed less favorable than some of the other options."
Dale Fowkes, board member, said it would not be long, at 5 percent annual growth, before the existing schools would not be able to accommodate the burgeoning school population even if the district were to use alternative scheduling such as split shifts or year round schools.
"At 5 percent growth," said Leon Pexton, board president, "the school population would double every 15 years."
The group considered four different building and housing options. "We then narrowed our options down to two." She said the committee also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both options. Those options include housing K-4 in the existing elementary building, 5-6 housed in the existing middle school, 7-8 housed in the existing high school, and 9-12 housed in a new high school building.
The second option would house K-4 in the existing elementary building, 5-7 in the new middle school building, 8-9 in the existing middle school building, and 10-12 in the existing high school building.
The committee concluded the greatest building needs existed in Nephi Elementary and Juab High School. "It appears that the construction of one building could alleviate much of the crowding in both schools, now and in the future," said Tompkins.
It was recommended the new high school be built east of the existing high school to reduce the cost of providing new athletic facilities. The location would also provide a desired campus concept with the other two schools within the area.
Lon Wickle, committee member, said it was difficult for schools to turn to the year-round concept and then try to return to the traditional concept. "When schools try to go back, they encounter heavy costs, such as a need for additional desks. A lot of those schools which went year-round are now trying to go back."
Wickle said after careful thought, the committee concluded the district should get an accurate bid from a quality architect to determine how much of a bond would be needed.
"The committee thinks the district should bond for a reasonable amount of money," said Wickle.