HILDALE, Washington County — With less than a dozen children in this polygamist community expected to attend public school this year, district officials are closing the only elementary school in town.
"We didn't want to close Phelps Elementary," said Washington County School District superintendent Kolene Granger. "We had such a great program there. I hope the children are as well taken care of in their home or private schooling as we know they were while we were taking care of them."
More than 400 students attended Phelps Elementary at the end of the 1999-2000 school year. That number tumbled when Warren Jeffs, a leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, asked followers in a church sermon to teach their children at home. In the same sermon Jeffs cautioned community members against mingling with those who are not of their faith.
Hildale and Colorado City, Ariz., are polygamist sister communities on the Utah/Arizona border.
By the end of the 2000-2001 school year there were no more than 90 students enrolled, said Max Tolman, who served as principal of Phelps Elementary that year.
"It was pretty obvious to me Phelps would close," Tolman said from his new position as principal of La Verkin Elementary. "We had a few parents come in and say they wouldn't be bringing their child back to school, but most of them just pulled their children out. All I ever heard was that they were following their leader."
At least 1,000 school-age Hildale children in grades K-12 are now being taught at home, he said. Hildale Mayor David Zitting said while Jeffs "did suggest taking kids home," parents are pulling their children from Phelps Elementary for a variety of reasons.
"Each family is doing what they feel is best for their children. We're concerned about safety, drugs and other abuses and types of behavior (in the public school system)," Zitting said. "We're also concerned about the restrictions on what students can be taught — like praying in school, for example."
Granger said the district has negotiated a contract with school officials in the nearby town of Colorado City, Ariz., so any Hildale student who wants to attend public school may do so.
Parents in Hildale have been pulling their children out of public school in order to teach them at home for a number of years, Zitting said.
"This community isn't unique in pulling kids out of public schools; it happens nationwide," he said. "This situation goes back years. Every year someone pulls their children out of public school. This past year it was just more dramatic."
Hildale children are now taught at home or in other school settings with extended family members. Numerous private schools have opened in town as well, said Zitting, whose children have been taught at home for eight years by his wife, who is a certified teacher.
"I think the kids love it. These are really nice schools, and I think next year we're going to see a big improvement in the children," he said. "Our schoolchildren, in most cases, are getting a better education."
But Tolman said he worries about the quality of education the Hildale children are receiving.
"I am concerned," Tolman said. "Some of the private schools (in Hildale) have certified teachers and some do not. Home schools in the state of Utah are only required to fill out forms stating they're spending this many hours on math and English and so on. The state does not have a way to follow them (the students) through a community like that. We all feel bad about this."
Granger said she also worries about the children.
"This whole situation is difficult for me," she said. "There's no testing of home schoolers and no way to make sure they are getting the best education possible."
Phelps Elementary and Middle School, which housed kindergarten through the eighth grade, is now up for sale or lease, Granger added.
"If the building were in St. George it would be worth $2 million," she said. "Since it's in Hildale, it won't be worth quite as much."
Zitting said Hildale city is considering leasing or purchasing the building for use as new city offices.
"We met with the leaders of the community at the end of school last year, and they said they feel very comfortable with what they're doing," Tolman said. "A lot of money and time has been invested, and I think Phelps was really a good school. I think it helped open up that community with the rest of the county."
E-mail: nperkins@redrock.net