SALT LAKE CITY — A new poll indicates people believe the Jordan School District split was unfair — especially to students in the Jordan District.
"The results are not surprising. The poll accurately reflects what we continue to hear from our patrons," said Jordan District superintendent Barry Newbold.
A Dan Jones & Associates Poll for the Deseret News and KSL-TV was conducted March 3-4 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 7 percent. A total of 172 Salt Lake County residents were interviewed on the question regarding the split.
Of those polled, 75 percent said the split is unfair to Jordan students, and 71 percent said it's unfair to Jordan taxpayers.
Seventy-eight percent said the split is unfair to Jordan District teachers, and 55 percent said it's unfair to the county's residents in general.
Canyons School Board president Tracy Cowdell said he believes the poll shows "there are serious misconceptions about school communities in the Canyons School District."
Cowdell said he initially voted against the division of the district because he was concerned about "fundamental fairness." In hindsight, Cowdell said he would change his vote. "I was wrong," he said. "If I had to go cast my vote all over again, I would vote for the district division. And anybody who doesn't believe the division was done in a fair, amicable way, doesn't have all the information."
The Jordan District division occurred in July 2009, with the east-side Canyons District breaking from the west side after a vote of east-side residents only. The west side remains as Jordan District.
Jordan officials say Canyons has a higher tax base but fewer students to support. Jordan District's enrollment continues to grow in its already overcrowded school buildings.
Canyons officials say they were left with $650 million in needed repairs for their district's aging buildings. Canyons is sending $4 million to Jordan as required by the county equalization program. The district is also paying $24 million in debt on the outstanding 2003 Jordan District bond.
Before the split, Jordan District spent $1,522 on each student. Now, it spends $1,136, while Canyons District spends $2,087.
Canyons officials dispute the figures, saying since Canyons District is paying $4 million to Jordan District already through the county equalization program, the current figures of per-pupil spending are more like $1,300 in Jordan District and $1,800 in Canyons.
Several bills in the Legislature would help Jordan District and other districts statewide cope with budget woes. The legislative session ends at midnight Thursday.
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