West Sides Cities Prepare to Sue Over Smaller School District Law

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Several cities west of the Jordan River are planning to sue for the right to vote over a potential school district split. Riverton Mayor Bill Applegarth says the current law is unconstitutional because it only allows residents of the new smaller district to vote on the issue, rather than all residents who will be affected.

"That would leave South Jordan, Herriman, Riverton and Bluffdale who do not get a chance to vote, but who would have a very different school district at the end of the day," says Mayor Applegarth. "That seems to me to be just an absolute violation of the one man, one vote concept - the constitionality of fairness in voting."

Two groups of communities on Salt Lake County's East side are close to putting school district splits on their ballots this November. The splits would affect both the Granite and Jordan School Districts. But the Jordan School District Board of Education has obtained a legal opinion that the law likely violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.

Officials in Riverton, Herriman and South Jordan believe they should have a say in any split from the district that could leave their schools under-funded and in trouble. Their legal challenge will likely demand a delay of November's vote or a chance for their residents to participate in it.

"I think that's the real issue here is to make sur ethat everybody who will be impacted by the decision has the ability to influence that decision," says South Jordan spokesman Chip Dawson.

The South Jordan City Council meets tomorrow to discuss funding for a potential lawsuit. Mayors of Herriman and Riverton decline to say when and where any lawsuit will be filed, but say action is pending.

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