PARK CITY — On Tuesday, voters in a handful of school districts are going to be asked to help out with some big bonds in part to compensate for Utah's anticipated population growth.

Davis County is proposing a bond that is nearly $300 million.

In Park City, $56 million is needed to cover several projects, including one that would likely move a football field from its current location.

School districts said the money is necessary, but there is also some strong opposition.

Davis School District

"Without this money from the bond election, I'm not sure … what the options would be to create a quality education environment for our kids," said Jason Smith, Viewmont High School assistant principal.

Smith said he sees the need firsthand. His school is crowded, even with 11 portable classrooms.

They're running out of room for more, and district officials said it's a problem at all of their schools.

"At this point … Davis High School is the size of BYU-Hawaii," said Chris Williams from the Davis School District. "Viewmont High School is overburdened. Layton High School is getting to a point where we just continue to add portables, so there has to be some answer."

Davis wants $246 million to build a new high school, a new junior high, two new elementary schools and rebuild a third. The money would also pay for additions to three schools and remodeling at two more.

The rest of the bond — $52 million — would pay to maintain and enhance existing infrastructure.

Park City School District

The Park City School District has similar needs on a smaller scale.

"We have needs of our students that have to be met," said Ember Conley, Park City School District superintendent. "These are academic needs."

Conley said 500 new students have been added to the rolls over the past five years, pushing five of seven schools at or near capacity.

"What it's done is greatly impacted our buildings," Conley said.

A $56 million bond aims to help address those issues.

If it's approved, the district would improve several facilities and expand the high school so it can accommodate ninth-graders.

Performing arts and athletic facilities would also be improved.

"We don't have the locker space or capacity to be able to manage our athletics right now," Conley said.

Across town, a school for fifth- and sixth-graders would also be built on the Ecker Hill campus.

Ali Ziesler has two kids in district schools and doesn't like the bond.

"It doesn't seem like an intelligent way to address those capacity issues," she said.

She believes plans aren't firm enough, and the community hasn't been consulted sufficiently.

As administrators see a need that isn't going away, opponents believe more time will yield better answers.

Statewide

Park City and Davis districts are not alone in seeking bonds. Tooele, Wasatch and Duchesne also have school bonds up for a vote on Tuesday.

In all, these five districts say they need more than $500 million.

Contributing: Mike Anderson

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