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Tonya Papanikolas ReportingThe Davis School District has given preliminary approval to a new boundary proposal for the eight high schools within the district. The proposal would redraw lines from the north end of the district down to the south, affecting a lot of families.
This has been a hotly debated topic for a long time. The Board of Education acknowledged they wouldn't be able to please everyone. Sure enough, we talked to parents who were both pleased and very upset about the proposal.
Parents and students filled the auditorium at Layton High to hear the newest proposal to redraw the boundaries for seven current high schools, plus a new one in the district.
Darrell White, Boundary Consultant: "Any time you change the boundaries, you're changing peoples' lives."
The district hired Darrell White, a former Davis superintendent, to make the proposal. He redrew the Davis High school lines to move 150 students at the north end of the boundary to Layton High and 150 students at the south end to Viewmont High. But some parents said the school wasn't overcrowded to begin with.
Randy White, Davis parent.com spokesman: "They have no portals today, the kids fit in there fine."
Jessica's Steele's kids stayed put at Davis High. She said she was happy with the new proposal.
Jessica Steele, Happy with New Proposal: "They've attended schools in Kaysville since kindergarten, so I just want my kids to go to school where their friends are."
Other parents felt the safety issue was not fully addressed since some kids would have to commute longer on I-15 to go to a new high school. The safety committee suggested students take the bus.
Michael Reed, Dissatisfied with New Proposal: "Well, that's great if all your kids are gonna do are go to school and come home."
Making the school boundaries more socio-economically balanced was another concern of parents and teachers in the North part of the district. Under the old proposal, Clearfield High had a 21% higher ratio of students on free and reduced lunch compared with the new school going up nearby. Today's proposal narrowed that gap to 10-percent.
Randy White, Liked Some of Proposal: "I liked a lot of what they did in the north with socio-economic issues. That was much better."
The Davis Board of Education did not allow public comments tonight, but they will consider written public comments until January 10th. They hope to make a final decision a week later.
Maps of the proposed boundaries will appear on the district's website Thursday morning. That website is davis.k12.ut.us
Public comments can be submitted via email at consultant@dsdmail.net, by mail to:
Consultant
Davis School District
PO Box 588
Farmington, Utah
84025
Or hand delivered to the Community Relations Office at 45 E. State St. Farmington.
