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Show Consolidation, "A Dead Issue" Dr. Walter D. Talbot, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Instruc-tion, made an appearance at Tuesday night's school board meeting held at the high school, and briefly discussed a problem which has been on the minds of many Park City residents. Dr. Talbot fielded questions from school board members as well as the audience concerning the school district boundary line which divides residents in northern nor-thern areas of Park City who are a part of the South Summit School District, but unable to have a vote in the town's educational matters. One of the main worries related to consolidating all three districts, North Summit, South Summit, and Park City into one school district. But their worries were immediately alleviated when Dr. Talbot said unequivocally, "Consolidation is a dead issue." The State Superintendent said he wanted to find out more about the problem of the affected residents, do research and come up with a solution. Board member Jack Green said, "I think the most reassuring thing we've heard tonight is the consolidation issue will no longer hang over our heads." Those areas which are in Park City, but which are part of the South Summit School District include Holiday Ranch, Park Meadows, Thaynes Canyon, Silver Sil-ver Creek, Highland Estates, Hidden Cove, and parts of Prospector Square, Gorgoza, and Kimball Junction. Dr. Talbot explained that he did not think there would be enough support in the Utah legislature to force Park City to consolidate with South Summit and North Summit. "I think we need to solve the problems as the boundary line now exists, instead of re-organiz-ing," said Dr. Talbot. School Board President, Gary Boyle, said he was concerned about increased growth in the South Summit District area where children attend school in Park City schools. Nancy McComb, a resident in Holiday Ranch, also questioned the projected growth in these areas, as well as number of students, assessed evaluation, and present bonding capacity. Mrs. McComb asked Dr Talbot if it would be possible for South Summit to give up land to Park City. Dr. Talbot replied that, to change district boundaries requires re-quires legislative action. The State Superintendent said that one possible alternative was to let the people in the north Park City areas decide which school district they would rather be in. Talbot told the board members and others in attendance he would evaluate the boundary line problem and have something substantial in 4 or 6 weeks. Park City Superintendent, Richard Ri-chard Goodworth, summed up the main problem when he said, "The major issue is getting an opportunity to vote in the district where their children attend schools." |
