Parents applaud separation of ALC review from school‑closure study; safety and transport remain concerns
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Summary
A parent at a Granite School District town hall thanked officials for separating ALC program assessment from the school‑closure study; attendees raised sidewalk, traffic and transportation issues tied to potential reassignments and the superintendent said the district observed travel patterns and will consider transportation options if closures proceed.
Parents told the superintendent they appreciated that the Alternative Learning Center (ALC) evaluation has been separated from the district’s school‑closure study, saying combining the two had created confusion. One father of four ALC students thanked district staff for disentangling the assessments and said the separation reduced anxiety about program cuts.
Community members also raised safety and transportation concerns tied to possible reassignments or closures near Juniper and Eastwood, including missing sidewalks and fast traffic during morning commutes. Superintendent Ben Orsley said district staff performed observational counts and estimated about "90 percent" of the families in one area were already being transported and that the district would work with the school community council, the municipality and law enforcement to plan safe travel and transportation alternatives if the recommendation proceeds.
Orsley said his team will continue to evaluate the recommendation and to ensure transportation options are available for affected families; he also noted roughly 50 families in one Eastwood boundary already attend a neighboring school (Oak Ridge), which informed his assessment of likely impacts.
Next steps: the district will continue outreach, work with local partners on safety and transportation planning and return to the community with further details as the school‑closure study advances.