The Washington County School Board voted on Nov. 11 to approve a boundary change that reassigns portions of the Horizon Elementary attendance area into the Pine View secondary cone site, moving affected students to Pine View High School beginning in August 2025.

The board’s vote followed an extended public hearing in which parents, students and community members spoke for three minutes each about the effects of shifting attendance zones. Brett Nichols, president of the districtwide DLI parent council, urged the board to protect the Chinese dual-immersion program at Crimson Cliffs, saying, "We do not believe the Chinese program can trans can transition to Pine View at this time and still succeed." Several student speakers appealed directly for resources and stability: JC Chase, a Pine View Middle freshman, told the board, "I am here today to plead with you to show Pine View some love," citing lost yearbook time and disrupted athletics.

Board members acknowledged the tensions public commenters described while emphasizing legal and policy limits. Member Seig Miller explained the difference between waivers and open enrollment, saying the state’s open-enrollment law allows many students to attend schools outside their boundary and the district lacks authority to block that movement. Superintendent (name not specified in the transcript) described boundary changes as "step 1," promising additional work on facilities, leadership and policy to strengthen Pine View.

Under the approved plan, students living north of Washington Dam Road and east of Washington Hills Road (including the Shooting Star development and homes south of Washington Dam Road) would attend Pine View beginning in August 2025. The board also specified that students currently enrolled in grades 6–12 may opt to remain in their existing Crimson Cliffs or Desert Hills cone sites — but the district will not provide bus transportation for those choices.

The motion to approve "boundary proposal number 3" was made by Member Hutchison and seconded by Member Cox. The board conducted a voice vote, after which the president declared, "That motion carries." The district plans to publish detailed maps and continue outreach; board members said they will follow the vote with additional steps on facilities and leadership to support Pine View.

Votes at a glance
- Boundary proposal No. 3 (Horizon Elementary / Crimson Cliffs, Pine View, Desert Hills cone sites): Motion by Member Hutchison; second by Member Cox. Outcome: approved (board voice vote).
- Consent agenda (minutes, financial report, personnel, licensure items, UHSAA forms): Motion by Member Staley; second by Member Hutchison. Outcome: approved.
- Fossil Ridge Intermediate name change to "Pine View Intermediate School at Fossil Ridge": Motion by Member Seig Miller; second by Member Simmons. Outcome: approved.
- 2025–26 open-enrollment designations (list of open/closed assignments including Snow Canyon High closing, Little Valley and Three Falls elementary opening): Motion by Member Hutchison; second by Member Segg Miller. Outcome: approved.

What it means and next steps
The approved boundary takes effect in August 2025. Families with students currently in grades 6–12 were told they can remain at Crimson Cliffs or Desert Hills but without district bus service. Board members said the vote is the first step in a broader plan that will include facility refreshes, leadership transitions (the board noted Pine View High principal Michael Meese will retire at the end of the school year and a replacement will be announced in December) and a review of policy tools such as waiver language and the district’s stance on open enrollment.

The district will post maps and additional guidance online; families with questions were encouraged to contact district staff for timelines and transportation clarifications.

Sources: public hearing remarks and board discussion at the Nov. 11, 2024 Washington County School District Board of Education meeting.