Wednesday (March 18) was a particularly important day for Jordan School District. The decision of the Arbitration Panel was released. This decision launches us to a new level in the process of being prepared as a District for the 2009-10 school year. There’s a lot of significant detail and reasoning in the written decision itself. I encourage you to review it to get a sense of the complexity of the issues and the basis upon which the arbitrators ruled. Their reasoning, rationale, and suggestions to the Legislature are admirable.
Realizing that this is an oversimplification, here’s the essence of the arbitrators’ decision:
1. Both districts retain buildings, fixtures, furnishings, land, water rights, and equipment currently in the geographic boundaries of their district. There is no exchange of money for these assets.
2. Cash fund balances will be allocated based on the student populations of the Canyons and Jordan School District, respectively 41% and 59%.
3. One exception to these distribution processes is school buses. They will be allocated based on historical usage, meaning, the number of buses needed to transport students this year, east and west, will be the same as will be needed and allocated to each district for next year. The only decision to be made is how to assign buses fairly based on age, mileage, and make of bus (diesel, CNG). The Transition Teams are assigned to determine these agreements.
Ultimately, the arbitrators grounded themselves in a decision making model that took into account students in each district. I’m very pleased this was their primary criterion. It’s a good feeling to have this behind us. It’s been a long process leading to a positive conclusion.