magna newspapers

Magna -- On Wednesday Oct. 21 Cyprus High School’s PTA hosted an open house endorsing a bond initiative from the Granite School District that will appear on the ballot this coming election day. This 256 million dollar bond is drawing attention from voters due to the wording of the initiative which by law must state that there is a possibility for a property tax increase. The open house was held not only to raise public awareness but to show the school board’s commitment to not raising taxes and to rally support for the construction projects that the bond would finance.
    Even though this bond would be put towards schools across Granite School District, Cyprus’ PTA is looking to increase public awareness because of its emphasis on area schools. These projects include putting air conditioning in 51 schools, 3 new schools in the area, and rebuilding Granger High School.
    Currently the Utah Department of Health shows that schools, including Cyprus High, have classroom temperatures exceeding ninety degrees creating a non-conducive learning environment for students and heat related illnesses in teachers and students. The second largest project in the bond  installs air conditioning in all schools without it, including Hunter Elementary, Kennedy Junior High, and Cyprus High School.
    An estimated 26 million of the bond money has been earmarked for two new elementary schools in the area. The first elementary school will be built in Magna and the second one on 5600 West. The 5600 West elementary is needed to accommodate the population increase from the Highbury Estates being built by Ivory Homes.
    Judging from a large student population in the current first and second grade classes in the Magna and West Valley areas, the school board estimates that a new junior high will be needed in the Northwest quadrant of the district. Twenty-five million dollars of the bond money has been set aside for this project.
    Some parents at the meeting expressed that even if there was a tax increase they would be willing to pay it because of the pressing need. But the school board kept reiterating that there would not be a tax increase, Gayleen Gandy a member of the board said that, “As a board we are very very committed to not raising taxes.”
    The Granite School District Board says that 17 million of the current pay as you go fund is what would be used to pay off the bond. They say because the money is already being used for construction it negates the need to increase property taxes. The board says that the immediate need for the money is what percipitates the need for a bond now.
    Cyprus High School PTA President, Sandy Lancaster said that the PTA endorses the bond because it gives the school district the capital expense power to, “meet the needs of our children without a tax increase.” Besides Cyprus High’s PTA, Granite School District has received endorsements from Howard Stevenson from the Utah Tax Payers Association, who said that Granite School District’s fiscal responsibility prompted him to endorse this bond.  Magna resident Robert Frahm said that after attending the open house he will probably vote for it.