The Kearns community is preparing to bid farewell to Western Hills, an elementary school that has been serving the community since 1963. After a significant decrease of enrollment in Western Hills Elementary, the Granite School District has decided to permanently close its Western Hills after the 2023-2024 school year. This closure leaves many Kearns residents with worries about how the next school year will look for their children currently attending Western Hills Elementary. What factors contribute to the closure? How will this closure affect the students, staff, and the community? Western Hills Elementary has seen a significant decrease in student enrollment over the school years with the 2023-2024 school year only having a total of 274 students attending. In 2010, there were 540 students enrolled in the school while an entire decade later in 2020 we see a significant drop to only 326 attending the school. The Western Hills principal, Wendy Lovell states, “Less students equals less FTE. A decrease in students also means we have less funding for needs like para-educators.” Granite School District’s 2021 annual student population procedures gives better insight for these closures. Some factors include the age and condition of buildings, enrollment, safety, and environmental factors. With low student enrollment, funding, and teachers, Western Hills is set to shut down after the 2023-2024 school year. Silver Hills Elementary, another school in the Kearns boundary that has also been affected by the lack of enrollment, will now have the most Western Hills elementary students. With the expectation of a few students attending Beehive Elementary. Once Silver Hills and Western hills merge, they will have an estimate of around 500 students. A presentation shown during the Granite School District PAC board meeting states, “Having a minimum average of 500-550 students allows an elementary school to staff at a minimum of three teachers per grade level.” With the threshold of 500 students merging info the two schools, Granite will be able to provide sufficient funding along with jobs for teachers. While the children are expected to attend one of the other schools within the Kearns boundaries, current teachers and staff at Western Hills still face uncertainty. “There is some worry over where everyone will be next year. Teachers will be placed in Granite School District using the surplus process.” The surplus process ensures current teachers keep their employment while being placed at another school within the district. This still leaves some educators worried as there is still no confirmation of where they will be for the next school year. The Kearns community also presented their feelings and support online with one resident anonymously posting on the Kearns community Facebook page, “I still had hope that they wouldn’t close our Western Hills Elementary, but I see that is it a reality, I still can’t believe it…” Even with the community’s support throughout the entire process, Western Hills is still being required to close its doors after the school year. “Western Hills has a wonderful and caring community. They have been so supportive in attending and giving their voice at various meetings held. Obviously, we would love to keep Western Hills open. However, I understand the reasoning and process. It does not make things easy, but at Western Hills we preserve, grow, and achieve. I know we will all work hard to make the best of our situation moving forward.”
