The Granite School District’s plan to close Eastwood Elementary School in Millcreek and Morningside Elementary School in Holladay has been suspended. The initial decision of closure was based on declining enrollment for reasons like the dual language program in Granite elementaries being removed and parents being willing to send their children to other schools, like many Eastwood students attending Oakridge Elementary school instead. 

With this being the third consecutive year of public school enrollment dropping, Freshman Finley Peterman said, “I think it has a lot to do with the demographics; that’s probably the main reason why kids are preferring homeschool or private schools.” Drake Morgan, a ninth grader, added, “Parents might think the teachers at public schools aren’t as good, so they are sending their kids to private schools.”

However, the community is fighting back against the closures and have forced a suspension on the closure for now. Freshman Wyatt Kyle said, “I went to Eastwood, and I really liked it. I understand there is declining enrollment there, but it was a great school, so this is sad to see.” Many members of the community found the process unfair; many parents believed their children were getting a great education at these schools and that the district was forcing the closure to happen, something unhelpful to kids attending the schools. “I think the process to a lot of these elementary schools that are closing are happening too fast and are forcing a final decision,” said ninth grader Derek Hardink.

Some people wonder: will the suspension turn into an indefinite decision to keep the schools open, or will the decision be overturned and the schools get closed? No one knows yet, but the district has stated, “Eastwood and Morningside could still face closure.” It is clear that many elementary schools are seeing declining enrollment and that this problem will stay; people can’t ignore the fact that some elementary schools have to close. “I don’t have an emotional connection to these schools, but I do know that people need to see the full picture and realize that this problem is bigger than your emotional connection to your old school,” said an anonymous student. 

On the other side are the people who believe that these schools have deep roots in their community and city and that closing these schools are a disservice. Hardink said, “As much as I don’t like the idea of closing schools, I understand that this has to happen. However, I don’t like that these schools and the community feel like they are treated unfairly in this process to keep the schools open.”