Practically everyone has a strong opinion when it comes to the proposal to bond for three new schools in the Duchesne County School District.

Interestingly it seems there is no middle ground; either people are willing to support the $49 million bond or they are opposed to saddling property owners with $57 on each $100,000 of assessed taxable value. There are also a large group of voters who feel the school board has not sufficiently explored possible alternatives.

“I’m not anti-motherhood, I’m not anti-apple pie, and I’m not anti-school,” said one concerned citizen who did not want to be identified. “I just think it’s premature to spend $49 million without looking at the alternatives.”

The countywide referendum will be on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. If passed, three schools would be constructed. One of the schools, a new elementary in Roosevelt, will be built regardless of whether voters approve the tax increase and bond request. The other two buildings under consideration are new high schools in Roosevelt and Altamont.

Alternatives suggested by some school district patrons include building one school with the $20 million the district already has, and then waiting to build the two high schools when more money is available.

Another suggestion is to consolidate Tabiona, Altamont and Duchesne high schools. Consolidation has been widely opposed in the county in the past.

Still, other county residents speaking out on the proposal would like to see revenue bonds considered rather than the general obligation bond which will be on the ballot. Revenue bonds would only allow the district to build one school at a time.

Some voters are questioning if the school board is trying to garner wider support by offering something to different areas of the county.

Les Gardner of Roosevelt said he would like to see several alternatives explored before asking families and business to pay additional property taxes for the next 20 years.

Gardner uses the following rationale to question the bond proposal, noting that $18 million is intended for Altamont High, which presently has about 230 students. The cost for a high school in Roosevelt, which currently has approximately 850 students, would be $40 million.

“In Altamont that is approximately $78,260 per student,” Gardner said. “In Roosevelt that is $47,000 per student. Are we shortchanging the students who attend Union? Can we justify spending $31,260 more per student in Altamont for a building?”

School Board member Kim Harding said that the discrepancy in spending isn’t nearly as stark because the Altamont building is designed to eventually hold 450 students and the Roosevelt building is projected to house up to 1,200.

Harding said a 600-seat auditorium planned for Altamont High is appropriate because the building is designed to add on a wing in the future that would add kindergarten through sixth grade into the structure.

But Gardner questions whether the district is “building a school or a community center?”

There are many who say the school is a community center, but that isn’t a bad thing. In fact, pulling schools out of a community would “remove the heart of the community,” said Harding, citing one of the objections of those opposed to the consolidation of Tabiona, Duchesne and Altamont high schools.

But many also believe it has come to the point where consolidation may be the ideal alternative. Conley Moon, an agriculture teacher at Duchesne High School, feels strongly that uniting the three communities in one high school would be advantageous to everyone involved.

“Tabiona would like a gym,” the 11-year-teaching veteran said. “For years all three schools have asked for tracks. The district can’t keep up. We can’t provide all the classes, all the facilities to all the schools. We could do it for one school.”

Moon said he’s talked to students and they are receptive to attending school with their friends from other parts of the county.

“Other districts have successfully done this,” Moon said, citing Rich County where South Rich High and North Rich High schools are consolidated. “For most people it is an emotional thing, not bringing the schools together. We’re not always considering what is educationally best for the kids.”

Kathy Ross feels the plan to build additional schools is just to compensate for a mistake the board made when a new Roosevelt Junior High was constructed rather than a new Union High School.

The mother of seven Union High graduates explained that her opinion doesn’t have anything to do with being against education.

“It’s a lot of money,” she said. “Everyone else has to cut back. They should do something later.”

Her husband, Lanny is also opposed to the bond.

“I’m totally in favor of the new elementary school because I know they have enough money to build that,” Lanny Ross said. “I think we are at a point in our country that whenever they want money they tax us. We need to pay our way like we used to.”

Ray Grant admitted that the county needs new schools, but he would like more discussion before “hard, fast decisions are made.”

“I think that is biting off too much right now,” said Grant, who owns a small business. “In down times we suck in our belt and do without, and the school district has to do that too.”

“Sometimes that is the right thing to do,” Harding agreed, “but other times it will get you in trouble. From what I’ve seen of the buildings and the condition they are in, we’re spending money on old buildings and the money will be wasted.”

In 2005, Uintah County was faced with a similar situation. The school board felt a need to replace two schools and renovate at least nine others. They did this by asking voters to approve a $50 million general obligation bond.

At that time, oil and gas prices were in the beginning of their historic climb and money and jobs were plentiful. Those factors may have contributed to voters easily passing the bond.