• Annual cost increases since 2016 have been higher than previous trends.
• Increases are related to labor shortages, material costs, tariffs, and supply chain issues.
• Local construction market conditions have out-paced national trends due to population growth.
• Cost increases are anticipated to be near 10% for the next few years.

The Phase 1 timeline is still based on a ‘worst first’ schedule. In addition to these major projects, security upgrades and small scale remodels will continue. Read more about the impacts of cost escalations on school projects.

The anticipated start dates for Phase 1 projects are listed below.

A freezer/cooler was added. The front office security project was completed. Carbon monoxide detectors were installed. The domestic water pipping was replaced. A partial re-roof project occurred. A special education relocation project was completed.

Bennion Elementary:

The fire alarm system was upgraded. The front office security remodel was completed. The HAVC air flow was upgraded. Some student drop-off modifications were completed.

Calvin Smith Elementary:

The front office security remodel was completed. The fire alarm was upgraded. The irrigation for the play fields was automated. An interior facelift happened. The HVAC controls were upgraded.

Fox Hills Elementary:

An interior facelift occurred. The front office security was completed. Carbon Monoxide detectors were installed. Playground turf was installed under the play structures. The air conditioning system was upgraded. A pedestrian bridge was added with associated site improvements. The HVAC controls were upgraded.

Fremont Elementary:

The front office security project was completed with an addition. Carbon Monoxide detectors were installed. The concrete columns under the school were shored up.

Taylorsville Elementary:

Kitchen and associated cooler box addition was completed. New in-wall cafeteria tables were added. Computer room change occurred.

Truman Elementary:

The front office security project was completed. The furnace and condenser were replaced. The HVAC system was upgraded.

Vista Elementary:

New in-wall cafeteria tables were added. The front office security project was completed with an addition. Carbon Monoxide detectors were installed. The irrigation for the play fields was automated.

Eisenhower Jr.:

The domestic water piping was redone. The auditorium audio system needed to be upgraded with a new system. New single-occupancy changing rooms were added. The south exterior wall was cleaned up so waterproofing could be applied the concrete wall. 

Bennion Jr.: 

The auditorium audio system was upgraded. The boiler was replaced. Significant earthquake repairs were performed. The fire panel was replaced for the fire alarm system and the HVAC controls were to be upgraded.

Taylorsville High:

The tennis courts were resurfaced and are being worked on again summer 2023. An auto shop lift was installed. Gymnasium bleachers were replaced. The softball home run fence was installed. The EPIC audio enhancement was installed. A main office remodel occurred. A new 16 room portable classroom unit was purchased and had all the necessary power, security, fire alarm and water/sewer connections. The baseball and softball dugouts were redone. A new chiller was purchased and installed. A new artificial turf replaced the old one. Four new relocatable classrooms have been installed. HVAC controls are being upgraded. Air conditioning addition to the main and auxiliary gymnasiums is underway.

The project is complete and backordered furniture is being shipped as available. This modular building is located on the temporary West Lake campus (formerly Westbrook Elementary).

Taylorsville High School Relocatable Classroom Complex

The project is complete and backordered furniture is shipping. This complex is located on the eastern portion of the campus to accommodate the added students from grade reconfiguration. It features 16 classrooms as well as restrooms. It has colloquially been dubbed ‘The Villa’ by students.

Security Upgrades Timeline

Robert Frost Elementary

The remodel of Robert Frost Elementary added approximately 700 square feet to the front of the school. The interior was updated so patrons enter the front office to be checked in before gaining access to the building. A new principals office and conference room were created, and the fire alarm system was updated.

Gearld Wright Elementary

The interior of Gearld Wright Elementary was remodeled so patrons enter the front office to be checked in before gaining access to the building. The final piece of the remodel (ADA actuators) is on backorder.

Whittier Elementary

Very similar to Gearld Wright Elementary, the interior of Whittier Elementary was remodeled so patrons enter the front office to be checked in before gaining access to the building. The final piece of the remodel (ADA actuators) is on backorder.

Eastwood Elementary

Eastwood Elementary’s remodel reconfigured the entry system so patrons enter the front office to be checked in prior to gaining access to the building. The exterior parking lot space was reconfigured so that school buses no longer need to back up after dropping off students. Handrails for the outside of the building are on backorder.

Is Granite School District raising my taxes?

NO, here’s why your tax notice looks like that’s happening:

• When voters approved the 2017 Granite Bond the district promised to shift the debt levy to the capital levy when bond payments began to decrease.
• We are now fulfilling that promise, which allows school building projects to continue.
• Your tax notice may give the impression of an increase, but your tax rate as charged by Granite will stay the same.
• Other factors (especially home value) may affect your tax payment, but as for your property tax rate to Granite School District, there is no net tax increase to you.

Please join us for an informational Q&A meeting on the capital levy shift and your tax notice:

Wednesday, July 28 at 6 p.m. – Granite Education Center (2500 S. State Street)

All of these projects were established along the Phase I timeline of a 30-40 year strategic plan to rebuild and renovate all schools in Granite, with the schools in most need of building updates at the top of the timeline.

From the time the bond was approved, however, construction costs have risen at a historic rate. Between 2017 and 2020, costs increased about 10 percent every year (compounded yearly). For 2021 and beyond, costs are estimated to increase 6 to 7 percent annually. Utah’s economy shows no signs of slowing, and many large projects across the state are keeping all areas of the construction industry very busy. Combine this with a decline in the construction labor force and hikes in prices for materials (exacerbated by tariffs and the COVID-19 pandemic), and the result has been major leaps in costs in a short amount of time.

The challenge, therefore, is to hold construction costs to budget, especially between now and 2025 while two high schools are under construction.

In order to achieve this and keep the district’s cash flow for capital projects ‘in the black,’ our remaining Phase I projects need to be delayed five to seven years.

The damage to West Lake STEM Junior High as a result of the March 2020 earthquake also presents financial challenges as insurance settlements may not cover all rehabilitation/rebuild costs.

Despite the hurdles, we are moving forward with projects as quickly as possible given the circumstances.

The Granite School District Board of Education has voted to name the new school at the riverfront site Olene Walker Elementary School in honor of Utah’s first female governor.

The school will open fall 2020 and will replace Roosevelt Elementary.

School officials, with input from students, parents and community members, will determine the official mascot, colors and logo of the school.

About Olene Walker

Governor Olene Walker was sworn into office in November of 2003 as Utah’s 15th governor. She served a two-year term, during which time she worked on several initiatives such as education programs and workforce development.

She received a bachelor degree from Brigham Young University, a master degree from Stanford University, and a doctorate from the University of Utah. Prior to entering politics, Walker founded the Salt Lake Education Foundation and served as its director.

Walker was a representative in the state Legislature for eight years and served a term as majority whip. She was Utah’s first woman to serve as lieutenant governor to Mike Leavitt. When Governor Leavitt resigned to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Walker became Utah’s first female governor.

This first issuance will be used for a variety of purposes, from design work to construction contracts. Read the full Fitch Ratings report:

Granite School District New Issue Report