SLC residents gather outside East High to highlight need for new high school

SALT LAKE CITY — A group of students and families from Salt Lake City’s west side organized a walkout at East High School to show the district how beneficial a high school in their community would be.

For years families on the west side of Salt Lake City have wanted a new high school in their community. All three — West, East and Highland High schools — are east of Interstate 15.

About 30 Glendale residents gathered outside East High on Tuesday after the final school bell rang to voice their opinions and take a 2 1/2-hour trek to Glendale Middle School.

Jorge Jimenez said many of their families struggle to get their kids to and from school.

“They can’t be involved at the same level because the school’s so far away,” Jimenez said.

However, a recent study commissioned by the district pointed to declining enrollment and a lack of space to build a new one.

Yándary Chatwin, a representative from Salt Lake City School District, was also present at the gathering and shared some of the district’s concerns.

“There is nowhere in the city in the Glendale area — Poplar Grove even — where there are 30 acres of land that we can build something on,” Chatwin said.

Further discussion remains stalled.

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