School in polygamist community is closed
 
Provo Daily Herald
 
ST. GEORGE (AP) -- Despite efforts of Phelps Elementary administrators, staff members and parents to keep it open, the Washington County School Board has voted unanimously to close the school in the polygamist community of Hildale.

The board took the action Tuesday on the recommendation of Superintendent Kolene Granger and Rex Wilkey, assistant superintendent of elementary education.

Wilkey said the projected enrollment at Phelps for the 2001-2002 school year is only 25. Current enrollment is 102.

Enrollment fell drastically last fall after Warren Jeffs, a leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, called upon followers to withdraw their children from public schools.

Following the church leader's edict, seven Phelps staffers quit and enrollment dropped from 250 to 94.

The four tenured members of the staff will be placed at other area schools, while provisional and first-year teachers will have to look for work on their own.

At one point administrators attempted to enter into a tuition trade-off agreement with administrators from Colorado City Junior High and High School in Hildale's twin polygamist community on the Arizona side of the border.

The goal was to offer Phelps as an elementary school for Colorado City students. After completing elementary years at Phelps, students could move to the Colorado City School for junior and high school.

The two districts would then pay each other tuition.

The offer was declined by Colorado City administrators.
 
HarkTheHerald.com
Originally published April 19, 2001
 
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