The Uintah School Board voted 4-1 on Sept. 21 to begin the state-mandated process for studying the potential closure of Uintah Middle School (UMS) at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year.
The board’s action starts a 90-day study and public comment period required by Utah law (UCA 53G-4-402). The district will examine the feasibility of closing UMS, reorganizing Vernal Middle School for grades 7-8, and returning 6th graders to elementary schools. These actions may affect attendance areas/boundaries for all district elementary schools and VMS. The study will also look at possible boundary changes for Ashley, Davis, Discovery, Maeser, and Naples elementary schools to equalize enrollments; the expansion of Dual Language Immersion to Maeser Elementary; and the targeted reinvestment of about $1.9 million annually in operational cost savings to address declining enrollments and reduce elementary class sizes.
The district has experienced declining enrollment due to national trends that include lower birthrates and expanding educational opportunities. This decline is expected to continue. Additionally, UMS faces significant structural challenges. Built in 1955 before modern seismic codes, it is on the state's list of unreinforced masonry (URM) schools, which are susceptible to significant earthquake damage. Retrofitting is cost prohibitive; the heating and air conditioning system and boiler also require expensive replacement that would not substantially extend the building's useful life.
The public can comment on the UMS Closure Study during regularly scheduled school board business meetings on Oct. 7, Nov. 11, and Dec. 9. A public hearing on the closure study will take place at UMS on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. Online attendance via Zoom will be available. Agendas and board contact information are at www.uintah.net under the School Board tab. Agendas will be published at least 24 hours in advance of meetings, in accordance with state law.
The board will make its decision about the future of UMS on Dec. 22, 2026, in an open meeting, based on the findings of the feasibility study and public input. If the board ultimately votes to close UMS, the district will move forward at that point with plans for student placement, staffing, transportation, and communication.
The district encourages all stakeholders to participate in this important study and decision-making process.