Property Reuse
Property Reuse: Bennion, Hawthorne, and Mary W. Jackson
We are exploring the next chapter for three schools. Here's how we got here, who is involved in the decision, and how to share your voice.
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A Quick Recap A few years ago, declining enrollment left several of our elementary schools under capacity. As we worked to responsibly align our facilities with educational needs, the Board of Education decided to close four schools: Bennion, Hawthorne, Mary W. Jackson, and Riley Elementary Schools. Last year, the Board voted to convert the Riley campus into a Career and Technical Center. For the other three schools, no decision has been made yet, and that's where your input comes in. |
Why This Matters Finding the right use for these properties, whether that means a new district purpose, a community partnership, or a sale, means those resources can go back to supporting our students and schools. Every decision we make about Bennion, Hawthorne, and Mary W. Jackson is guided by one goal: strengthening the opportunities available to students across the district. Whatever the outcome for these properties, the aim is to make sure our schools and students benefit. |
Who Is Involved and How
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The Board of Education Makes the Decision The Board of Education has final decision-making authority over what happens to these three sites. No decision has been made yet. The board wants to make sure community priorities shape the options it eventually considers. |
Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Provides Expertise JLL is an independent real estate advisor hired to provide objective analysis, financial modeling, market expertise, and community engagement support. JLL's work is happening in phases: reviewing site conditions and market potential, gathering community input, developing financial scenarios for possible reuses, and preparing a final feasibility report. |
Our Community Helps Guide the Discussion Community input is essential to this process. We want to hear from you, our community members, neighbors, and stakeholders. Besides taking our online survey (linked above and below), you can request to speak at a Board meeting or contact our board members (follow the link and click on their names to find contact information). |
Where Are We Now
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Summer 2026 The Board of Education hired JLL to study the school sites. |
September 2026 JLL and the district held community meetings and created an online survey to gather input. |
Fall 2026 JLL will compile the feedback and create a feasibility report for the Board of Education. |
Later The Board of Education will review the options and make a decision. |
For those who were unable to attend the community meetings, the presentation from the meetings is available for review in both English and Spanish.
School Site Information
Bennion Elementary
429 South 800 East
The former Bennion Elementary is a 3-story structure totaling 64,181 square feet.
Hawthorne Elementary
1675 South 600 East
The former Hawthorne Elementary sits on a 5.5-acre site, and the building is 63,117 square feet.
Mary W.Jackson Elementary
750 West 200 North
The former Mary W. Jackson Elementary sits on a 5.8-acre site, and the building is 64,676square feet.
Share Your Input
You are invited to take a short survey to tell us what matters most to you as we plan the future of these sites. All responses are completely anonymous and confidential. No identifying information will be collected.
The survey is open through the end of September.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Board of Education has not made any decisions about Bennion, Hawthorne, or Mary W. Jackson. Right now, the district is gathering community input, and that feedback will help guide the Board's decisions about the future use of these sites.
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In 2023, after a study of enrollment and school boundaries that included community input, the Board of Education voted to close Bennion, Hawthorne, Mary W. Jackson, and Riley elementary schools due to declining enrollment across the district. The district's focus now is on what comes next for our closed school properties, and we want the community's input as those decisions are made.
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The Board hired a real estate and planning consultant, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), to conduct a feasibility study for each property and gather community input. JLL is expected to complete its work in October and will present its findings to the Board in a public meeting after that. Beyond that, the Board of Education has not set a timeline for deciding the future use for these sites.
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Yes, the Board of Education welcomes comments from community members at any time. Email is a great way to reach our Board members. You can visit the Board of Education webpage, and click on the Board members' names to find their contact information. You can also request to speak to the Board during the public comment period of each Board meeting. Instructions for signing up are on the district website.
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Riley is not part of the current property reuse conversation. In May 2025, the Board of Education approved plans to convert the former Riley Elementary campus into a career and technical center for district students. More information about that decision can be found here.
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The district is not in a school closure process at this time, and no schools have been identified for closure. The earliest the Board could receive a recommendation to study possible closures is fall 2027. If that happens, the review would look at many factors, including enrollment across all district schools.