The Inequity of Moving Dixon

Dixon Middle School is a valuable community center that has served thousands of people for 88 years. 882 students--about 40% of the Provo middle school population--and dozens of faculty members depend on it each day for school and work. Beyond traditional school services, Dixon is also home to numerous before- and after-school programs, ESL classes for adults, neighborhood meetings, and even an IHC clinic. And since Dixon Middle has been operating since 1931, the surrounding area depends on--and has been built around--having these nearby services.

Demographic Analysis

It's also no secret that the areas surrounding Dixon are some of the poorest in the city. Let's compare using US Census and Provo City School District data.

First, the 2013 American Community Survey shows a clear income divide between the current site (right) and the proposed site (left). The census tracts surrounding each site have a median household income of $41,886 for the current site and $55,927 for the proposed site.

Second, Provo City School District's 2018-2019 demographics data also shows the economic need around the current site:

East of I-15

- Franklin Elementary: 82% economically disadvantaged

- Timpanogos Elementary: 71% economically disadvantaged

West of I-15

- Amelia Earhart: 59% economically disadvantaged

- Sunset View: 56% economically disadvantaged

Moving Dixon Hurts our Poorest Families

Families with lower income tend to have less free time, need to work longer hours to get by, have less access to personal vehicles, and have more single-parent households. For generations, Dixon Middle has been a blessing to these families because their children can easily get to and from the school by walking, biking, or even taking public transit on their own. Moving it farther away from them would make it more challenging for their children to participate in before- and after-school programming when there is no option to ride a school bus.

The Problem with a "Dixon Community Center"

You may have seen the school district announce its "potential plan" to keep using historic 1931 Dixon Middle as a community center after building off-site.

First, this is an empty promise as there is no money committed to the renovation of the building they claim to be unsafe. The minimum cost to restore the 1931 section was estimated at $10m in feasibility studies. This doesn't include demolishing or retrofiting the other portions of the building they deem to also be unsafe (concrete roofs built in 1960s additions, for example). Maintaining and operating another building would also add to PCSD's ongoing costs--an additional cost that would not have to be paid if the the school remained.

Secondly, the school already is a community center with loads of programs for adults and children before and after school. Taking away school programming and leaving only community programming would be a net loss.

Vote NO

We believe 88 year-old Dixon should be rebuilt (our kids deserve safe schools) but not at the Footprinter Park site. Dixon can and should (for the sake of our poorest residents) be rebuilt on-site. That's one reason why we encourage you to VOTE NO on the 2019 school bond. Let's give the district another opportunity to get its plan right.