The board is considering the change due to the city’s interest in purchasing the building and the opportunity to give students a new and updated learning environment. Wilson elementary is one of the oldest schools in the area, having opened in 1959

This concept required a public hearing due to the fact that the new school would be just outside of Wilson’s current boundaries and within the current Spring Lake boundaries. Boundaries of Wilson, Spring Lake, and potentially other nearby elementary schools could be realigned in order to bring introduce a new school. 

Opinions were not uniform among parents in attendance, but Tina Bluth, for one, spoke in favor of keeping the current school in place.

“Wilson Elementary is valuable and should be maintained. It is not only a school, it is also a park for kids after school, on weekends and during the summer. It’s a place where people can take their dogs to run and play because we don’t have a dog park in the city,” Bluth said. “Wilson has added so much value to our community and in my experience, it is a wonderful school. Other parks are a mile or more away and the school is centrally located to our section of Payson.”

The city of Payson expressed interest in buying the current school building and the surrounding property to use as a green space for the city. 

“Sometimes school districts or entities may sell several buildings to a developer or something like that. We’re grateful that Payson City is interested in the property for preserving the green space in that area and using the facility for parks and recreation uses,” superintendent Richard C. Nielsen said.

The current building is up to code and a rebuild is not urgently required, but due to its age and expected growth in the area, a new school would provide an updated space and would be better able to accommodate the growing student population. According to the U.S. Census, Payson’s population has grown by over 33% since 2010. 

The school board has sufficient building funds and would not require a bond to pass to begin building a new school.

If the board decides to close the current building and open a new school, it would be built on property the district already owns at 1580 South 1100 West, near the Payson Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“We’re just so grateful to have a good working relationship with Payson City, and that they’re interested in our building. Nebo plans to build a new Wilson Elementary in the next 10 years. When the 10 years have passed, Payson City will take over the property,” said Lana Hiskey, NSD communications and community relations administrator.

The board will monitor the area’s growth in consideration of the concept through the next decade. In the event that the population remains stagnant or decreases, the school may close, moving students to Taylor Elementary School. 

The board will decided whether or not to move forward with replacing Wilson elementary during their June 14 meeting.