UTAH COUNTY — After several city councils in Utah County voted unanimously, voters in those cities will have the option to split from Alpine School District on their ballots this November.
On Tuesday, all six councils in question voted unanimously in favor of placing the proposal on the ballot.
The proposal is for Lehi, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Alpine, Highland, and Draper (the portion that's in Utah County) to create their own new district. These six cities formed an interlocal agreement in April to study a possible split from their current district. There was also a 45-day public comment period.
If passed by the voters, it would be called the Central School District — but that name could change.
It required a majority of the councils (four out of six) to vote in favor in order for the initiative to go on ballots.
Alpine and Lehi city councils made their decisions Tuesday afternoon — they both voted unanimously in favor of putting the option on the ballot.
Tuesday evening, American Fork, Draper, Cedar Hills and Highland's councils did the same.
"I think the number one thing is that we feel that this is something that our residents need to decide, and no matter where we kind of feel on it, it's something that everybody is passionate about," Lehi City Councilwoman Heather Newall said. "This is something that when the voters decide, no matter what the outcome is, there's going to be hard things to work through, so if they decide to do that, then we feel that they will be more willing to work through those issues."
The six cities also did a feasibility study, which came back saying that a split would be financially beneficial. According to recent Utah legislation, the decision to split a school district has to come from the cities.
In response to the city councils' decision, the Alpine School District issued a statement.
"While municipal leaders and residents in those areas consider these important issues, we maintain our focus on providing excellence in education to the students in our 92 schools," the statement read in part. "As we serve them, we encourage all of our community members to study the issues fundamental to the education of children. We celebrate the opportunity that our system of government affords community members to deliberate these questions openly. Alpine students, employees, and patrons deserve our best. We will continue to deliver it."
