Alpine District won't split
Commission opts not to put issue on November ballot
For that reason, the County Commission voted 2-1 Tuesday to follow the recommendation of a study committee and not put on the November ballot the issue of creating a new district by carving out a section of the Alpine School District.
The district is nearing 60,000 students and is experiencing continued growth as houses continue to pop up across the open fields of northern Utah County. That growth, commissioners say, makes it likely that the district may indeed need to be divided someday.
Had commissioners opted to put the matter on the ballot, the split would have had to win a majority of votes from within the entire district, not just the area essentially Lehi and all the northwest county areas that currently feed students into Lehi High School that would have become the new district.
"There is going to come a time when the district needs to be split, but it's not now," said Commissioner Gary Herbert, who made the motion to deny putting the matter on the ballot, which was supported by Commissioner Steve White.
Herbert said there are better ways to attempt a division.
"In the 14 years I've been here (on the commission), this has been for me the most emotional issue we've addressed," Herbert said. "Everybody has been interested, probably because there are children involved and I think you can argue both sides of the issue. I don't believe a split is an absolute panacea for the foibles of a local school district and I don't think life will stop with a split. Both extreme views are wrong."
Herbert said the divisiveness is not healthy, the legislation that allows for splitting districts is flawed, the transition would be messy and the commission would be ill-advised to override the recommendation of the feasibility study committee which voted 5-1 against the idea.
Ann Davies, a major opponent of the split, said she was worried about Herbert and where he would come down on the issue.
"Hallelujah," she said following the vote as she gave a thumbs up to the commission.
Davies said people in her area were not for the split because they believed from the beginning the area being targeted was too small to support a new district.
"We were not divided. We were 98 percent against it," she said.
Rep. David Cox, R-Lehi, who sponsored the bill that allowed for splitting of districts and who also served on the feasibility study committee, said there was a good deal of misinformation circulated about the impacts of a split, much of it designed to inflame and scare people away from the potential.
Comments
- Funds for new courthouse approved 1:48 a.m.
- Godfrey vetoes Ogden budget 1:48 a.m.
- Odd Fellows Hall move 1:47 a.m.
- 2 country groups to perform 1:47 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz in back of line for free agents 1:19 a.m.
- Okur signs two-year extension 1:18 a.m.
- Marion to Mavs, Stackhouse to Griz 1:16 a.m.
- Price for redistricting plan challenged 1:04 a.m.
- Basketball campers learn service 1:02 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- AK will not play for Russia this summer
- Jazz rally for OT win at Orlando
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
138 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
122 - Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
82 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
73 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70 - Letters: Time for a revolution
69
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Blazers get the unbalanced trade they seek while not signing Millsap away...
Ricky Bobby - THE JAZZ DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BACK EQUAL SALARIES. They want to...
Despite the fact that logging has all but stopped in the pacific northwest...
My understanding of what FAIR is trying to do, is to provide well thought out...
Jazz will resign Milsap. If they don't it will be ahuge mistake. First off,...
I was waiting for it to be burned on the big metal structure right by the...
Hey Ute fan... the Utes had a good season. And keep throwing that BCS bowl...
Tyrus Thomas is in the last year of his contract too so what is the point for...
CougarKeith, people don't know how to properly retire the flag, what they did...
It is just talk but since it was brought up: IF we can get Prizbilla &...


You can be the first to comment on this story.