Other residents, including Gail Christiansen, whose wife is an Alpine teacher, believe a split is inevitable but say a vote in November is too soon. They believe people are too emotional and there is not enough time to disseminate accurate information to voters.

"I would ask you just to put it off," Christiansen said. "If it's feasible and we do think it is great, we can vote on it (in a year)."

Proponents of dividing the Alpine District believe timing is essential because the Nov. 7 ballot will also feature a question about authorizing the district to issue $230 million in bonds for construction projects. If the district splits now, residents on the south end will not have to pay for the bonds.

Residents on both sides of the issues lined the City Council chambers in Orem and were given three minutes each to address the pros and cons of splitting from Alpine. Most said Alpine was doing a good job.

Proponents of the split said the issue is not about the quality of the school district but whether voters should have the chance to voice their opinions at the polls, said Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem, who spoke as a resident and a legislator.

"The vote tonight is not about the quality of (Alpine) but whether you will squash this effort or whether you will allow it to proceed forward to the vote of the people."

The questions raised by feasibility studies were too overwhelming for Orem resident Garth Seastrand, who spoke against the ballot measure.

"I think tonight this could have been a hard decision," Seastrand told the council. "But after what we've heard tonight, this isn't a hard decision. You are justified in saying that we're not going to involve our people in a mess such as this."

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com; sisraelsen@desnews.com