ENROLLMENT CRYSTAL BALL SHOWS JAMMED ALPINE DISTRICT SCHOOLS

This is the first of a two-part series on overcrowded schools in the Alpine School District and projected enrollment increases.After hearing enrollment projections for the next decade at a recent study session, members of the Alpine School Board looked at each other like parents of newborn triplets living in a one-bedroom apartment.

"The kids are here and the kids are coming, so we have to do something about it," Luana Searle, director of elementary education, told board members.That something likely will be either building four or five new schools, building onto existing schools, adding more satellite units and portable classrooms, shuffling school boundaries or implementing more alternative scheduling. District officials say they'll probably do a little of each.

"We have some real space problems in these schools, and we need to take steps soon for some relief," said Gary Keetch, director of secondary education.

Board members are considering a proposal to build a new high school in north Orem or Lindon and a new high school in north American Fork or Highland. Also proposed are new elementary schools in north Orem, north American Fork and Lehi.

If board members decide new schools are the solution to the crowding woes, residents can expect a bond election in May or November for between $85 million and $95 million. If they choose to remodel schools instead, the bond election will be for much less. In 1992, voters approved $30 million in bonds and a leeway to build Oak Canyon and Mountain Ridge junior high schools.

"We should have bonded for more then," board member Linda Campbell said. "You cannot put a price tag on what we're doing emotionally to these kids. The long-term impact of continually being in a packed classroom has got to be taking its toll."

With the opening of Oak Canyon and Mountain Ridge, the district's junior high grades are finally manageable. However, the district's enrollment bulge soon will be moving to the high schools, which presents big problems for the district.

Enrollment at four of the five high schools already is well above the designed capacity. Mountain View and Orem high schools each have more than 2,300 students, and American Fork has about 2,000 students. In the next three years, the district's high school enrollment is expected to increase from 8,800 students to more than 10,500 - the growth alone could fill a new school.

"The district's philosophy is to try to keep enrollment at the high schools at about 1,500 students. As you can see, that's already out the window," Keetch said.