Major boundary changes urged for Alpine District

HIGHLAND — Alpine school chiefs are proposing changes to nine existing school boundaries in order to fill three new elementary schools.

A meeting tonight will be the first of three where the suggested changes to the geographic borders that determine school attendance will be unveiled to the public.

The changes would be for fall 2006 — when the schools are expected to open. The not-yet-named schools are in Saratoga Springs, Lehi and Highland.

Alpine Superintendent Vern Henshaw said the schools were necessary because the number of school-aged children in north Utah County has increased as a rapid rate.

Students have received maps showing the proposed boundary changes. Parents are encouraged to attend one of the open houses and ask questions.

The district also will take written responses from people who want to comment on the changes, district spokeswoman Jerrilyn Mortensen said.

District officials want to have the final proposals done early next month so the Board of Education can vote on them by the end of January.

"Then we can proceed forward and get the schools ready to open," said Gary Seastrand, an Alpine assistant superintendent.

A committee — including Seastrand and community members — drew the boundary proposals after months of studying maps and talking through issues.

The group boarded a bus and rode around parts of the district to see how the changes would affect parents and students. Many parents are averse to having their children change schools, Seastrand said.

"It can be a bit of a trauma sometimes for families that have deep loyalties to the school," Seastrand said. "We appreciate that, and we want to be very careful."

All three of Utah County's school districts are considering boundary changes for next school year.

In the Provo District, residents will be asked to vote for a bond of up to $30 million to build new schools that will affect boundaries on the west side of the city. If voters approve the bond in a June election, then changes could be made as soon as fall.

Also, beginning next fall, Nebo School District plans to collapse middle schools to make room for the fast-growing student population in southern Utah County.

Middle schools in Nebo are made up of sixth and seventh grades.

Under the plan, the sixth grade will be pushed back into elementary schools and the seventh grade will be pushed into junior high school buildings. The plan will be incrementally implemented throughout the district over several years.

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com