More schools in Alpine?

AMERICAN FORK — Are more new schools needed in Alpine School District?

Construction projects that were planned the last time the district asked voters to approve a bond issuance to pay for construction aren't yet all done. Yet new construction — and another multimillion-dollar bond issuance — may be on the horizon in the state's third-largest district.

On Tuesday, Alpine's Board of Education discussed a wish list of new schools and remodeling projects at existing schools.

The dollar amount for the projects has not been pinned down because the list is preliminary. Superintendent Vern Henshaw said it will be around $200 million.

The public could be asked to vote on the proposal as soon as November.

District officials hope to structure the district's debt so taxes won't have to be raised to pay for the proposed new construction projects.

They plan to pay off existing debt while adding on new bond debt. It's called "layering" and that, combined with an increased number of businesses and homes, will provide the property-tax money for the district to pay for the new debt, district business administrator Rob Smith said.

"Right now there is a lot of growth occurring," Smith said. "As you have more people to pay taxes, your tax rate goes down" and any new debt would spread among the population.

The exact locations of the proposed new schools are unknown; but district officials expect to build mostly in the northern and western areas of the county, where the population is growing fastest. At last count, 55,000 students attend Alpine schools.

"If you look at the projections for the next five years, we expect to grow 8,000 students," Smith said.

Also, previous growth over the past decade means that students who entered the district in elementary grades will now be in secondary schools, creating a need for new schools at that level, Smith said.

Some projects are necessary for student safety, but most projects will depend on public support, Henshaw said.

"We have not prioritized to say, 'This one is priority over this one,' " Smith said.

The district plans to host four open houses in March and April to discuss the projects. After the open houses, district officials will refine the project list and a price tag will be announced.

The most recent bond issuance approved by voters was also for about $200 million.

Construction projects were begun and completed in four phases, with the first phase beginning in fall 2001. The final phase, which includes three new elementary schools in the northern part of the county, will be finished in April.

---

E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com