No jump to split schools

OREM — While a new petition circulating in Orem presses for a new school district, city and legislative leaders are studying legal issues surrounding a new law that opens the door for cities to leave large, established school districts.

A group calling itself "Friends of Orem School District," the organization that began the movement to split from Alpine School district, is seeking 4,500 signatures, or roughly 5 percent of the city's population, by July 1 on a petition.

But a legislative ad hoc committee and the Utah League of Cities and Towns are discussing how city districts can split without resulting in increased taxes.

The new petition again emphasizes that the group wants a city school district and asks the City Council to instruct the Utah County Clerk to place the issue on the November ballot.

Last month, the group presented the City Council with a petition of 1,000 names asking Orem to hire a consultant to study the feasibility of a city school district.

The difference between the first and second petitions is that the feasibility study is already under way, and nearby Pleasant Grove and Lindon want to be considered in the proposed Orem district.

Vineyard also is considering joining the feasibility study. The additional cities may delay the feasibility study's completion, and the Friends of Orem School District wants to make sure the issue is on the November ballot, said Beau Sorensen, a group organizer.

The consultant is tentatively scheduled July 11 to present to the Orem City Council the results of the feasibility study.

Friends of Orem School District also announced Wednesday that it believes a new Insight Research poll commissioned by the Alpine School District is skewed.

The survey found 44 percent of Orem residents favor staying in the Alpine district. But Friends of Orem School District believe the wording of the question — in which respondents were reminded of proposed construction and remodel projects at Orem junior high and high schools — influenced answers.

Friends of Orem School District hope to raise money and commission another poll, Sorensen said.

David Spatafore of Insight Research did not immediately return a phone call from the Deseret Morning News seeking comment.

A spokeswoman for the Alpine School District also did not return a call from the newspaper.