Alpine plans vote on boundaries

AMERICAN FORK — As Alpine School District continues to grow, the school board plans to vote on boundaries for its new Saratoga Springs High School and Eagle Mountain Elementary School.

The board meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Suncrest Elementary School, 668 W. 150 North, Orem.

Gary Seastrand, an assistant principal for Alpine district, said the boundary alignment for the two schools has been without much controversy or problems. He describes the boundaries as "logical and clear-cut."

The high school boundaries will follow the Jordan River. Students living east of the river will attend Lehi High School while those residing west will go to the new Saratoga Springs High School.

Boundaries of the new elementary school in Eagle Mountain will include three main areas: North Ranches area, north of Highway 73; The Ranches, west of The Ranches Parkway; and The Ranches, south of Pony Express Parkway and west of the power-line easement.

Boundary maps for the two new schools are on the district's Web site, www.alpine.k12.ut.us

The district broke ground on the high school in May. It is expected to open fall 2009 and is estimated to have 1,034 students at starting, with a capacity of 1,700 students. The building cost is approximately around $50 million, according to district officials.

The high school's design is new and is similar to one used in Wasatch School District.

Construction on the elementary school began in October and should be ready this fall, holding an estimated 723 students with a capacity of 1,000. Cost is roughly estimated at around $12 million, district officials say.

The elementary school's design is similar to Fox Hollow Elementary School.

Voters in November 2006 authorized the district to issue $230 million in bonds for construction and remodeling of schools. With that funding, the district plans to build one high school, two middle schools and five elementary schools.

"The voters recognized we have growth and capital needs," Seastrand said.

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E-mail: astewart@desnews.com