Boundaries approved for 2 new Alpine schools, principal named today

OREM — Now that the school boundaries are in place, Alpine School District plans to name the principal of its new elementary school in Eagle Mountain today, district officials said.

The school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the elementary and high school boundaries during its board meeting at Suncrest Elementary School in Orem.

The next step is to get the school's administration going. The elementary principal is planned to be announced this morning. The principal of the new high school in Saratoga Springs may be announced in March, district officials said.

After the principal is set, the plan is to organize the PTA and then name the school — an action that could be controversial, district officials say.

Board members reviewed the district's policy on naming of new schools during a study session Tuesday afternoon.

Alpine District superintendent Vernon Henshaw said the district doesn't intend to change its school naming policy at this time. "We want to reaffirm this is where we are going," Henshaw said.

He emphasized the idea of unifying a community with a school's name. For example, Timpanogos High School sits at the base of the mountain. Harvest Elementary School is in the Harvest Hills area.

The district will follow a process outlined in its policy when choosing the name of a new school. A naming committee will be co-chaired by the PTA president or another PTA officer and the school principal. A district administrator, chosen by the superintendent, will serve as an ex-officio officer.

Committee members will be selected by PTA officers and the school principal, then submitted to the school board for final approval.

Once established, the committee will conduct a survey, sampling students, PTA members and other residents of the attendance area. Suggestions from students, patrons and other residents of the area may be requested.

"I remember when we named Timpanogos High School, there were around 100 ideas for names," Henshaw said.

The committee will then present three recommended names to the school board, ranking them in order of preference.

According to district policy, the names should "reflect the circumstances of all of the students who will attend the school," recognizing that often students attend from different communities.

The school board has the final prerogative to approve the name of the new school, according to the policy.