No traction in Orem, Pleasant Grove, Lindon, Vineyard on school district agreement (2024)

As 10 of the 14 cities within Alpine School District are exploring the possibility of splitting off and forming their own districts through interlocal agreements, the remaining four municipalities could have a tough decision to make soon.

The two interlocal agreements created include one with Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Fairfield and Cedar Fort and another with Lehi, Draper, Highland, Alpine, Cedar Hills and American Fork.

Currently, Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove and Vineyard have not entered into any agreements.

On May 7, mayors and city council members from those four cities met and deliberated on what an agreement could look like if they wanted to pursue the option.

No action was taken from the meeting.

At the time, Alpine School District was in the process of studying the potential of a two-way split, which would joined schools in the east stretching from Lehi to Orem banding together as a separate district, and those on the west side of Utah Lake merging together as another, while giving residents in each city a ballot option to vote on the reconfiguration.

But after lawmakers passedHouse Bill 3003 during a special legislative session June 19, Alpine School District will not have the opportunity to place the option on this year’s general election ballot.

The new law also means that only citizens who live within cities that have entered into interlocal agreements would be able to vote on any options that are presented.

Currently, city leadership in Pleasant Grove, Lindon, Vineyard and Orem are divided on the best path to move forward.

Pleasant Grove previously declined to participate in an interlocal agreement with the remaining cities in the south portion of the district.

Nearly two months later, feelings among city officials are unchanged.

“Our city council isn’t considering an interlocal at this time,” Pleasant Grove Councilwoman Cyd Lemone told the Daily Herald in a written statement when reached last week. “We support the two way split and hope there’s still an opportunity to work with the other schools to utilize resources and funding for the best interest of the students, teachers and taxpayers.”

Pleasant Grove had expressed a preference for a two-way split option initially proposed by Alpine School District; it would have included cities to the east from Lehi to Orem.

Vineyard City Councilman Jacob Holdaway says whether or not the four remaining municipalities form an interlocal agreement together, he feels a contingency plan should be in place should the central and/or western district options make the ballot and pass.

“For teachers and bus drivers and, you know, district staff, there’s so many unknowns that you should be working down a contingency plan,” Holdaway said.

“I could see one meeting about special education. What does that look like? I could see one meeting about busing. How would it change in three different scenarios? You know, I could see a plan about an administration building,” he added.

So far, those discussions have yet to happen, Holdaway told the Daily Herald last week.

In Orem, elected representatives appear aware of the potential impacts, though no moves or motions have been put in progress.

“Conversations are being held between various City leaders,” Councilwoman LaNae Millett said in an emailed statement to the Daily Herald.

It was only two years ago when Orem promoted a ballot measure to split off from Alpine School District, but it failed.

“One of those reasons was that a lot of voters said they wanted an Orem, Vineyard, Lindon District but not an Orem only District,” Millett said.

She believes one of the main catalysts for the 10 cities that have entered into interlocal agreements is to obtain adequate representation.

“They feel that their voice is not heard and their needs are not being met. Currently there are only seven school board members representing 92 schools, 85,000 students and 466,000 residents,” Millett said.

Lindon Mayor Carolyn Lundberg told the Daily Herald when reached last week that “some informal conversations” were underway but added she couldn’t say more. “At this point I am not hearing a majority of elected officials trying to coordinate an interlocal agreement. I don’t really have any more information than that,” she said in an email Friday.

Meanwhile, a change.org petition urging leaders in Pleasant Grove, Lindon, Vineyard and Orem has gained over 250 signatures.

The petition was started by Alicia Alba, who originally was running for a local school board seat in Alpine’s District 5 but dropped out of the race earlier this year.

If the four cities were to decide to move forward with pursuing an agreement, the latest changes from the Legislature shortened the required public comment period from 45 days to 30 days.

“Then voters in Orem, Lindon, Vineyard, and Pleasant Grove may have the opportunity to vote this fall whether or not they want their own four city district,” Millett said. “If they decide not to form an inter-local agreement then their fate will be determined by the ten cities who have already formed their own inter-local agreements.”

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