FAQs
-
Alpine School District has said repeatedly that a split is coming and inevitable - Lehi Press.
Alpine currently has 14 cities in the district and has not been able to meet Orem students needs, such as; declining academic achievements and test scores; ever increasing class sizes; disappearing specialty classes; and unsafe schools.
A split from Alpine means Alpine School District can give the needed attention to the needs of other cities in the district. For Orem, a split would keep property taxes here for critical seismic fixes to take place, and a focus on Orem’s student academic needs, as well as reducing class sizes and reintroducing specialty class opportunities.
-
• Over 67% of Orem's Property Taxes are given to Alpine School District to maintain and ensure our students' education. Close to $70 Million a year.
• $174 Million of Orem's Property taxes have gone outside of Orem over the last 20 years.
• While Alpine School District continues to increase the debt with ever larger bond debts, there is no guarantee that Orem’s property tax money will be used to fix Orem’s seismically challenged schools.
Historically Alpine School District has gone over budget by 25% for its capital projects in the last decade. Who has covered the overage? You have! How has that happened without your vote? Alpine School District has issued 3 lease revenue bonds - 2018, 2020, 2022. The interest rate is higher and the public was not given the opportunity to vote on them.
The only way to control spending is through local decision making, local control, and local oversight.
-
• As per Alpine Board Member Ada Wilson, “Orem will not see the bulk of this bond.” – Aug 9, 2022
• Orem paid an average of 28% of Alpine School District Bonds, while only receiving 13% for Orem schools in the last 20 years.
• If this bond passes, and Orem doesn’t split, most of Orem’s tax dollars goes to land acquisition/school construction outside of Orem. Orem’s taxes would raise and our schools would remain in disrepair. Orem’s taxes are spent outside of Orem.
• If this bond passes and Orem does split, Orem would retain its share of the bond (which is approximately $125M). Orem’s taxes would raise AND we would fix our depreciating schools. Orem’s property taxes will remain in Orem. -
• 3 schools: Windsor, Sharon, and Orem Jr., will collapse in a low-moderate earthquake.
• Geneva Elementary was hastily torn down and its students were sent to Parkside. It must be rebuilt to accommodate the over crowded facilities resulting at Parkside.
• Alpine School District has known about these hazards since the 2006 FEMA Study and has not fixed these schools.
• Currently there are 12 schools in Orem that have seismic concerns. -
• Orem does not have the same availability of specialty classes that other parts of Alpine School District enjoy.
• Alpine Board Member Julie King said the District should split: “…if students in different zip codes are getting different experiences that aren’t able to be solved.” -
4 feasibility studies have all shown that an Orem District will thrive financially. 2004, 2006, 2017 (completed by Alpine School District), and the current 2022 study all state that an Orem School District is financially feasible.
-
This is a very important question because it measures the quality of our children’s education.
Over the last 5 years, Orem student academic achievements have dropped significantly.
-
Yes. Every Specialty Class, CTE, IEP, Program, and more that are currently taught in Orem schools will continue in the Orem School District.
It is a federal and state requirement to IEP students receive the services they need.
This is also the case for Title 1 (low income) students. Title 1 funds will follow the student.
Both Laws give special needs students the right to Utah’s Open Enrollment so they will be able to attend the school that best suits their needs.
-
Yes, Utah is an open-enrollment state and until a school is full they have to accept students from wherever they may come.
Until a school is filled, Orem schools have to accept students from outside of their district.
Which means that Orem student will also be able to attend schools outside of Orem.
-
• The law requires that teachers retain their pay in the new district.
• In the study teachers compensation and benefits were projected for 10 years, and shows Orem can financially support Orem’s Action Plan for Teachers. Read the article to learn about Orem’s Action Plan.
• Retirement and Alpine retention bonus program were included. -
• By Law, Orem School Districtr will have 7 Board Members that will represent Orem City. Currently, Alpine has 14 cities divided among its 7 school board members. It is better to have 7 Board Members and 1 Superintendent solely for the citizens of Orem rather than 14 different cities.
• If the vote is in favor of a new district, the Orem School District would start in July 2024. -
• Currently, class sizes are over 31 students per classroom in Alpine School District, vs. 23 per classroom in Provo and 17 per classroom Nationally.
• Studies show teachers and students excel in smaller classroom sizes. -
Yes
• 1 in 5.5 students in Orem have left Alpine Schools in Orem because Alpine School District is not meeting their needs. They have sought better educational opportunities in charter and private schools.
• An Orem School District would have approximately 15,000 students. With 15,000 students and Orem District would still be larger than 95% of School Districts in the country.