Was this article removed because Alpine School District wanted to withhold information from Orem voters who did not attend these meetings?  KSL News Radio was wrong to remove the story.  The correct thing for KSL News Radio to have done was to post actual information, including taking interviews with attendees at those meetings, and to have gathered and shared that information with the public so the public could make an informed choice.

Instead, later that evening on Oct 20, 2022, KSL News Radio issued a “Letter from the newsroom” stating that “The headline and the accompanying article were inaccurate.”

Alpine School Districts response to KSL News Radio earlier article (also in the newsroom letter)  appears to put the inaccurate information to rest, however if one reads the actual verbiage provided, ASD does not deny their intent to close schools.  

Do not be misinformed. Alpine School District presented school closures in their Bond meetings on Oct 18 & 19. 

Information disclosed at the following three Alpine School District (ASD) bond meetings, which took place October 18-20, 2022, have been both disturbing and progressively “dumbed down” with markedly altered, unreadable and missing data, as well as not in line with ASD’s claims of “accountability and transparency.”  Specifically, ASD’s mentioning of nine schools in Orem that the Board has been discussing for closure and/or consolidations. This is very alarming for Orem residents. This information was first provided at the American Fork Bond meeting and had entirely been deleted from the presentation by the time the Orem meeting took place (the last of three meetings).  We will look at discussions from each meeting.

October 18 meeting: American Fork

While discussing projects, ASD showed this slide that mentions nine Orem schools that have been in discussion for closure/consolidation.  Schools mentioned are:  Orem Jr. High, Lakeridge Jr. High, Aspen, Windsor, Sharon, Parkside, Bonneville, Northridge, and Orem Elementary as you can see in a photo of the presenters slideshow and a paper copy from this night’s presentation.

October 19 meeting:  Saratoga Springs

While discussing projects, ASD showed this altered slide, with a banner covering much of it.  Notice the difference in the appearance and data provided between the two nights’ presentations.   Why does one audience get more and accurate information, while the audience the following night gets less accurate and unreadable information?  The date marked on the banner informs attendees that talks of these closures/consolidations have taken place since at least 2021.  An attendee asked for copies of the slide deck to more accurately see the blurred data (at the event).  The following day, the attendee’s request for the slides was denied.

October 20 meeting:  Orem

The slide covering project discussions was entirely missing at this presentation, as well as the discussion surrounding any closures/consolidations. The Orem audience should have been given the very most information, as more of the schools slated for closure/consolidation are right here in Orem. And the most current and most accurate information is certainly the most pertinent for the Orem audience, as Orem is voting right now whether to stay or leave the District. This is contrary to the very words that ASD uses on their 2022 School Bond pamphlet sent to all residents earlier this week.

Now we must ask ourselves, is Alpine School District whittling down the truth to fool Orem voters? Information has been shared by Orem residents on social media from each evening’s bond events, and with recent actions from Alpine School District, we have more questions.

Q - Why was the information provided by ASD pared down for each of the following presentations?  

A - It is obvious from the slides shown from each evening’s presentation that information was indeed whittled down and altered.  

Q - Is ASD trying to hide its intent to close even more Orem schools?  

A - Removing the information from a slide deck or from a presentation DOES NOT mean that ASD is not still seriously pursuing talks and intentions of closing Orem schools.  

If Orem voters vote to stay with Alpine School District, the very real, very discussed reality of Orem schools closing is in our future.  

Since 2019, Alpine School District (ASD) has closed three Orem schools:  Hillcrest, Geneva, and Polaris/Summit Online.  ASD is trying to withhold Orem residents from gathering correct and pertinent information before the vote.  This is wrong and falsifies ASD’s claim of “accountability and transparency.”  

Again, do not be fooled. Alpine School District presented school closures in their Bond meetings on Oct 18 & 19. ASD has also been in discussions since 2021 about the closures of Orem Schools - as seen in their Oct 19 meeting with the banner that clearly states “2021 Draft Working Notes”.  In Alpine School District’s statement to KSL News Radio, they state that “School closures must go through a public process outlined in Utah State Law”.  Clearly, this process has already started since 2021, and their statement does not mean they do not have the intent to close some Orem schools.  

A recent VIDEO shows us what ASD has been up to. Another great way to find out what Alpine School District and Board Members are up to is by reviewing their past study sessions, Board Meetings, and Board Minutes which can be found on their website and public notice. We highly recommend using public notice as ASD has been removing its YouTube videos, and content from its website.

Perhaps the only way to keep our neighborhood schools open, and all of those jobs at each school, is to vote to leave Alpine School District so that Orem can control its own destiny.  The feasibility study shows Orem is in a strong position, and the Utah Taxpayers Association agrees that Orem has robust revenues to support an Orem School District – with every program, every specialty, every CTE, and every teacher as it is now.

Now is the time to Vote YES on Prop 2.

Resource Links

Utah Public Notice Website - Listen to Meetings

KSL News Radio Article 1

KSL News Radio Article 2

YouTube Video - ASD Representative explaining school closures.