Increased Local Representation.

Will the new district have smaller class sizes?
How can Orem make its schools safer?
What are competitive wages (higher teacher salaries/benefits)?
Which enhanced specialty programs can we reintroduce at our schools?
What curriculum choices are acceptable, and which are unacceptable?
How can Orem schools save money by utilizing parent volunteers?
and many more

If Orem creates a new school district, the new district would be represented by 7 local school board members and 1 Superintendent. These local representatives will decide important issues such as:

What is the responsibility of Local School Boards?

This is a great question. Many people are unaware of the great services our Board Members provide for their communities and school districts. Utah Local Board Members have a huge responsibility. For example, did you know that your elected Board Member determines how much to raise your property taxes each year? They also may purchase, sell, make improvements to schools or leave them in disarray. Our School Board Members make many decisions, not just for our kids education, but also on our behalf as citizens so it is important we carefully choose whom we want to represent us and our needs with in our own communities.

Local representation brings accountability to a local level. It allows for localized decisions to be made that includes families, taxpayers and community businesses. An important factor of a local district is the ability to have a greater say as a community about what is taught in our schools (i.e. CRT, gender dysphoria, other topics), as well as who is teaching our children. ASD has not had good press in recent years: a teacher who murdered an ex-husband’s girlfriend in front of her under-aged children, a teacher on a political (and parent-bashing) rant to high schoolers, or most recently a teacher sharing nude photos with an underage student (see sources below). Incidents such as these should not be happening, especially around impressionable and innocent children.

Studies have shown more local involvement from parents and community neighborhoods in smaller school districts as well. Some examples of local decision-making and greater representation are as follows:

LOCAL DECISION MAKING/GREATER REPRESENTATION

Study findings show that if Orem were to create the New District, Orem residents would have local representation and decision making.
Orem residents would have local representation over how taxes are spent. Remember, Orem currently has 12 schools with identified seismic hazards! We must do the right thing, right away to ensure the safety of all Orem children.
Orem residents would have local representation over programs in the schools.
Local representation and decision making would permit Orem residents to align with the New District, parents and students.
Local decision-making gives greater oversight is a benefit (prevents overspending, keeps control over policy adherence, utilizes authority to reign in mismanagement, etc.)