Seismic Studies
SEISMIC STUDIES FROM 2006 AND 2022 FIND THAT MANY OREM SCHOOLS ARE NOT SAFE
In 2006, Alpine School District (ASD) commissioned a seismic study to assess earthquake hazards at all its holdings (schools, offices, warehouses, camps, etc.). The study identified 25 schools at that time with “very poor” and “poor” seismic ratings. See this link to view the Seismic Vulnerability Study 1. Since that time (16 years ago), ASD has only managed to fix 12 of the 25 schools – a remediation success rate of less than 50%.
A new FEMA study released in February 2022 shows that ASD now has 30 schools with seismic issues (see K-12 Inventory here 2 ). Orem has the largest amount (40%, 12 schools) of the seismically challenged schools district-wide, as shown here.
The Study states that “the Wasatch Front region is predicted to have a 43 percent chance of producing a magnitude 6.75 or greater earthquake in the next 50 years.” 3 The Study continues, “School buildings are one of the most utilized spaces in our cities … they are occupied by children and should be a priority for protection … [the study was] developed for the purpose of documenting and communicating a seismic risk … the findings highlight the urgent need for action to reduce the earthquake risk.” To date, ASD has not communicated the findings of the 2006, nor the 2022 study to the public. Tooele and Jordan School Districts have both provided letters to the public of the 2022 findings and the path forward for each district. The Study gives recommendations such as: providing funding for further studies and mitigation, including URM school buildings in initiatives (bonds), and establishing target dates for repurposing, retrofitting or demolition of URM school buildings. The study urges, “the next step is action, so that those with the ability to cause change can say to future generations that they did all they could, as quickly as they could, to protect Utah’s children.” ASD has not done all that they could have, as quickly as they could have to protect Orem’s children. This is unacceptable and inexcusable.
Four of Orem schools ranked as “very poor” in 2006 remain on the hazard list in 2022 and ASD has been unable to fix, or in some cases even to attempt retrofits at these schools (Sharon, Windsor, Geneva; Orem Jr.). The $174 million overpayment of Orem property taxes over the past 20 years should have been allocated to fix Orem’s unsafe schools, not directed elsewhere. ASD’s policy regarding safety states that ASD will “promote and maintain a safe and productive work environment for students, employees and community,” and as a member of the State of Utah Division of Risk Management ASD is responsible “to insure and protect State assets, promote safety and help prevent losses … [and to] 3 Executive Summary, Utah K-12 Public Schools URM Inventory 2022 to approach loss control.” Certainly, the lack of attention to address and resolve the seismic problems at the schools identified in the 2006 and the 2022 studies show that ASD has been negligent of its own and State of Utah policies. ASD has not proven to be transparent with the public about the schools with identified earthquake hazards, nor has it approached the problem in a proactive way to address, quantify, or work towards returning these schools to safe standards.
Children at Parkside (merging of Geneva and Suncrest students) are in cramped facilities because Geneva was hastily torn down in fall 2021. It’s worth asking whether ASD demolished the school because it learned that FEMA and Utah State Disaster teams were conducting a seismic study to be released in February 2022 – and that the optics would look extremely damaging that a 73-year-old school that received a “very poor” seismic rating in 2006 was still standing in 2022, without any retrofit or seismic improvements having taken place since the ranking was given in 2006. Or that Cascade Elementary, with a predominantly white student base, that was 20 years younger and with just a ”poor” seismic rating was given precedence over three much older and more seismically severe “very poor” rated schools, with predominantly non-white student bases. ASD has ignored these four very poorly ranked schools and has violated its own policy of providing safe environments for students, teachers and guests. If indeed preference was given to white student bases over non-white student bases, then discrimination has occurred, which is abhorrent and inexcusable.
If historical inaction on ASD’s part proves indicative, it is highly unlikely that ASD will fix Orem’s 12 seismically challenged schools. In fact, in a bond meeting dated August 9, 2022, Orem board member Ada Wilson said that Orem’s share of the staggering $595 million bond “will not be the bulk of the [money]” 4 (even though Orem’s share of the debt will be 20%), and the Lehi Free Press says that, “based on earlier discussions, the funds will likely be used to build seven new schools on Utah County’s west side.” 5 The current portion of the $595 million bond that Orem would be responsible to pay for is 19.44%, or $116 million. In the last bond that voters agreed to (2016) Orem paid 25.98% and got just 11% back. Orem historically has far overpaid and far under-received when it comes to bonds. While Orem has the largest amount of seismically unsafe schools (40%), it is unconscionable to continue the flow of Orem money elsewhere while so many of Orem’s students remain in unsafe schools. Consider also that ASD has been combining Orem’s smaller schools into super schools, and then selling off Orem land. Hillcrest Elementary is gone. Geneva Elementary is gone. Polaris is gone. East Shore/Summit High is gone. ASD pocketed the money and did not replace the schools. The public was not given the opportunity to vote on any of these decisions.
We must stand up and demand the rebuild of Geneva Elementary and refuse to consent to the combining of anymore smaller schools into super schools (and the subsequent reliance on costly bussing, decrease in neighborhood appeal, decrease in property values, etc.). We deserve an honest explanation of how some schools received needed seismic retrofits/replacement while others were ignored. We deserve full disclosure of exactly how severe Orem’s problem schools are, how they will be replaced and who will pay for them.
Resource Links
Seismic Vulnerability Assessment
2022 Utah K-12 Public Schools URM Inventory
Alpine Board Meeting - Aug 9, 2022 - “Orem will not see the bulk of this bond”.
Lehi Free Press - Aug 9, 2022 - “ASD delays controversial book decision…”