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Tonya Papanikolas reporting Neighbors in Alpine are upset over a new charter school that wants to move into the area.
The state board of education has approved Mountainville Academy, but the challenge has been finding the right spot to build the school.
The kindergarten through 8th grade school says they want to build in Alpine; a place where there's never been a charter school before. That way, locals who want an alternative in education don't have to leave the city.
Neighbors say they don't have a problem with the idea, just the location.
Alpine residents who live near Healey Boulevard are going door to door asking neighbors to sign a petition against a new charter school hoping to build in the area.
"Have you heard it's going right in our neighborhood?"
The neighbors say they don't have anything against charter schools, but they like their neighborhood quiet, and are extremely worried about traffic that's already congested.
Kelli Rhodes, Against Charter School: "It takes us approximately 20-23 minutes to go less than two miles to Lone Peak High School."
Members of Mountainville charter school's board say they looked at different areas, but specifically wanted a residential neighborhood.
Gaylee Coverston, Mountainville Charter School Board Member: "We really did not want the school to be located someplace where we would have to worry about the children's safety."
Coverston says she understands the traffic concerns, but the school, which could reach 675 students, will have mandatory carpooling and large pickup zones.
Gaylee Coverston, Mountainville Charter School Board Member: "We will also be staggering out times, school times, with the other schools in the area, to make sure we're not compounding on an issue that already exists."
That doesn't appease neighbors, who say aside from the traffic issue, they also felt blindsided by the news the charter school was coming.
David Barlow, Against Charter School: "We found out through, well, just seeing backhoes show up, doing soil-testing."
Coverston says the board would have loved to include the community, but when bidding on land, they can't be too public. She adds it probably wouldn't have changed the neighbor's reactions, anyway.
Gaylee Coverston: Unfortunately, apparently nobody wants a school in their backyard. I don't know why."
This isn't the first time the charter school has run into problems. The board had previously picked a location on 100 South in Alpine. Residents there got upset, so they agreed to look elsewhere.
Mountainville Academy will be making its final decision on location tomorrow. Some residents say they'll move if the school is built.
