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OREM, Utah (AP) -- The City Council has agreed to study whether to secede from the Alpine School District.
The council agreed Tuesday night to request proposals for a feasibility study on creating a separate school district.
Many of those in favor of the feasibility study and already gunning for the new district were parents unhappy with their children's education or homeowners upset with rising taxes to pay for schools in the north end of the county.
Others said they were not displeased with Alpine but believed the area and population is too big to function as one district.
Julie McNamara was among those unhappy with the district's education.
"We actually removed our children from the Alpine School District, and we put them into private schools," she said, adding the dozens of people in attendance were just a small group of the people who believe Orem needs to break off, and they want action.
"Those people have put you people in office to speak for us."
Many parents in the district have been unhappy with the mathematics instruction, which they have felt placed too little emphasis on calculation, and they have sought a more traditional approach. Some have taken their children out of the district's schools.
City Council members from Lindon and Cedar Hills expressed interest in their cities participating in the study, and County Commissioner Steve White added his support to the study and said the county could probably chip in $5,000 or so to help cover the cost.
Some opponents of creating a new district said the issue had been studied two years ago when some wanted to create a new district within the boundaries of Lehi High School.
The results were clear then, Orem High School teacher Cole Kelley said. "Politics need to stop pretending to play the game of divisiveness in the name of kids and come together in the name of kids," she said.
Alpine Superintendent Vernon Henshaw said he would provide any information about the school district the city wants for its study and encouraged the council to look at the efficiency and effectiveness of how Alpine is run. It would be a good check for them, he said.
"The fact that I am on this side speaking to you is not indicative that I am for or against your study," he said. "That is your decision."
The council spent time discussing whether the study should concern only on Orem or include surrounding cities.
City Councilman Les Campbell moved to do the study and consider only Orem but allow other interested cities to enter into an interlocal agreement with Orem if those cities' councils wanted to. Being involved in the study does not mean any city will be part of a new school district, if there is one, he said.
"That's an item to be solved by the Orem City School Board," Campbell said.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
