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AMERICAN FORK, Utah (AP) -- A survey has found Orem residents closely divided over splitting from the Alpine School District, with a plurality favoring keeping the district intact.
The survey also asked about support of a proposed $230 million bond to build and remodel schools -- a possible incentive for Orem residents to remain in the district.
Thirty-eight percent of Orem residents surveyed wanted to create a city district, 44 percent wanted to remain in the Alpine district and 18 percent had not made up their minds, according to the poll conducted for the district by Insight Research.
Orem officials have hired a firm to study the feasibility of a city school district that could possibly include the nearby towns of Vineyard, Lindon and Pleasant Grove.
The district released the poll results Monday.
Insight Research conducted a telephone survey of 602 people who live within the school district's boundaries from May 19-26. A third of the respondents were Orem residents. The margin of error for all residents surveyed was plus or minus 4 percentage points. The margin of error for a survey of 200 people would be about 7 percentage points.
The question used to indicate favor for the bond was asked twice, once at the beginning of the survey and once at the end. The first response received a 71 percent approval. The second question got a 75 percent approval.
Pollster David Spatafore said he felt the increase in approval in the second response was because of four items in the survey.
Participants were told that district was one of the fastest growing school districts and that its elementary schools have more than 1,000 children in attendance, while the average school size is between 600 and 800 children.
They were asked if they believed education spending is a good investment for the future, and if they thought the district lived up to promises during the last bond election in 2001.
The expected $230 million bond would go to building a new high school, up to two middle schools, up to six elementary schools and other building renovations throughout the district.
The tax rate would not increase if voters approve the bond in November, but instead be extended for another five years.
The survey also asked about an additional $4 million leeway that would provide the funding for operations and maintenance costs of the new schools. The results were less optimistic, with only 57 percent showing interest.
"If the results are in the 50s, you'll probably lose," Spatafore said.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
