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Sam Penrod ReportingMore of Utah's larger cities are considering splitting from the school district they are in and creating their own. But what is behind this idea?
It serves the north end of Utah County, but now the biggest city in the Alpine School District is considering pulling out. Orem City has commissioned a feasibility study to determine if students living in the city would be better off in their own district.
Jim Reams, Orem City Manager: "We've asked him to look at all the issues. Our interest is finding out what the best educational system is here for the students in Orem City."
The Alpine School District's response is this: "We support the process, but believe the study will show dividing is not in the best interest of children or taxpayers."
A poll conducted by the district found that only 38 percent of residents in the boundaries support Orem creating its own district. Orem is not the only city considering breaking away from its district. Sandy and Holladay are also considering the same thing.
Many districts are planning to issue bonds to build new schools in areas where the population is exploding while closing schools where enrollment is dropping. The state legislature passed a law this year, allowing cities with larger populations to create their own districts.
Orem residents believe it would give them more local control over their schools.
Jim Reams, Orem City Manager: "We're very interested in having an objective view, we don't have a predisposed outcome on this. We're anxious to see what he recommends or what his conclusions are."
The real question of critics is if more districts will mean more administrative costs and less money in the classroom. Orem says it is waiting for the results of the feasibility study, which should be available sometime next month.
