Utah County cities explore split from Alpine School District [Video]

UTAH COUNTY, Utah — A handful of Utah County cities are considering a split from Alpine School District. If the change becomes a reality, they could start their own district. 

On Monday night, the Highland City Council signed an interlocal agreement with Cedar Hills, Lehi, Draper, American Fork and Alpine cities. Under that agreement, the cities will consider forming their own school district.

Additionally, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Fairfield and Cedar Fort have been exploring something similar.

Highland City Mayor Kurt Ostler said that if a city, or in this case, a group of cities, wants to split from a school district, the voters within those cities would make the final decision.

Orem sought to do something similar in 2022. However, voters shut it down that November.

If the Alpine School District pursued a split, every voter within the district would have a say in the decision. It would not fall upon the voters of one city, as the decision in Orem did. 

Why would …