The new west campus of Polaris High School will start in a temporary location that has previously housed three different public charter schools.

The Alpine School District Board of Education voted Tuesday evening to approve the lease of 32,452 square feet at 690 S. 500 East in American Fork at a price of $382,731 for the first year of a three-year lease.

The building has previously housed the now-closed Aristotle Charter Academy and Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts. The building was also home to the Utah Military Academy Valdez-Peterson Campus until it moved to its permanent building in Lehi.

The American Fork location was one of two the board had considered, with the second potential location being a vacant, commercial building in Saratoga Springs.

“I like this facility better than the other one because I feel it is ready to go,” Amber Bonner, a member of the school board, said during the meeting.

The district decided to add a second location to the alternative high school after looking at the more than hour-long commute via bus some students had to the Orem location.

The western location isn’t expected to add any additional programs from what is offered in Orem.

The district had previously discussed locating the western Polaris High School site in the satellite classrooms on the grounds of Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs. The satellite classrooms are currently being used to help manage the 3,000 students who attend Westlake High School until Cedar Valley High School opens in the fall in Eagle Mountain.

Rob Smith, the assistant superintendent of Alpine School District told the board that the district was looking for a location close to Interstate 15 and one that would only have minimal renovation costs.

Smith said the building’s lease was negotiated down and was desirable because the building had previously been a school.

Sara Hacken, a member of the board, encouraged the district to continue looking for a permanent site farther west.

“I like that site, I think it is a good site, but is not west,” Hacken said.