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The Alpine School District Board of Education meets at the district office in American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

Sarah Hunt, Daily Herald

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ASD Executive Director of Legal Services Kraig Brinkerhoff speaks during the Alpine School District board meeting held at the district office in American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

Sarah Hunt, Daily Herald

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The Alpine School District board met Tuesday night to discuss several topics, opting to continue a discussion into how policies about school boundaries could affect school programs.

In a letter to parents sent on Dec. 8, the school board stated that as a result of the bond failing to pass last fall, “a districtwide boundary study is needed to mitigate additional student enrollment and address aging buildings.”

The district explained that the study is ongoing and will delve into the uses of existing buildings to “inform where boundary changes and/or school closures are warranted” before notifying parents of any potential changes. Changes would affect some schools in 2023 with others impacted in 2024 and beyond.

Areas that have already been affected by boundary changes include Eagle Mountain elementary schools and Lehi middle schools.

Parent Taylor Davis addressed the board on potential boundary changes and how they might affect his family, namely by offering the same protections currently in place for special education children and staying consistent with programs and boundaries.

“We ask that you take a look at Highland Elementary. We’ve heard that there are some efforts still to try to close, in a different way, that school. It is a gem, it is blessing lives and we ask you to look at the amazing things that are happening,” Davis said.

Kraig Brinkerhoff, ASD’s executive director of legal services, discussed the school board’s policy 1900, which concerns school boundary changes, closures and consolidations along with state statutes giving the board power to make decisions related to their procedures.

“We know when we do change boundaries for schools within the district, it affects the services,” Brinkerhoff said. “Alpine School District Board of Education strives to maximize the efficient use of district facilities or balancing equitable distribution programs and services as we strive to support quality learning for all students. We understand the impact changes have on students, families and communities.”

Board member Mark Clement, who represents nine schools in Pleasant Grove, American Fork and Lindon, told colleagues and attendees that he believes the policy stands on its own and doesn’t have an effect on other aspects of the district.

“If we want to do some kind of a policy on programs, what should happen if programs will change, I think that will be a worthy thing to look at. But I don’t think we should abandon this policy because that’s really not the same topic,” Clement said.

Sarah Beeson said she was willing to pause her vote in favor of the change “as a sign of goodwill towards the (special education) parents.” Beeson’s district includes Cedar Hills, Highland, American Fork and Alpine.

“Knowing that policy 1900 is about the building closures and consolidations and not programs, and while programs would be affected by building closures, they’re included as one of the factors that we’re going to be considering as part of the study for capacity utilization,” Beeson said.

The board decided to table the boundary change discussion until the next meeting.

Lehi land sale

The school board also unanimously approved the sale of 4.07 acres owned by the district in Lehi without discussion. The plot is located at 2750 North 260 East in Lehi. The land was previously extra acreage attached to Skyridge High School, with a multi-purpose turf field taking up part of it.

The school board has three parties listed as the buyer on contract: Jason Mandalaris, Dennis Crocket and Run MMC, LLC.

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