Lauded by Alpine as a “historic agreement,” the Aspen Peaks, Lake Mountain and Timpanogos school districts spent several months negotiating how to distribute school funds and existing teacher benefits, according to a news release. Alpine Communications Director Rich Stowell said all sides made sacrifices and concessions to address the unique needs in each district.

“The unanimous ratification of this agreement by the new district boards is huge and speaks to the hard work done by really good people,” Alpine School District Superintendent Rob Smith said in the release. 

The agreement dictates that school activity funds and Alpine Foundation accounts already assigned to a school or program will remain with the district where that school is located.

Unassigned funds will be distributed based on final student enrollment percentages, which will be based on June 30, 2027, data. Based on current student enrollment, Aspen Peaks would receive 41.78% of unassigned funds, Lake Mountain would receive 30.16% and Timpanogos would receive 28.06%, according to the release.

The sides also agreed that current Alpine employees’ vacation hours will carry over to their new district, and that post-retirement benefits will remain secured — even if employees transfer among the three districts in the future.

“The real story is how we were able to keep the needs of all students, no matter the district, as our focus,” Aspen Peaks Board of Education President Diane Knight said in the release. “This was not about winners and losers. This was about creating three strong districts.”

The agreement includes a covenant of good faith in which the future districts promise to operate with transparency and professionalism.

“It is the express intent of the parties that the transition be executed collaboratively to ensure that all three new districts achieve full, unhindered operational readiness,” the covenant said. 

Voters in north and west Utah County voted in 2024 to form their own school district, effectively dissolving the Alpine School District into three organizations on July 1, 2027.

School board members were elected for each district last year, and superintendents were hired this year in preparation for the switch.

Lake Mountain will cover Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Cedar Fort and Fairfield. Aspen Peaks will cover Lehi, American Fork, Highland, Alpine and Cedar Hills. Timpanogos will cover Orem, Pleasant Grove, Lindon and Vineyard.