As the process to split the state’s largest school district continues to progress, the Alpine School District Board of Education is pressing forward with plans to build two new schools in northwest Utah County.

The board during its meeting on Tuesday voted unanimously in favor of approving a $238 million revenue bond for the construction of a new high school in Saratoga Springs and a new elementary school in Eagle Mountain.

The school board has previously faced challenges in securing enough funding to build the new facilities, despite concerns raised from residents in the western half of the district surrounding overcrowding at schools in the area.

The obstacles accelerated in early 2024 once the district split was initiated and restricted the board’s ability to issue bonds.

The passage of Senate Bill 188, or School Modification Bill, during the 2025 General Election opened more options for school districts to amass funds for things like building new schools and other needed expenses through lease revenue bonding.

With an emerging district split, and the new facilities to be situated as part of the soon-to-be-formed “West District,” S.B. 188 also states that monies owed on bonds will be at the responsibility of any new district associated with the debt — once operational in 2027.

Until then, ASD in its current form will assume debts associated with the new bond.

The school board also stated that the lease revenue bond would not pose any further financial impacts to citizens, since Alpine School District previously approved property tax increases in 2023 and 2024.

“I just want to point out that the nature of a lease revenue bond is that it is because of the financial health and strength of the entity,” board member Ada Wilson said during the meeting. “It is like a self bond, meaning that we’re not raising taxes with this LRB bond.”

However, during a brief public comment period, at least one resident argued the need for the bond at this time and criticized the board for previous tax implications placed on Utah County citizens.

“This hurts the taxpayers in the district; this hurts seniors who live on fixed incomes,” said John Gad of Pleasant Grove, who opposed the bond. “This hurts people who are disabled, who live on disability income. This hurts the moms and dads of the kids that you guys care about so much that you’re educating because they can barely afford their houses now.”

Other residents spoke in support of the bond, highlighting the need to combat overcrowded schools and the positive impact on students’ social connections and learning environments.

“I have seen firsthand the negative implications that overcrowded schools have,” said Eden Davenport of Saratoga Springs, “I’ve seen the difficulties that some of our children face making social connections because our schools are beyond max capacity. This bond is needed.”

Additionally, the board also approved a purchase of a total of 83 acres of land in both Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain for both proposed facilities.

With the bond now approved, the board says it hopes to break ground on the new schools sometime later this year.