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SALT LAKE CITY -- Several Utah lawmakers criticized the Alpine School District's lawsuit on Thursday about the possibility of closing five elementary schools during theCommission meetingtook place during the session of the parliament.
MembersAdministrative review and general supervision committeeheard onepresentationfrom a group of concerned parents, some of whom are listed as plaintiffs in alawsuit against the countyearlier this month.
The absence of the superintendent and the members of the Alpine School District board from the meeting angered lawmakers, who decided to summon the board members to appear in person at the next committee meeting. Some lawmakers have also mentioned plans to introduce school closure laws in response to parental accusations.
"I'm very disappointed that we don't have school board members who are elected officials sitting in these seats," said Senator Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi. "The fact that we don't have any of the elected officials sitting in the room irritates me beyond measure."
In the presentation, as in the lawsuit, it is alleged that the district failed to comply with the law in investigating the closure of elementary schools in Lehi, Valley View, Lindon, Windsor and Sharon and related frontier studies.
"The trial has been so devastated from the beginning that we believe it is necessary for the district to start over and re-enter the trial under the Utah Code," Alicia Alba, the prosecutor in the lawsuit and a parent representing the group, told the committee during a presentation.
According toutah code,Parents of students enrolled in the affected school must be notified 120 days before the school closes or boundaries are changed.
Essentially, a group of parents - 33 plaintiffs are named in the lawsuit -claiming the district closed schools early without properly adhering to the 120-day schedule. The district maintained that the decision to close the schools had not yet been made and that it had followed the state code throughout the process.
Timeline
At the meeting of the District Board on November 29 ata proposed $595 million bond for the district fell through,the board requested a district-wide perimeter survey to explore opportunities for boundary restructuring or consolidation and to evaluate school buildings for potential closure, Alpine School District spokesman David Stephenson said.
District in early Decembersent a letter to his parentsinforming them that since the proposed bond fell through, the district would begin a border investigation that could lead to potential closures.
Stephenson said all the buildings the district wanted to address through bond funds are on the listUtah K-12 public school unreinforced masonry inventory,making buildings seismically dangerous in the event of an earthquake.
The primary schools mentioned above have been placed on the unreinforced masonry inventory and are being considered for closure.
March 1 districtparents e-mailedand mayors, city councils, and administrators, notifying them that five elementary school closures and/or boundary adjustments are being considered, and that the 120-day notice period for school closures as required by the Utah State Code has begun.
However, the lawsuit alleges that at the February 28 board meeting, the board "voted to close elementary schools in Sharon, Windsor, Valley View, Lindon and Lehi, and to implement related boundary changes and programs to be effective for school age 23-24."
Alpine School District is investigating 2 school closures, 3 others have been postponed
On Tuesday, citizens strongly urged the Alpine School District to reconsider its proposal to close five elementary schools due to seismic issues.
“On February 28, they finally voted to close five primary schools. So before March 1, which is the notification date they (Alpine School District) are now going to go with," Alba said.
Apparently, many of the disputes between the plaintiffs and the district can be traced back to the February 28 board meeting, whenboard member Joylin Lincoln filed the request"that the Board of Education directs staff to initiate a formal process, as required by state law, to close Sharon, Windsor, Valley View, Lindon, and Lehi Elementary Schools and implement associated boundaries - and curricular changes to be effective" 23 -24 school year."
The motion passed, with board member Sarah Beeson casting the only vote against.
An email sent on March 1 by the district the day after the February 28 board meeting states that the accepted motion was to "move various parts of the general border study into the FORMAL STUDY."
Essentially, the district said the vote was not the final nail in the coffin of the five schools, but a vote to move to a formal schooling process - indicated by an email on March 1 asking parents to let them know it could be affected.
Alba went even further, claiming that on March 1, the district "actually started closing schools."
“They moved the administrators. They encouraged teachers to look for work elsewhere. They asked the PTA … not to hold elections,” she said.
Asked to comment on those claims earlier this month, Stephenson said the district could not comment on "pending litigation."
The legislator answers
After Alba presented her case to the committee, Utah Senator Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, who serves as committee chairman, said the committee invited members of the district board and superintendent to attend Thursday's hearing. When Bramble learned that they would not be attending, he said they were "concerned that everyone had decided not to attend".
Stephenson, Craig Brinkerhoff, executive director of legal services, and Rob Smith, district business administrator, were the only district employees who attended the hearing in person.
Board member Lincoln was the only board member present in any way when she joined via Zoom.
Lawmakers also expressed concern that the decision to close the districts was taken at a February 28 board meeting.
"The decision is made, and once you make it, at least you make a few moves to look like you're in college," Bramble said. "That seems to be what happened with this presentation."
"It's one interpretation - that the decision was made earlier," Brinkerhoff replied. "There are other interpretations that a decision has not yet been made."
Sometimes we have to move schools and borders, close facilities and make decisions, but there has to be this transparency and I have to tell you that it seems like it was just a cover up.
— Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City
"The decision to close schools was not taken at the time (February 28), but was suggested," Stephenson said. “This March 1 email indicated which schools were proposed to close. Following this email, we held various community-wide open days."
Representative. Brady Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove, reiterated issues raised by Alba and other parents throughout the trial, claiming the district had taken "actions to close schools."
"I know that the rest of the school administration has been developing in the Alpine school district and has been allocated or transferred to schools, but not to these five [schools]," Brammer said. "We can't just - if parents are upset - that schools can't close. But that process needs to be a little more respectful to voters."
After a lengthy period of questioning district representatives, the committee voted to subpoena the district superintendent and board of trustees to appear in person at the next committee meeting.
In addition, the committee voted to open a bill addressing the process of school closures by school districts and referred it to Parliament.education committee.
Many legislators have expressed their intention to implement legislation to close schools in neighborhoods.
During the 2019 legislative session, retired Senator Karen Mayne sponsored D-West Valley CitySB245,an account that requires 120 days' notice before the school closes after that datethe Granite School District school board voted to close the schoolless than a month after county officials notified the community of the plans.
"Senator Mayne is not here. ... But what I can tell you is that she's probably not happy to hear this committee because it was a very, very important bill to her that was supposed to make parents feel empowered and not only get, you know, taken over by the district." said D-Salt Lake City Senate Majority Leader Luz Escamilla.
"Sometimes we have to move schools, borders, close facilities and make decisions, but there has to be this transparency and I have to tell you it seems like it was just a cover up," Escamilla said.
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FAQs
How many schools are in Alpine School District Utah? ›
Alpine District contains 91 schools and 82,800 students. The district's minority enrollment is 20%.
How many students are in the Alpine School District Utah? ›editorial. Alpine School District is an above average, public school district located in AMERICAN FORK, UT. It has 82,800 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 28 to 1.
How many school districts are there in Utah? ›In 2022, Utah had 606,998 students enrolled in a total of 945 schools in 42 school districts. There were 26,168 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 23 students, compared to the national average of 1:16.
Where in Utah is the Alpine School District? ›| Alpine School District | |
|---|---|
| Alpine School District Education Center (headquarters) | |
| Location | |
| 575 North 100 East American Fork, Utah United States | |
| Coordinates | 40.3884°N 111.7963°W |
The average private school in Utah has 137 students (2023). The largest private school in Utah is American Heritage School with 1,075 students.
What is the most diverse school in Utah? ›| School Name | Rank | Scaled Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ensign College | 1 | 100.0 |
| Nightingale College | 2 | 95.8 (0.8%) |
| Neumont College of Computer Science | 3 | 85.8 (1.6%) |
| Western Governors University | 4 | 68.9 (10.8%) |
The public school in Utah has approximately average 646 students (2023). The public schools with the largest student enrollments are listed below (where sufficient data available). The largest public school in Utah (by enrollment) is Blue Peak High School with 8,701 students.
What is the largest school district in Utah? ›The largest school district is Alpine School District, serving 82,478 students. The highest graduation rate school district is Northern Utah Academy For Math Engineering & Science School District, with 98% graduation rate.
How many high schools are in Alpine School District in Utah? ›Alpine District contains 15 high schools.
What are the 4 largest school districts? ›| Rank | District | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Unified | 538,295 |
| 2 | San Diego Unified | 112,790 |
| 3 | Fresno Unified | 72,379 |
| 4 | Long Beach Unified | 65,826 |
Which state has the most school districts? ›
The United States had more than 98,000 public schools operating in 2020-21, and California had more than any other state.
What schools are closing in Utah? ›The announcement was at a board meeting on Feb. 28 after an extensive district-wide boundary study. The recommendation to the board is to close five elementary schools: Lehi, Valley View, Lindon, Windsor and Sharon.
How many cities are in the Alpine School District? ›Alpine School District is the primary school district in northern Utah County in Utah, United States including the cities of Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Fort, Cedar Hills, Eagle Mountain, Fairfield, Highland, Lehi, Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Saratoga Springs, Vineyard, (as well as the portion of Draper that is ...
What is the accent on excellence Alpine School District? ›The Accent on Excellence Awards honor some of the outstanding educators and employees who are exemplary role models and heroes for their students. These individuals are representative of the fine quality staff in the Alpine School District.
What is the most expensive high school in Utah? ›The average private high school tuition in Utah is $13,036 per year (2023). The private high school with the lowest tuition is Grace Baptist School, with a tuition of $2,200. The private high school with the highest tuition in Utah is Wasatch Academy, with a tuition of $64,800.
What is the Big Mormon school in Utah? ›Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
What is the most expensive private school in Utah? ›...
Most Expensive Colleges in Utah by In State Tuition.
| College | #1 Westminster College Salt Lake City, Private Not For Profit |
|---|---|
| In State Tuition | $38,680 |
| Rating | 73 |
| Value | 85 |
Juan Diego Catholic High School was recently named the Most Challenging High School in the State of Utah and ranks in the top 2 percent of schools nationally. Founded in 1999, Juan Diego Catholic High School is a private high school affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City.
What is the most racially diverse city in Utah? ›According to a report by the financial website, Wallet Hub, Utah's most diverse city is Ogden.
What is the most selective school in Utah? ›Based on data from the U.S. Department of Education, of the five colleges or universities in Utah with available data, Brigham Young University, located in Provo, ranks as the hardest school to get into.
What is the oldest high school in Utah? ›
West High School is the oldest public high school in the U.S. state of Utah. It was founded in 1890, and it is part of the Salt Lake City School District. Its original name was Salt Lake High.
What city has the best schools in Utah? ›- Endeavour School. Rank: #42 of 975 (Top 5%) (Math: 70% | Reading: 67%)
- Snow Horse School. Rank: #108 of 975 (Top 5%) (Math: 62% | Reading: 62%)
- Kay's Creek Elementary School. Rank: #111 of 975 (Top 10%) ...
- View Full List of Top Ranked Kaysville, UT Schools.
| School | Ranking (2022 vs 2021) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | School | Rank (2021) |
| 1 | No. UT. Acad. for Math Engineering & Science | 2 |
| 2 | Utah County Academy of Science | 1 |
| 3 | Success DSU | 5 |
Miami-Dade claims spot as the third-largest school district in the nation. This was a welcome turnaround for the district after it lost nearly 12,700 students during the pandemic.
What is the biggest high school in the states? ›| Evanston Township High School | |
|---|---|
| Campus size | 65 acres (260,000 m2) |
| Color(s) | Orange (PMS 1665) Blue (PMS 289) |
| Slogan | "It's a great day to be a Wildkit!" |
| Fight song | ETHS Cheer Song |
- Cedar.
- Crimson Cliffs.
- Desert Hills.
- Dixie.
- Hurricane.
- Pine View.
- Snow Canyon.
- Utah Arts Academy *
Mountain Crest High is currently in the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) class 4A Region 11 and its mascot is a mustang.
What is the best school district in the US? ›| Rank | School District | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo County Office Of Education | Redwood City |
| 2 | San Francisco County Office Of Education | San Francisco |
| 3 | Santa Barbara County Office Of Education | Santa Barbara |
| 4 | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles |
Bois Blanc Pines School District.
What is the largest public school in the US? ›
| Ten largest public university campuses by enrollment during the 2022–23 academic year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | University | Enrollments |
| 1 | Texas A&M University | 74,869 |
| 2 | University of Central Florida | 68,442 |
| 3 | Rutgers University | 67,620 |
Scarsdale Union Free School District, N.Y.
Households in the Scarsdale Union Free School District are the wealthiest in the nation, with a median annual income of $238,478, or 4.5 times greater than the comparable national median income of $53,046.
After the California Community Colleges System, the largest school in the world by active enrollment is the National University, Bangladesh. This university is in Gazipur, Bangladesh.
What is the 1st largest school system in the US? ›New York City department of Education
New York City's school district is the largest school system found in the entire US with an estimated enrolment of 995,336 students in more than 1,800 different schools.
Massachusetts tops all other states with the highest percentage of top-ranked public high schools. April 25, 2022, at 9:00 p.m. A breakdown by state of the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings shows that Massachusetts is once again the leading performer.
What state has the best school system? ›1. Massachusetts. Massachusetts has the highest rank for public schools across the country. The quality of education is exceptional, and safety is also high.
What state had the best public schools? ›New Jersey topped the list of states with the best public school system, according to a new report from Scholaroo. Findings revealed the Garden State offers the safest environment for its students and has the lowest dropout rate compared with all other states.
What is the school age cut off in Utah? ›Children must be 5 by September 1 to enroll in kindergarten. If you know where to find this information, please e-mail us. State policy specifically permits early graduation. UT Code 53A-15-102 gives more information on graduation requirements.
Is it illegal to not go to school in Utah? ›Compulsory education.
Except as provided in Section 53G-6-204 or 53G-6-702, the parent of a school-age child shall enroll and send the school-age child to a public or regularly established private school. truant at least five times during the school year.
For the 2023 school year, there are 5 latter day saints private schools serving 1,410 students in Utah. You can also find more religiously affiliated schools in Utah. The best top ranked latter day saints private school in Utah include American Heritage School.
What is the second largest school district in the nation? ›
Second largest in the nation, the Los Angeles Unified School District enrolls more than 429,000 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade.
What school district is Salt Lake City in? ›Home - Salt Lake City School District.
What towns are in Alpine County? › How many schools are in Alpine County? ›
Alpine County is a combined Office of Education and Unified School District. We have four schools, allowing specialized programming for students.
How many schools are in Mercedes ISD? ›Mercedes Independent School District contains 12 schools and 4,681 students.
What school district is Alton IL? ›Mountain Brook City contains 6 schools and 4,441 students.
Which County has most schools? ›Kisii County has the highest number of secondary schools in the country, according to the latest data published four days ahead of the release of this year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations.
How big is Alpine County? ›Alpine County measures approximately 743 square miles. The state of Nevada borders the county to the east; Mono and Tuolumne counties lie to the south; Amador and Calaveras counties border to the west; and El Dorado County meets Alpine's northern boundary.
How many schools are in Rocklin? ›Overview of Rocklin Unified School District
Rocklin Unified School District contains 17 schools and 11,405 students.
What high school is the biggest in Utah? ›
The public school in Utah has approximately average 646 students (2023). The public schools with the largest student enrollments are listed below (where sufficient data available). The largest public school in Utah (by enrollment) is Blue Peak High School with 8,701 students.
What is the biggest school district in Utah? ›The largest school district is Alpine School District, serving 82,478 students. The highest graduation rate school district is Northern Utah Academy For Math Engineering & Science School District, with 98% graduation rate.
What is the largest school district in the nation? ›The New York City department of education is the governing body of the school district which manages its public school system. New York City's school district is the largest school system found in the entire US with an estimated enrolment of 995,336 students in more than 1,800 different schools.
Where does Mountain Brook High School rank nationally? ›MBHS ranked 246th out of more than 17,790 American high schools, placing it among the top 1% of non-magnet schools nationally.
Is Mountain Brook a 7a school? ›Mountain Brook High School (MBHS) is a three-year public high school in the city of Mountain Brook, Alabama. It is the only high school in the Mountain Brook City School System. The school's colors are green and gold and the athletic teams are known as the Spartans. The MBHS competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics.
What is Mountain Brook High School national ranking? ›Mountain Brook High School 2022 Rankings
Mountain Brook High School is ranked #200 in the National Rankings.