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AMERICAN FORK — Citizens on Tuesday strongly urged the Alpine School District to reconsider its proposal to close Lehi, Valley View, Lindon, Windsor and Sharon elementary schools due to seismic issues.
Some parents and community members alleged that the district didn't provide proper notice or allow sufficient time for public comment, with some even threatening to file a lawsuit against the district.
"I know of a group who have mobilized to file a lawsuit against Alpine School District," said Heather Fry, adding that she was speaking on behalf of those who lacked "courage and integrity when faced with the Goliath and Philistine army that is the Alpine School District.
"I am fully prepared to file suit against Alpine School District, unless and until you agree to terminate all closure and boundary proposals that have been pursued illegally," Fry said.
Some potential closures pushed back
After over three hours of public comment at Tuesday's hearing, members of the Alpine School District board voted to continue to explore potential closures for Valley View and Sharon elementary schools in the 2023-2024 school year, and to push its proposal to close Lindon, Windsor and Lehi elementary schools to the following (2024-2025) school year.
District spokesman David Stephenson said the board should make a final decision on the fate of Valley View and Sharon elementary schools near the end of June.
"The Board of Education appreciates all of the feedback they have received as they contemplate these school boundary adjustments and school closures," Stephenson said. "Public input in that process is a priority in this situation."
The roots of the debate can be traced back to November, when Utah County voters turned down a proposed $595 million bond that would've gone toward building new schools and repairing existing ones in the district.
During the district's Nov. 29 board meeting after the election, the board requested a districtwide boundary study to explore possibilities around restructuring or consolidating boundaries and evaluating school buildings for potential closure, Stephenson said.
In early December, the district sent a letter to parents notifying them that since the proposed bond failed, the district would be initiating a boundary study that could result in potential closures.
Stephenson said that all buildings the district aimed to address through the bond funds are on the Utah K-12 Public Schools Unreinforced Masonry Inventory, making the buildings seismically unsafe in the event of what some experts say is a looming earthquake.
The boundary study results showed that Lehi, Valley View, Lindon, Windsor and Sharon elementary schools — all of which are in the unreinforced masonry inventory — be considered for closure.
Following the results of the boundary study, the district sent an email to parents on March 1, notifying them that the five elementary were being considered for closure.
Stephenson said Tuesday's public hearing was the latest attempt in a series of efforts by the district to give the public a chance to voice an opinion and allow the district to compile input.
"The law only requires that we do two board meetings and one public hearing. We've actually gone out and we've completed six open houses and we've also received 1,430 electronic feedback comments," Stephenson said. "It's difficult for me to understand when someone says we haven't taken feedback."
Still, many parents aren't satisfied with how the district has gone about the process. Trisha Kaouk, during Tuesday's public comment hearing, called the last month and a half "super overwhelming, stressful and exhausting."
"I can say for sure that Lindon Elementary was completely caught off guard. Our school — while it does need some work — is thriving," Kaouk said. "We would ask that you can slow down this process at least by giving us that year but also allowing current students to stay where they are now ... even if, for some reason, our school cannot remain open."
