We call upon our city leaders to form an interlocal agreement so our citizens can be empowered to: 

-Have a voice in our future. 

-Act instead of be acted upon. 

-Engage our public in community dialogue, diving deeper into the data in an organized fashion with community meetings, committees, etc. 

-Start planning and preparing for what a 2 or 3 way split would mean for students and teachers in our schools.

-Preserve assets for our children and a voice for our teachers.

-Avoid feeling like the “leftover” or “unwanted” cities who had no possible chance to have a say in what is happening, always left wondering how we would have voted.

Background:

Utah’s school district reconfiguration (“split”) laws were clarified this week with the passing of HB3003  in the special session. One of the driving reasons behind this was to avoid conflicting initiatives to be placed on the ballot this fall. This would have led to voter confusion, and the Alpine School District split most likely being decided in the courts through a lengthy and expensive process. 

I have heard frustration from some of my fellow citizens in Lindon, Orem, Vineyard, and Pleasant Grove (the proposed “East District”) who claim that H.B. 3003 will result in all voters in these four cities being disenfranchised and not having a chance to vote this fall. This is not true. 

The only reason that the citizens in the proposed West and Central districts have the ability to vote is because their city leaders came together to form an interlocal agreement with the goal of placing an initiative on the ballot for their citizens. The four cities in the East district could still do this exact same thing.  

I’ve heard some people claim this would be a moot point because even if the East votes not to split, we still might be split based on the vote of the Central area.  That’s true. But to allow otherwise would be contrary to foundational principles of self-governance. Each area should have the ability to choose their future without being beholden or held hostage by voters in another area. If the Central area wants to leave, they should not be overruled by the East area (and vice versa). 

Having interlocal agreements covering all areas of the district could result in Alpine School District staying a single district, splitting into 2, or splitting into 3 new districts. It will be determined by the will of the people.  

And so we call upon our city leaders to avoid inadvertently and preemptively silencing constituents by not providing Lindon, Orem, Vineyard, and Pleasant Grove residents with the opportunity to vote this fall. Instead, please form an interlocal agreement so we can all have the opportunity to engage in this process and help determine our futures. Let’s work together to unify our cities, enfranchise our citizens, and work toward a better future for the sake of our children and grandchildren.