Stand and Deliver

In 1988, a movie called Stand and Deliver recounted the story of a math teacher who helped a group of would-be high school drop outs to instead take and pass calculus. The final scene of the movie showed the teacher walking down the hall after hearing that many of them passed the AP exam. As he exits the building, he punches the air in celebration.

My dad, David N. Cox, related to that movie a lot. As a teacher, he worked with so many students over his 30+ year career. He was often given the troubled students like the teacher in the movie. These students often came from less than ideal circumstances or had learning challenges. But he took them as they were and found ways to help them at a crucial time in their lives.

After getting the first district division bill through the legislature, and eventually helping Canyons School District win the vote to split from Jordans, David referenced this scene from Stand and Deliver as representing how he felt. He had fought the fight no one else was both willing and able to fight (at that time). He laid the groundwork and planted the seeds, but it would take time for those seeds to germinate in Alpine School District.

As time passed, he was diagnosed with cancer. After several years of fighting hard, cancer took his life in 2022. That same year, there was a bond on the ballot, as well as an effort to split Orem away from Alpine School District. Opposition to the split was fierce, however, and many Orem residents didn’t want to have a district without neighboring cities. Ultimately, the proposition failed, but so did the bond.

Those two failed ballot items set in motion the series of events that would ultimately culminate today in the splitting of Alpine School District into three balanced and strong, but smaller districts. Propositions 11 and 14 appear to be well supported, and while vote tallies may not be final for a few weeks, it seems improbable that they would not pass.

Earlier today, I was able to celebrate with other split supporters – even though we didn’t yet know the results. After heading home and getting the results, I remembered my dad referencing that scene. I felt that same feeling: We did it! We worked together! We stood and delivered! Each area can now (finally) focus on the needs of their communities, students, and parents.

There’s still challenges. There’s tough decisions ahead. There’s also healing that needs to happen. Just like math students who passed the AP exam, life goes on after high school. But I believe the hardest part is behind us.

We stood up and we delivered! Now let’s make these 3 districts the best place for kids to get an education.