Smaller Schools and Districts

Author: Seth Cox

  • Libertas Institute endorses split, ASD proposes tax increase

    Libertas Institute endorses split, ASD proposes tax increase

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    Seth Cox

    The Libertas Institute, a Utah-based non-profit “think tank” and educational organization, has endorsed the proposals to divide Alpine School District via interlocal agreements. The opinion piece points out that ASD is much larger than the average school district in Utah, and even that is more than twice the size of average school districts nationwide. It…

  • Support for District Division

    Support for District Division

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    Seth Cox

    Several public meetings have been held across the district in cities that are part of an interlocal agreement. In Lehi, many spoke in favor of the split: “I want to thank you for all you have done, for doing the study and for putting our children first” – Molly Barrington, Lehi “We’ve lost our sense…

  • Opposite Approaches to Reconfiguration

    Opposite Approaches to Reconfiguration

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    Seth Cox

    Two recent articles of note that demonstrate two different approaches to dividing the Alpine School District: First, we have a hopeful, forward-thinking opinion piece by Skyler Beltran: Let us not allow fear to take over. “There is no good side or bad side to this issue,” he says. “There are always pros and cons to…

  • Seismic Concerns in ASD

    Seismic Concerns in ASD

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    Seth Cox

    The Wasatch Front is home to about 2 million people. It’s also home to a fault line that is due for a major earthquake. In 2020 a magnitude 5.7 tumbler rocked the state and destroyed buildings just after Covid upended the world. According to the US Geological Survey, “There is a 57% probability that the…

  • Studies for ASD Split

    Studies for ASD Split

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    Seth Cox

    Studies done by interlocal agreements are moving forward. The West district study can be found at https://www.utah.gov/pmn/files/1129633.pdf The Central district study was presented in Lehi recently. See this Lehi Free Press article for details. “I don’t want anyone leaving this room thinking, if we do this, our taxes will go down. That is not what…

  • Large School Districts: What Does the Research Say?

    Large School Districts: What Does the Research Say?

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    Seth Cox

    A new page has been added with links to a lot of research demonstrating the detrimental effects of having large districts. Check it out…

  • Special Session

    Special Session

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    Seth Cox

    Governor Spencer Cox has called the legislature into a special session to address the possibility of competing ballot initiatives. A bill has been sponsored by Rep. Brammer and Sen. Grover that would remove the option for the school board to put the issue on the ballot. This would mean the only options to split the district would be via…

  • Former ASD Board Member Speaks About Split

    Former ASD Board Member Speaks About Split

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    Seth Cox

    Donna Barnes served on the Alpine School District Board for many years. Earlier this year, she spoke out in favor of a split for Alpine School District. Here are some of the key points she laid out: We heard the term “economies of scale” several times in the meeting. Essentially, the term means the more…