2022 School District Feasibility Study
DEC Consultants - Qualifications
DEC Consultants - Presentation

On August 2, 2022, the City Council voted 4-3 to put the question of creating an Orem School District on the ballot for the November election.

On July 12, 2022, DEC Consultants presented a feasibility study regarding a split from the Alpine School District.

Orem School District Public Information Meetings

Over 500 questions were submitted to the feasibility study consultants online. Another 120+ questions were handwritten and submitted at the public meetings. All of these questions have been collected and made available below.

View Submitted Questions
Questions Asked & Answered at Meeting #3
DEC Slides from Meeting #3
Questions Asked & Answered at Meeting #2
DEC Slides from Meeting #2
Questions Asked & Answered at Meeting #1
DEC Slides from Meeting #1

Background

During the City Council meeting on February 8th, the City Council voted unanimously to initiate a feasibility study on creating an Orem School District. 

April 4, 2022 – DEC Consultants was selected to perform the Orem School District Feasibility Study.

July 12, 2022 – DEC Consultants presented the findings of the Orem School District Feasibility Study to the City Council.

August 2, 2022 – The City Council voted 4-3 to put the question of creating an Orem School District on the ballot for the November 2022 election.

November 8, 2022 – Orem residents voted not to create an Orem School District.

Issue Resources

GRAMA REQUESTS SENT TO ALPINE SCHOOL DISTRICT

In an effort to provide total transparency, the City of Orem is publicly sharing the GRAMA (Government Records Access Management Act) requests that have been sent to Alpine School District (ASD) relating to the Comprehensive Feasibility Study. We are also providing the records and responses that have been provided by ASD pursuant to each GRAMA request. 

This disclosure provides the public insight into those records that have been provided and that are being reviewed. You will be able to review each GRAMA request and simply click on the document or the link that has been provided by ASD.

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FAQs - The Selection of Discovery Education Consultants to Perform the Orem School District Feasibility Study

The City Manager and Legislative Counsel reached out to Utah companies to invite each to make a proposal. The City’s Legislative Counsel worked with Orem City procurement staff to solicit bids from qualified firms. Multiple firms were contacted and given the option to submit proposals.

  • Experience related to a school district reconfiguration
  • Prior management of a school district
  • Ability to assess and value school district assets
  • Experience analyzing financial data 
  • Awards and achievements
  • Educational and professional qualifications 
  • No conflicts of interest
  • Competitive bid 

Legislative Counsel implemented a bid proposal processes to select the consultant. The public is typically not included in bid proposal selection processes. 

The agreement had a not-to-exceed price of $30,000.

School District Study General FAQs

The City Council put the question on the November 2022 ballot to be voted on by the residents of Orem. A new school district may only be created if the majority vote for a new district.

No, since completing a feasibility study, the Council has voted 4-3 to put the question on the ballot and allow the citizens to decide whether or not to create an Orem School District.

It is a study to determine if it is financially, or otherwise feasible, for the City of Orem to form a school district within the boundaries of the City.

Numerous factors were considered, including enrollment, boundaries, special programs, tax value, budget funds, capital facilities, debt, bonding, studies related to enrollment size in school districts, and other important issues. All of these factors were considered during the study.

Yes.

State law guarantees that the salary, benefits, and tenure of an employee is transferred to the new school district. Future decisions regarding compensation increases are determined by an elected school board, chosen by the residents living within the new school district. The City Council would not be involved in those decisions.

To read the state codes click the links below: 

Employees of a new district – click here

Rights of transferred employees – click here

 

Orem City Council votes to allow residents to decide whether to form school district

Posted 8/3/2022

The Orem City Council voted tonight to let residents decide whether the city should form its own school district and split from the largest district in the state.

Orem leaders commissioned a Comprehensive Feasibility Study in February 2022, and the results of that study were presented to the Council on July 12. Tonight’s 4-3 vote comes after three public meetings where the public received answers to questions about whether a new school district would be feasible.

“With my vote I’m going to vote for the people of Orem, and most importantly allow them the freedom to decide what’s best for their children and grandchildren,” Mayor David Young said.

The issue will now be on the November ballot.

“The future of our schools is too important to be decided by seven members of the City Council,” Council Member LaNae Millett said.

The issue of splitting Alpine School District has been considered for nearly two decades. Utah County Commissioners declined to put a potential new district for Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain on the ballot in 2004. Then in 2006 Orem residents filed a petition to the Orem City Council requesting to split from the Alpine School District. After a feasibility study, the Orem City Council voted against putting the issue on the ballot.

Fast forward to 2022, when the Orem City Council commissioned a Comprehensive Feasibility Study to determine if Orem should create its own school district. The study is available at https://orem.org/schooldistrictstudy/.