It's been nearly 18 years since Alpine School District has had such a flurry of activity involving new schools.
Alpine District has opened two junior highs, two elementary schools and one high school in the past three years. But next year, district officials plan to open three new schools at once, something they haven't done since 1979.That year, the district welcomed students for the first time to Mountain View High and Northridge Elementary in Orem and Highland Elementary in Highland.
In 1997, the district will once again bring on line a high school and two elementary schools. But this time, the high school, Lone Peak, is in Highland and the still unnamed elementary schools are in Lehi and the Cedar Hills/Manila area, respectively.
The new construction, added to a large number of ongoing remodeling projects, forced district officials recently to hire a new construction coordinator in the physical facilities department.
"We have had a tremendous amount of (construction)," said director of physical facilities David Holdaway.
Superintendent Steven Baugh said opening three schools at once also puts a strain on the district's maintenance and operation budget.
District officials are making sure there is enough money in the budget to pay salaries of new teachers and staff, as well as to offset other school costs, he said.
Another challenge, particularly with the high school, is getting students and teachers ready for the change, Baugh said. The new high school in Highland will essentially split overcrowded American Fork High, although it will draw a handful of students currently attending Lehi and Pleasant Grove high schools.
"That's always difficult because they have loyalties and a strong feeling of unity toward one another," Baugh said.
But students also have the choice to remain at their current schools. Students who will be seniors next year have until Feb. 15 to declare whether they will attend Lone Peak or stay at American Fork, said assistant superintendent Gary Keetch.
Lone Peak's boundaries include essentially all of Highland, Alpine and Cedar Hills. The size and design of the school, being built at a cost of $23 million, are identical to Orem's Timpanogos High, which opened its doors for the first time this year.
District enrollment figures show American Fork is by far the largest high school in Alpine District. The school had 2,170 students as of Oct. 31. It was originally built for 1,400 students, but portable classrooms have increased its capacity to 2,000.
When Lone Peak opens in August, district officials expect it will have approximately 1,200 students. Construction at the school, located at approximately 11000 N. 4800 West, should be completed by April, Holdaway said.
Construction at the two new elementary schools, however, hasn't progressed as much as at the high school. Work on the Lehi elementary, located at about 2600 North and 300 West in Lehi, began in September and probably will be finished just in time for the start of August classes, Holdaway said.
But the Cedar Hills/Manila school, located just blocks from Lone Peak High at 4501 W. Cedar Hills Drive, didn't get started until October and may not be completed by the first day of school next year.
"We're at a critical stage for both of those (elementary) schools," Holdaway said. "Neither of them has a roof on right now."
District officials are hoping for a mild winter so construction can move rapidly. If not, Alpine District may be forced to consider delaying the opening of the Cedar Hills school.
The two new elementary schools will cost about $6 million each to build, Holdaway said. Both elementaries and Lone Peak High are being built with the proceeds of a $98 million bond voters approved in 1994.
Approximately $13 million remains from the sale of bonds, and district officials say they will use the funds for various remodeling projects and acquisition of property for future schools.
Projects include upgrading fire alarms, intercom and electrical systems, repairing roofs and replacing ceiling and floor tile at various schools.