Draper families on the Utah County side of the city will have a new school district in less than a year. Their children's schools will shift from Alpine School District to Aspen Peaks School District when the new district begins operations July 1, 2027.
Here's what's taken shape since voters approved two ballot propositions in 2024 to break up Alpine, Utah's largest district.
Who's in charge
Dr. Joel Perkins, a longtime Alpine School District administrator who serves as associate superintendent, will lead Aspen Peaks as its first superintendent. In a February 2026 Alpine School District announcement about the transition, Perkins said, "I will do everything I can to set up Aspen Peaks to be successful."
A seven-member board, led by President Diane Knight, has been meeting since late 2025. The full roster: Knight (five-year term), Vice President Amber Bonner (five-year term), Nicki Brammer (five-year term), Jason Theler (five-year term), Steve Sparti (three-year term), Jason Hart (three-year term), and Jeanne-Marie Burrows (three-year term). Terms are staggered so the entire board doesn't turn over at once.
The board took its oath of office Nov. 25, 2025, at Lehi's Broadbent Community Room, with Utah Supreme Court Justice John J. Nielsen administering the oath.
What the district looks like
Aspen Peaks will encompass 38 schools across six cities: American Fork, Cedar Hills, Draper, Alpine, Highland, and Lehi, according to a July 24 Salt Lake Tribune report. It is the largest of three successor districts replacing Alpine, which serves more than 80,000 students. The other two are Lake Mountain and Timpanogos.
The district's fiscal year 2026 budget, approved Dec. 11, 2025, projected approximately 34,000 students; more recent estimates have placed the figure closer to 35,000.
How money and buildings are being divided
On June 26, 2026, all three new district boards unanimously ratified an agreement splitting Alpine's assets and liabilities based on enrollment. Aspen Peaks receives 41.78%, Lake Mountain gets 30.16%, and Timpanogos takes 28.06%.
School buildings transfer to whichever district they physically sit in, as required by state law. Non-location-based assets, including the general fund, student activities funds, Alpine School District Foundation money, and warehouse equipment, are divided by the enrollment percentages.
One practical detail for staff: accrued vacation and pay follow employees to their new district rather than being split by student count. Alpine has also committed $10 million to each new district for immediate capital needs during the transition.
Alpine Superintendent Rob Smith called the unanimous ratification "huge" in a June 26 district press release.
What stays the same on day one
When the transition takes effect July 1, 2027, staff will remain at the schools they are already assigned to. Pay, benefits, and seniority stay intact, according to Alpine School District's transition page.
What families should watch
The board has not posted its next meeting date as of July 24, 2026. Aspen Peaks livestreams board meetings on YouTube, and families can find the current schedule at the district's page on alpineschools.org. Alpine School District maintains full responsibility for all schools until the July 1, 2027, handoff.
