Multiple city councils in Utah County met Tuesday to vote whether to ask county officials to place on the general election ballot questions whether to split the Alpine School District and form new, smaller school districts.
Currently, the cities are served by the Alpine School District, which had an enrollment of 84,700 students in fall 2023, the largest statewide.
The cities of Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Draper, Highland and Lehi each met on Tuesday to consider resolutions requesting that the Utah County clerk place the ballot question on the November ballot.
The proposal contemplates that those five communities and the portion of Draper in Utah County would be served by a new school district, which is temporarily being referred to as the Central School District. If voters approve of the new school district, the future school board will select its name.
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The Alpine City Council held a special meeting at noon Tuesday and voted unanimously to approve the resolution that the Utah County Clerk place the issue on the general election ballot.
City Administrator Shane Sorensen, in a brief presentation before the vote, said the city hired a consulting firm that recommended that the proposed Central School District was financially viable.
“Their conclusion was, ‘We are of the opinion that the new school district is a viable alternative to the existing school district,’“ he said.
A new, smaller school district would also bring about more local control, more control to meet the needs of students and potential tax savings, he said of the consultant’s findings.
Alpine city council members with Mayor Carla Merrill meet to vote on a resolution to create a new school district on the ballot in Alpine on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. Six other cities in northern Utah County can also pass resolutions. Currently, the Utah County cities are served by the Alpine School District, which is the largest in the state. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Meanwhile, two other city councils in Utah County — Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain — considered resolutions on Tuesday whether to ask the Utah County clerk to place on the November ballot a question whether to create a new district in the western portion of the county that would serve Fairfield, Cedar Fort, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain and certain unincorporated areas west of Utah Lake.
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The Saratoga Springs council voted unanimously for the resolution.
This spring, several city councils unanimously passed resolutions to potentially create a new school district. The cities have conducted two public hearings each to hear public comment on the proposed new school district leading up to Tuesday’s vote to ask that the issue be placed on the general election ballot.
In late May, Alpine School District Superintendent Shane Farnsworth sent a video to all employees announcing his recommendation to keep the district whole.
“Alpine School District is a viable, responsive, fiscally well-managed and high-achieving school district,” Farnsworth said at the time.
A Florida consulting firm hired by the school district recommended a two-way split.
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In June, the Utah Legislature passed HB3003 to clarify the process for splitting a school district.
Rep. Brady Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove, the bill’s sponsor, said the intent of the legislation was to avoid a “messy ballot” and a “messy outcome” if various options to split the district appear on ballots and more than one passes.
The bill, passed during a special session, eliminated the option for a local school board to initiate the process to create a new school district.
If voters approve the ballot questions in November, it would take several months to establish new governance and administrative functions.
Concentrate on real needs, even if the solutions won’t be reached in one session.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The word “Industry” is seen near the flag pole in front of the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
Members of the Utah Legislature will gather to open their 2026 Regular Session Tuesday in Salt Lake City.
It will be a 45-day flurry of activity that is likely to sap the mental and physical energy of each of the 104 legislators. It’s a difficult job, exposing members of every political stripe to scrutiny and criticism, deserved and otherwise.
From those of us on the sideline, a little advice to make the session less of a drain on lawmakers, and more of a set of accomplishments to be proud of.
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First, a little humility.
It is not up to our elected officials to solve every problem and answer every sometimes wild-eyed concern they may have heard of. They need not sort through the 500 or more proposed bills that are likely to present themselves.
Legislators could give themselves a useful break by resisting any temptation to waive the bloody shirt of the latest culture war skirmish, or to reach out to take more authority from the executive branch, the judiciary, our educators, or the people.
It’s not that there isn’t important work to be done. But making a collective decision to focus on the most important issues, the things that really matter to all the people of Utah, would help a lot.
Concentrate on real needs, even if the solutions won’t be reached in one session. Or ten.
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Protect the Great Salt Lake and other bodies of water with redoubled efforts at conservation.
Recognize that the Wasatch Front recently, again, experienced the worst air quality measured in the United States, and that there is every indication that, at least under the current administration, the federal government will not be doing anything to help.
Admit that if solving Utah’s housing shortage and growing homelessness problems were easy or cheap, it would have happened already.
Lawmakers should be transparent and accountable in everything they do, and insist that the rest of our government is as well.
Even when we disagree, sometimes forcefully, with the positions and votes of individual lawmakers, we should never forget that it is hard work for minuscule pay.
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So good luck, ladies and gentlemen of the Utah Legislature.
And, remember: Focus.
Editorials represent the opinions of The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
Utah Jazz (14-28, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (29-13, second in the Western Conference)
San Antonio; Monday, 5 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Spurs take on Utah.
The Spurs have gone 16-11 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks seventh in the NBA allowing just 112.7 points per game while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.
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The Jazz have gone 8-20 against Western Conference opponents. Utah is 4-5 in one-possession games.
The Spurs average 117.8 points per game, 9.8 fewer points than the 127.6 the Jazz allow. The Jazz average 6.7 more points per game (119.4) than the Spurs allow (112.7).
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Jazz defeated the Spurs 127-114 in their last meeting on Dec. 28. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 29 points, and Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 32 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is averaging 24.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the Spurs. Julian Champagnie is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Markkanen is averaging 27.9 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.
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LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 6-4, averaging 112.5 points, 48.2 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points per game.
Jazz: 2-8, averaging 115.9 points, 41.8 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.3 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: Devin Vassell: out (thigh).
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: day to day (illness), Georges Niang: day to day (foot), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
___
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Now over halfway into the 2025-26 regular season, the NBA trade deadline now sits just under a month away from transpiring. And if this year’s edition looks anything like last February, the Utah Jazz are bound to include themselves in a few trade talks, even if the moves to be made are minor ones in the grand scheme of the shuffling around the league.
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Last season, the Jazz made five total trades at the deadline, largely to bring in future second-round draft capital and shed some of their veteran talent from the roster. They also found their way into multiple deals around the league as a third team, with the biggest of those being the blockbuster that sent Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers..
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We might not see a trade of that magnitude for this year’s trade deadline, but for the Jazz in particular, a few names around the roster stick out as players to watch who could be on the move if the right deal comes across the table.
With that in mind, here are three Jazz players to watch on the trade market before the NBA deadline strikes in February.
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1. Jusuf Nurkic
Dec 26, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) reacts after a play against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images
One of the more pleasant surprises on the Jazz’s roster this season, Nurkic has found his way into being a strong contributor when he’s on the floor, having started in 27 games on the year since Walker Kessler’s gone down with his shoulder injury to average a double-double of 10.4 points and 10.0 rebounds a night, while also leading the team in total rebounds (320).
However, over their past couple of games, Nurkic has been deemed a DNP-coach’s decision despite his solid production. It could be a sign of the Jazz wanting to lean further into their younger talent, a desire to move off of their veteran big man in the coming weeks via buyout or trade, or a combination of both.
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Regardless, Nurkic’s age, expiring contract, and quality production through the first half of the year make him an appealing trade candidate to watch before the deadline hits. Considering his contract nets him $19.3 million, a trade could be tougher to iron out compared to a simple buyout.
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So both directions for a split remain on the table, though ultimately a move out of Utah appears to be more and more likely the deeper into the season we get.
2. Kyle Anderson
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Jan 8, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson (2) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Another veteran that’s been productive when given an opportunity this year is Kyle Anderson, who has only played 14 games for the Jazz within their first half of the season, but has been a quality veteran fill-in during those minutes. He’s averaged 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, shooting 51.8% from the field.
Anderson hasn’t gotten the PT he’s probably deserved due to the Jazz’s broader intentions of getting their young talent extended opportunities, but based on his sample size from this season, Anderson could have a spot on a competitive team as a depth component in the frontcourt, and perhaps could have some trade value because of it.
Anderson’s contract, like Nurkic’s, could complicate things. He’s due $9.2 million on the books this season, and could be due $9.6 million come next year, though that year of his deal is non-guaranteed. If a team finds his presence as a value add, though, they could find that investment worthwhile.
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Therefore, don’t be surprised to see him as a moving piece for the Jazz in a trade over the coming weeks.
3. Svi Mykhailiuk
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Jan 5, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk (10) shoots a basket during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
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Svi Mykhailiuk, one of the Jazz’s more productive veterans of this season, is in a similar position as his big man teammate Jusuf Nurkic. He’s been a quality starter for over half of the year in his opportunities, but with the bigger rebuilding implications in play for Utah, he’s seen his recent share of minutes decrease quite drastically.
Despite averaging 9.0 points per game while shooting 46.6% from the field and 38.5% from three in 36 appearances, he’s been a DNP in four of the Jazz’s past five showings. A good floor-spacer and experienced vet on the wing, there might be a market around the league for someone of his caliber, and especially on the team-friendly contract that he’s signed to.
Mykhailiuk is making $3.6 million this season, $3.8 million for the year following, and is on a team option worth just over $4.0 million in the summer of 2027. Especially in an NBA world of the new CBA and the cap-constrained teams that come with it, there could be some added traction on the Jazz’s veteran guard as a plug-and-play wing who can be added for a cheap cost.
Of all of the Jazz’s trade candidates, I’d circle Mykhailiuk as the most intriguing option to keep an eye on, and perhaps the most likely of all to find a new home before February 5th.
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