PROVO, Utah — On Friday, Sept. 19, parents, teachers and community members told the Provo City School Board of Education they want Timpanogos Elementary rebuilt or moved to the nearby Dixon site because the current building is overcrowded and located on a dangerous stretch of 500 West. The meeting at 1591 Jordan Avenue included roughly 10 public commenters who described repeated near-misses with motor vehicles, limited playground and classroom space, and aging infrastructure.

The comments came during the board’s public comment period and did not include a formal vote. "The school is just plain and simply too small," said Michael Robinson, a parent whose family attends the school. Robinson said teachers are using closets as classrooms and the playground cannot accommodate the student body.

Why it matters: Parents and teachers described the school as a neighborhood hub for mostly low-income families and said rebuilding or relocating would improve student safety, restore space for music and art classrooms now in portables, and create room for preschool and intervention spaces.

Speakers at the meeting repeatedly cited traffic safety on 500 West. "I've almost been hit by a car many times," said Ethan Busby, who lives across the street from Timpanogos Elementary. Jose Lopez, a parent, said he has observed "near misses" involving his son and other students and asked the board to prioritize a move to a site with a larger, calmer footprint.

Teachers and staff described operational impacts from cramped classrooms. "We have no storage anywhere," said Tiffany Harris, who told the board she has taught at Timpanogos since it opened and that classrooms are so full "we're bumping into each other." Melanie Staten, a fifth-grade teacher, said classroom separation across floors disrupts teams and intervention delivery.

Community members also urged the board to consider program placement if the district uses Dixon for other functions. Chanel Robinson, the Timpanogos PTA president, told the board that an initial district survey went out only in English and that many Spanish-speaking families did not complete it because it did not auto-translate; she said those voices should be counted before a final decision.

Other commenters raised public-health and environmental concerns tied to traffic and air pollution and urged that any new facility include larger play areas and space for preschool. Andrea Kinghorn Busby, an assistant professor of human development at Brigham Young University and former teacher, said planning should anticipate early-childhood needs and reduce transitions for families who travel to multiple sites for preschool and kindergarten.

The board did not take a formal vote on relocating or rebuilding during the meeting. Board President Jennifer Partridge told the room that "we have not taken an official vote yet. But the feeling in the room is that this is a good option, and we're working to move forward on making a decision." That statement was made during the business portion after public comment.

Next steps: The board has not set a date for a decision; public commenters asked the district to prioritize safety, provide clearer bilingual outreach about options, and ensure new construction includes sufficient play, music and intervention spaces.