Dozens of parents, teachers and PTA leaders used the Provo City School Board’s public-comment period on Sept. 19 to press the district to rebuild or relocate Timpanogos Elementary, saying the school is overcrowded and sited on an unsafe, busy street.

Community members described repeated near-miss collisions and daily unsafe driving near the school on 500 West, limited play space and makeshift classrooms. "The school is just plain and simply too small," said Michael Robinson, a parent, who added that teachers are working in closets and capacity is strained. Multiple speakers recounted personal close calls: "I almost ran over — I was literally, like, 1 feet away," Diana Lopez said of walking her son to school.

Why it matters: Timpanogos houses a district DLI (dual-language immersion) program that draws students from across boundaries; parents and teachers said limited indoor and outdoor space undermines instruction and student safety. Chanel Robinson, PTA president, said the district’s initial survey was distributed only in English, hindering participation from the predominantly Hispanic Timpanogos community and undercounting concerns.

Teachers and staff detailed classroom logistics that they said jeopardize instruction. "We have not enough space for interventions," said Melanie Staten, a fifth-grade DLI teacher, who described split-grade and displaced classrooms that complicate collaboration and small-group instruction. Tiffany Harris, who said she has worked in the district for 29 years, called the building "built cheaply" with inadequate storage, and said crashes and emergency calls near the school are frequent.

Several speakers recommended the Dixon site as an alternative, noting larger outdoor space, calmer streets and potential for preschool co-location and more permanent arts and music spaces. Andrea Kinghorn Busby, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University who studies early childhood policy, urged planners to consider preschool and continuity of services in any rebuild.

Board response and next steps: Board President Jennifer Partridge thanked commenters and said the board has not taken an official vote but that "the feeling in the room is that this is a good option" as staff and members work toward a decision. The board did not make a formal decision during the Sept. 19 meeting; future action or formal votes were not scheduled at the meeting beyond routine agenda items. The board’s next regular meeting is Oct. 14.