The school board also voted down a motion to rename Timpanogos Elementary to Dixon Elementary after its historic location. The board remains split on whether to change the name.

These updates come nearly a year after the school board voted to rebuild Timpanogos Elementary at the site of the former Dixon Middle School and place other district programs into the Timpanogos building. The move addresses capacity limitations at Timpanogos and separates students from the busy 500 West. 

A $70 million bond was issued by the district’s Municipal Building Authority in 2025 to pay for the final construction phase at Timpview High School and to start construction of the new elementary. The district plans to break ground on construction in February 2027. 

As the process moves along, some district residents are frustrated with PCSD for its plans to build a new elementary school when the district also initiated, then ultimately tabled, discussions this year about closing elementary schools in the district that were lagging in enrollment.

According to district data, nine of the 13 elementary schools are below 80% capacity. Amelia Earhart, Spring Creek and Franklin elementary schools are below 60% capacity. Superintendent Wendy Dau said in an April meeting that enrollment was projected to drop from more than 13,500 students in 2023 to 12,700 in the 2026-27 school year. 

A handful of residents voiced their concerns in Tuesday’s meeting, calling for the school board to table the name change and not sign any more construction contracts until the district makes recommendations for changes to its dual language immersion program in October — which the district said it will do before potentially revisiting school closure conversations. 

“I think we’re kind of a little bit confused about the building of this new school when there’s three other schools that are declining in enrollment,” Patricia Smith said. 

Commenters called for transparency about where the full financing for the new school would come from. 

“I’d like to see more money put into (education) versus into the buildings,” Shay Aslett said. “Table the name, no new contracts till October, and (share a) written report of where that money is going to come from,”

A PCSD spokesperson did not respond to an interview request on the new school process by Wednesday’s print deadline. 

There are residents, though, who support the relocation of Timpanogos Elementary School and contributed to Tuesday’s public comment period. 

Michael Robinson said his children attend Timpanogos Elementary from out the school’s boundaries to do the Spanish Dual Language Immersion program. He said that the building’s circumstances necessitate a move to a new building, though a school should remain in the neighborhood. 

Overcrowding and safety concerns near 500 West were the concerns Robinson cited; he said the new school would cater to an area that has a strong student enrollment and stable population projections. Timpanogos is currently at 91% capacity. 

“A school district is not a business,” he said. “It is here to serve the community and the students. I appreciate the board’s full consideration of the issues. It has been thoroughly looked at before they made any moves.”