One important responsibility for Timpanogos School District is to provide a dedicated facility for students currently served at Dan Peterson School and the Alpine Transition and Education Center (ATEC).
We would like to inform the community that the Timpanogos School Board has approved the renovation of the former Sharon Elementary School building to serve as the district’s dedicated facility for these specialized programs. Renovating the building allows it to continue serving students while meeting an important need within the new district.
Please note that this facility will serve only students in these specialized programs. No general education students will attend school at the Sharon building.
It is also important to note that the Sharon facility is not intended to be the district’s long-term solution for these programs. While the building will be renovated to safely and effectively serve students in the near term, it requires significant long-term repairs that make it unsustainable as a permanent facility. Using the Sharon site allows the district to provide an appropriate space for students as the new district begins operations, while giving the Timpanogos School Board the time needed to carefully evaluate and plan the best long-term facility for these programs and the students they serve.
Students attending Dan Peterson School require highly structured, self-contained, or therapeutic learning environments. Many rely on specialized equipment, individualized instruction, and additional support services. The Alpine Transition and Education Center serves older students, typically ages 18–22, focusing on life skills development and preparation for meaningful participation in the community.
Currently, 137 students who live within the future Timpanogos School District boundaries attend these programs. Other students with special needs who are able to participate in general education settings will continue to attend their neighborhood schools throughout the district.
Because of the physical and instructional needs of the students served in these programs, the building will require several specialized upgrades. Planned improvements include:
Safe loading and unloading areas for buses and specialized transportation
Fully accessible entryways, classrooms, and restrooms
Adapted recreation and therapy spaces
Rooms designed for physical and occupational therapy, including lifts, therapy beds, and specialized electrical needs
Spaces designed to support life-skills instruction for transition-age students
While the ATEC program requires fewer physical modifications, it will include environments designed for life-skills learning, recreation, and community-readiness instruction.
Renovations to make the building fully accessible and appropriate for these programs will begin soon. The goal is to have the facility ready for students by August 2026. Opening the school one year before the new district officially begins operations will allow students and staff to transition with the continued support of Alpine School District.
We appreciate the support of our communities as we prepare facilities that allow every student to receive the services and support they need to succeed.