A new campus is taking shape, but the commitment to students remains the same.
Alpine School District will open Silver Peak School and the Timpanogos Transition and Education Center, or TTEC, on Aug. 19, giving students in the future Timpanogos School District area two schools designed to continue specialized services closer to their communities.
The schools will share the former Sharon Elementary School campus, with Silver Peak serving K-12 students and TTEC supporting adult students ages 18-22 as they prepare for community and adult life. The change is part of the District’s work to ensure students continue to receive strong special education services as Alpine School District transitions to three new school districts.
“We know change can be intimidating, but we’re doing everything in our power to make the transition as smooth and welcoming as possible,” Silver Peak Principal Dan Heaps said. For families whose students are moving to a different campus, that preparation includes familiar staff, continued services and opportunities to visit the new school before the first day.
Familiar Services in a New Setting
Silver Peak will open with about 41 students and four classrooms, with space available for a fifth classroom as enrollment grows. Most of those students are transitioning from Dan Peterson School and live within the future Timpanogos School District boundaries.
The school is being designed to provide services students and families are accustomed to receiving, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, vision, hearing, and orientation and mobility services. Silver Peak will also have its own sensory room, a full-size elementary school gym and stage, and a new adaptive playground designed to support students’ motor, sensory and social needs.
Heaps said continuity of support has been one of the most common questions from families.
“We will be providing all the same services, all the same as within their IEPs,” Heaps said.
That continuity extends beyond programs and services. Many Silver Peak teachers and paraeducators are transitioning from existing special schools, while additional staff have been hired to prepare the school for opening day.
“I think the biggest thing I’d want parents to know is just how excited and committed our team is,” Heaps said. “Every decision we’re making, from the classroom setups and sensory spaces to the staff we’re hiring, is centered around creating a safe, supportive, and high-quality environment for our students.”
Preparing Students for Life Beyond School
On the other side of the campus, TTEC will begin the year with about 90 adult students and five classroom teachers. TTEC’s purpose is to support students ages 18-22 as they transition from school into employment, community participation and adult life.
Students will work toward greater independence through programs that can include learning to use public transportation, participating in community job sites, finding employment and connecting with community opportunities.
For Principal Melanie Adams, one benefit of the new school is the opportunity to serve students closer to home while combining something familiar with something new.
“Along with being better able to serve our adult students closer to their communities, I am excited to lead our school as we start new traditions like our founding fox wall and carry on some of the old traditions that made ATEC so great,” Adams said.
TTEC students will also continue to have access to occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision, hearing and speech services. The campus includes shared spaces for those services, while TTEC will have an apartment-style space where students can practice life and independent living skills. Silver Peak and TTEC will also maintain separate classrooms, offices and other spaces designed to support their students.
For students concerned about moving to a new campus, Adams said familiar relationships will be an important part of the transition.
“The great thing about TTEC is that we were able to bring teachers and staff from both Dan Peterson and ATEC so many of our students will see familiar faces and work with teachers they already know,” Adams said.
A New Campus Ready for Students
The campus itself has undergone significant work in a condensed timeline. Crews have created separate offices for the two schools, added accessible bathrooms and changing areas, refreshed classrooms and developed a space where TTEC students can practice independent living skills. District employees have also worked with vendors and contractors to secure furniture, equipment and other resources for the new schools.
Following a ribbon cutting event on August 17, families had the chance to tour the new campus and ask administrators questions, giving students and families an opportunity to experience the new space before school starts on August 19.
“We are excited to have students come, and we’re ready to support them with whatever they might need,” Adams said.
Silver Peak and TTEC represent new names, new spaces and a significant transition for many families. Their purpose, however, reflects an enduring District priority: ensuring that changes in boundaries and governance do not interrupt the high levels of support students need to learn, grow and thrive.