Orchard Elementary students in Orem participated in a Bike Bus tradition on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, as the community faces potential school closures. The event brought together students, parents, Orem Mayor Karen McCandless, and Eddie the Eagle to celebrate school community amidst district-wide uncertainty.
The Bike Bus is a Friday tradition, originally started at Cascade Elementary School, where students and parents gather in a neighborhood to ride bicycles together to school. Orchard Elementary PTA President Stephanie Savage noted that the school's strong community is bolstered by its Dual Language Immersion program and proximity to Canyon View Junior High. Orchard was recently named a National PTA School of Excellence, and principal Sean Bowman received the PTA Principal of the Year award last year.
Savage stated that the school utilizes a parent-to-parent communication app used by 70% of the school community to foster friendships among families. While Orchard has been linked to Foothill Elementary in boundary discussions, Savage expressed a desire to maintain the current administration and teaching staff.
The Timpanogos School District is managing significant changes, including absorbing schools in Orem, Pleasant Grove, Lindon, and Vineyard from the Alpine School District when it dissolves on July 1, 2027. Declining enrollment has prompted difficult budget decisions, with projections indicating that 15 of the district's 20 elementary schools may fall outside the size ranges identified in its Robust School Criteria by 2030.
In August, the school board initiated closure studies for 13 schools, including Orchard Elementary. Board members indicated there is a possibility of closing three to five elementary schools and consolidating one junior high. During a public comment period on Thursday, parents expressed concerns regarding school closures and the potential fragmentation of neighborhoods.
Timpanogos School District spokesman Tyler Vigue said the district is holding cluster meetings for each school to allow community members to engage with board members in a more personable setting than public comment sessions. These meetings aim to gather community input on how potential changes might affect local families.
School board study sessions are taking place this month to discuss possible consolidations and boundary adjustments. During the week, the board focused on Lindon, Rocky Mountain, Aspen, and Bonneville elementary schools, as well as Oak Canyon Junior High.
