AMERICAN FORK (September 10, 2025) – Earlier today, we placed five of our schools (Lakeridge Junior High, Cherry Hill Elementary, Orem Elementary, Westmore Elementary, and Vineyard Elementary) in SECURE status, in response to the incident at Utah Valley University.
SECURE means we brought everyone inside, locked exterior doors, and accounted for all students. The status has been lifted and students have returned home.
The safety of our students is always a top priority. We follow the Standard Response Protocol, adopted by the Utah Safety Center, which helps our schools quickly respond to safety threats and work seamlessly with area law enforcement. We are deeply grateful for their swift response.
We began coordinating with law enforcement at approximately 12:30 pm, at which point we placed Lakeridge Junior High, Orem Elementary, and Westmore Elementary on SECURE status. Shortly afterward, this was extended to include Cherry Hill Elementary and Vineyard Elementary. Administrators at those schools helped manage a potentially chaotic situation. They helped to notify parents promptly and keep them informed.
On advice of law enforcement, the SECURE status was maintained until 2:15 pm for Lakeridge Junior High, approximately one hour after their scheduled release.
Also at 2:15 pm, the SECURE status was lifted at Cherry Hill Elementary and Vineyard Elementary, which was the scheduled release time for those schools.
Orem Elementary and Westmore Elementary remained in SECURE status until their scheduled release time at 3:30 pm.
In addition to maintaining the physical safety of our students and staff, we are committed to supporting our students in the aftermath of a tragic event. Our school counselors, school-based therapists, and school psychologists are available to offer further assistance to school communities.
All of our schools are scheduled to conduct learning activities as scheduled tomorrow.
We recognize that this event has impacted members of our community in a variety of ways. We urge everyone to remember our shared values, and show respect and empathy as we move forward.
We appreciate the professionalism of our law enforcement partners, the compassion and dedication of Alpine School District employees, and the patience and trust of our parents.