Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
OGDEN — The Weber School District has released contingency plans for how to start the upcoming school year in the event that construction on two new schools isn't completed by the district's first day of school on Aug. 21.
"Mountain View Junior High will be open soon, but we have experienced some real challenges in the construction process that have negatively affected the timeframe for the completion of West Field High School and Haven Bay Elementary," said district spokesman Lane Findlay.
The plan for the three new schools was set in motion when Weber County voters in 2021 approved a $279 million bond to build the new schools in the district.
While Mountain View Junior High is set to welcome students at the start of the school year, the plan for students attending West Field High School and Haven Bay Elementary is, for the moment, less clear.
A letter sent last week from the district to West Field High School families explained that the district has faced "significant obstacles" throughout the construction phase, including "denied access to storm drain areas, cement shortages and supply-chain issues involving steel and critical rooftop units."
"Our top priority remains on ensuring the safety and quality of the new facility. Rather than compromising on these standards or rushing the process, we may need to make the difficult decision to delay the school's opening," the letter reads.
On Aug. 12 — nine days before school begins — an inspection will take place that will decide when the school can safely be occupied, but the letter said "critical work" needs to be completed prior to the inspection.
"If a certificate of occupancy is not issued, this will necessitate a delay in opening West Field," the letter says.
If that is the case, the district has formed a pair of contingency plans.
- Delay the first day of school by up to eight days if the district is "extremely confident that the delayed start date would be no later than Tuesday, Sept. 3," for in-person attendance, the letter says.
- Have West Field High students start their school year virtually, "if it is determined that the school's start date must be delayed beyond Tuesday, Sept. 3.
"Expect that the building and grounds will not be fully completed at the time of opening. Finish work, landscaping and instructional technology installations will continue," the letter reads. "We remain hopeful that we'll still be able to officially open the doors of West Field to students and staff on Aug. 21. Please be assured that our primary focus remains on providing a safe and optimal learning environment for our students and employees."
As for Haven Bay Elementary, it could meet the Aug. 21 timeline by only utilizing certain areas of the new building that have been completed, inspected and improved for public use.
If the district determines that the school's start date must be delayed, the current plan would be to begin classes on Sept. 3.
If a delay over two weeks is deemed the best course of action, the district would "combine the Haven Bay school community with two nearby elementary school sites for a short period of time," according to the letter.
The letter went on to say that the district will reach out to the Haven Bay Elementary community on Aug. 7 with updated information regarding the opening of the elementary school.
