Weber officials seek name for planned new high school ahead of work
-
- This architectural rendering shows the planned new Weber School District high school to be built in the Taylor area, opening in time for the 2024-2025 school year. The drawing is conceptual and school officials say some details and colors will likely change as construction progresses.
-
- Weber School District plans to build a new high school on an undeveloped piece of property off the northwest corner of 2200 South and 4300 West. The land is shown in this undated picture. School officials announced Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, that they are seeking input in coming up with a name, mascot and colors for the new school.
Image supplied, Weber School District
This architectural rendering shows the planned new Weber School District high school to be built in the Taylor area, opening in time for the 2024-2025 school year. The drawing is conceptual and school officials say some details and colors will likely change as construction progresses.
WASHINGTON TERRACE — A new school is more than bricks and mortar.
It needs a name, a mascot to help give it an identity, and with that in mind, Weber School District officials have launched efforts to name the new $157 million high school to be built in the Taylor area. It’s serious business.
The architects and builders of the planned facility, meant to accommodate western Weber County’s growing population, want the info before work starts. The mascot, name and school colors — also to be determined as part of the effort — may be incorporated into the structure.
“This is kind of that big first step,” said Lane Findlay, the district spokesperson. “I know they’re trying to get it done very quickly because that information is needed by the architects.”
District officials sent an email blast on Tuesday informing those in the school district about the drive and they’ve created an online survey to gather input and ideas. Responses must be submitted by 5 p.m on Jan. 21.
Photo supplied, Weber School District
Weber School District plans to build a new high school on an undeveloped piece of property off the northwest corner of 2200 South and 4300 West. The land is shown in this undated picture. School officials announced Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, that they are seeking input in coming up with a name, mascot and colors for the new school.
The school is to be built on a 52-acre parcel of undeveloped land the district has owned for years northwest of West Haven, off the northwest side of the intersection of 2200 South and 4300 West. It’s to open in time for the 2024-2025 school year, same as a planned new elementary school and junior high. All three facilities are to be built with funds from a $279 million bond issue approved by voters last year.
The district asks those coming up with proposed names, mascots and colors for the high school to consider several factors, including the history of the generally rural area where the school’s to be built, landmarks of the zone and the plants, animals and other “unique physical characteristics” of the sector.
A naming committee made up of district, community and student representatives will review the input and ideas and come up with preliminary proposals.
“These choices will be explored and further input will be gathered from those patrons most immediately oriented to the school’s location. Ultimately, the committee will offer a list of prioritized recommendations to the Board of Education and a final determination rendered,” Gina Butters, the executive director of secondary schools, said in the district message outlining the process.
Findlay said a final decision could be forthcoming in March.
The new high school will serve a quickly growing area of western Weber County. Boundaries have yet to be determined, but Findlay said the new school will probably draw from parts of what are now the boundaries of Roy and Fremont high schools, helping alleviate crowding at those facilities.
Weber High School’s boundaries, too, will likely be redrawn in a bid to spread high school students evenly throughout the schools. As is, Roy High School has 1,812 students, Weber High School has 2,078 and Fremont High school has 2,109, according to state figures. One of the general hopes is to reduce the student count at each of those facilities to around 1,500, same as the planned new high school.
Input will also be sought to help name the planned new junior high and elementary school, Findlay said. But those efforts will come later.
The new junior high has a preliminary price tag of $51 million while the elementary school is expected to cost $34 million. Both are to be built in West Haven. Roosevelt Elementary in Washington Terrace will be rebuilt as well with bond funds at a cost of around $37 million.