Weber School District opens second teen center at Bonneville High School

WASHINGTON TERRACE, Weber County — More than 900 students identify as homeless in the Weber school district. Many rely on couch surfing with friends and family to find stable housing, and only if these options are available.

With that in mind, the school district opened its second teen center Tuesday that will serve as a shelter and provide vital resources to students who may be facing homelessness, housing, food insecurity or other situation likely to hinder their access to quality education. .

“They may have a place to sleep, but their water may be cut off so they can't do laundry or take a shower. They're embarrassed to come to school in the same clothes or the same clothes as those that they wear It can smell funny So these are just basic human rights needs that every child should have access to – and many of them don't have access to them,” said Emily Oyler, principal. executive of the Weber School Foundation.

As the second center of its kind in the district — the first opened at Two Rivers High School in Ogden in September — the space offers a host of student services, including showers, a kitchen area, laundry room, pantry and a quiet environment. study areas where students can use district Wi-Fi to work on their assignments.

In 2023, the Utah Legislature allocated $15 million to create new teen centers in Utah high schools, and Oyler said the Weber school district received more than $1 million funding to build its centers for adolescents.

In addition to class hours, the center will be open before and after school to welcome students for extracurricular activities.

“There will be a caring adult there at all times who will help offer additional community resources that may not be available right here in the teen center – academic support, a way to apply for scholarships. They will be able to get aid. with the FAFSA (, so student aid type things so that once they graduate, they have that connection as well,” Oyler said.

Oyler said about 30 children use the Two Rivers Teen Center each day, which speaks to the need for centers in the district. She and other district and school staff said they also anticipate high use of the Bonneville Teen Center.

“Bonneville High School is steeped in tradition and has always had strong ties to the surrounding communities,” said Bonneville High School Principal Rich Murray. “Our new teen center represents the character and commitment of Bonneville High School and the Weber School District to continue to strengthen this bond. All students now have the opportunity to use a space where they can meet their basic needs.

Steve Kier, chairman of the Weber School Foundation Teen Center Committee, said students and community members can help by donating food, clothing, personal hygiene items, school supplies and money that will be used to supply and finance other centers for adolescents.

Officials said they plan to build six teen centers in total throughout the school district, with the next one currently under construction at Roy High School; it is expected to be completed in August.

Three more teen centers will be built at Weber High School, Fremont High School and Westfield High School.

“This is an issue our kids are facing right now,” Oyler said. “And it's not something that's their fault. Communities need to come together and support these kids and make sure that they have the resources that they need to excel in their lives and kind of break this cycle where they find themselves without reason of their own.”