Weber School District launching new “catalyst” campus with 8 career pathways
May 6, 2026, 4:27 PM
The Weber County School District Education Center is pictured in Washington Terrace on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Weber School District is launching a new campus that will give students expanded access to career-focused education in some of Utah’s fastest‑growing industries.
Construction on the 12th campus in Ogden is scheduled to begin in June, but the district is already hiring teachers and enrolling students for eight planned academies. The programs will offer hands‑on training and industry certifications in fields such as health, engineering, design, construction and artificial intelligence.
“We’ve really taken our time to target some of Utah’s fastest growing industries and to be able to provide coursework that will build skill and opportunities in areas that are emerging,” said Dr. Rod Belnap, the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) director.
Belnap said the project is being funded in part by a $25 million state Catalyst Grant aimed at expanding CTE opportunities taught by industry professionals. The grant program was created to inspire more educational opportunities, similar to those offered by the Davis Catalyst Center.
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz championed these grants after a recent visit to the campus in Davis County, which left him feeling like this would be a huge development for Utah’s education system.
“Giving students opportunities to connect with industry partners on authentic learning projects, real world projects, and to earn certifications that will give them opportunities to enter the workforce,” Dr. Belnap explained.
Weber’s new campus also received a $5 million dollar grant from Intermountain Health, which will be participating as an industry partner in their health program.
Some classes will be available as early as next school year, though the full campus is expected to take two years to become fully operational.
The district will hold an open house Thursday, May 7 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. at the existing building to give families a first look at the programs and pathways the new campus will offer.
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This story was adapted from a radio broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL’s editorial standards are upheld.
