It has been nearly four and a half years since students occupied its classrooms and hallways. 

Barring unforeseen circumstances in the coming weeks, that will end on Aug. 14 when West Lake STEM Junior High School will reopen in a completely new building for the 2024-25 school year. 

The campus at 3400 S. 3450 West in West Valley City had temporarily closed in mid-March of 2020 and sent students home to attend classes remotely as Covid-19 hit. The closure became permanent when an earthquake struck days later on March 18 causing enough damage that Granite School District officials determined that rebuilding the school with insurance money and other emergency funds was the best option for the school’s future.  

Fast forward to today as West Lake STEM Junior High prepares to welcome students “back home” next month.

“We’re so excited for the kids to come in,” said Principal Sarah Wall, who was previously an assistant principal at the original West Lake and its temporary home at the closed Westbrook Elementary School in Taylorsville. She expects enrollment of between 700 and 720 students for the new academic year. “I’ve only heard great things from parents and our school community council (about the new facility),” she added. “Everyone is just ecstatic and ready to move back into our community and be closer to our homes.” 

Besides the newness of everything, Wall is excited about the modern layout of the updated structure. “The first and most exciting part about this new building is the wings create a student collaboration space in between all of the classrooms. Teachers can bring all their students out and work together and use that extra space for student collaboration.” That will be especially beneficial in helping the school carry out its emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, also known as STEM. “The new building is designed more for a 21st-century education,” said Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley.

The new building is two levels, compared to the single-story old building. The 2024 version of West Lake STEM Junior High will also include modern technology and seismic infrastructure and the latest security measures. “We’re feeling very safe in this new building,” Wall said. Public access will be limited to the front entrance and comings and goings around different parts of the campus will be controlled and monitored. 

Despite opening in 1964, the original West Lake would probably still be operating today if not for the earthquake. “It still had a little life in it,” Horsley said. “Even this old building was not our worst.” 

Principal Wall was in the original building the morning the earth shook. “Initially, we didn’t think it was as bad as it turned out to be,” she said. 

A formal school-opening celebration will take place sometime after the school year begins and things settle down. “We want to make sure the building is in perfect working order and the school is functioning before we start looking at an open house or ribbon-cutting options, but both are in planning stages right now,” Horsley said. λ