District leaders told the board the district secured a $5,000,000 grant to create a professional‑based learning facility intended to connect students with industry partners and allow students to earn credentials and concurrent enrollment credits.

Dr. Bill Napp, who presented the item, said the award came from the IHC’s Community Care Foundation grant opportunity (presenter named the grant source as described in the meeting) and that the grant is focused on capital investment to create a Weber School District space that immerses students in professional‑based learning tied to local employers. “We were made aware of a grant ... the grant award far exceeded our expectations. It was $5,000,000,” Napp said.

Napp said the planned facility would emphasize career areas that local employers need, including health care and health sciences (medical, dental, pharmaceutical, physical therapy, phlebotomy), manufacturing, construction, engineering, computer science, agriculture, aviation and business/entrepreneurship. He said students could earn industry‑recognized credentials — examples cited included OTEC credit hours, FAA Part 107 drone certification, and CNA or real‑estate licensure — and could also earn concurrent enrollment credits where appropriate.

Napp described the Davis Catalyst Center and the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) model as inspiration. He said the district plans to replicate a similar industry‑client model with employer partners and called out potential partners mentioned to the board: Hill Air Force Base, MarketStar, Far West Animal Hospital, JD Machine, Boeing, Northrop, Ogden Regional Medical Center and R&L Construction.

Napp and Superintendent Butters said the grant requires capital investment and that district staff will continue to pursue additional funding with state legislators. Board members discussed next steps; Napp recommended a future, deeper study session on implementation details and partnerships so the board can consider facility design and program structure.

Discussion only: the board received the presentation and praised the model; the district did not take formal action at this meeting. Napp said the district will plan follow‑up work to define staffing needs, industry partnerships, credential pathways and how concurrent enrollment and CTE integrations will operate within the grant scope.