Iron County School District To Unveil New Teen Center

Almost every day, more than 350 students in Iron County begin school without essential resources like food, hygiene supplies, and academic support. These unfulfilled needs create significant barriers to learning, making it harder for students to focus and succeed.

To help address these challenges, the Iron County School District (ICSD) will open its first teen center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19. Funded in part by a grant from the State of Utah, the center aims to provide students with necessities that can help them feel secure and ready to learn.

Located in a stand-alone building west of Cedar High School at 702 S. 300 West in Cedar City, the teen center will be open on school days from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will be staffed by two aides and will serve students from ICSD’s two middle schools and five high schools.

At the center, students will have access to showers, laundry facilities, a quiet place to study, and adult support. Hygiene supplies will be available for those in need, helping students maintain self-respect and confidence. Additionally, the center will house a food pantry, expanding access to meals for students who struggle with food insecurity during evenings and weekends.

“We hope this teen center will become a place where students in need will feel safe and comfortable,” Superintendent Dr. Lance Hatch said in a press release. “We are thankful for the many who have made this center a possibility. Working together, we can help students have their basic needs met.”

Get our free mobile app

By removing these barriers, the teen center aims to give students the stability and support they need to focus on their education and personal growth.