Schools adjust Y2K checks to accommodate churches

Stacy J. Willis

Friday, Dec. 17, 1999 | 11:21 a.m.

Members of several local churches found out this week that they would be welcoming the new millennium without a roof.

At least three churches, which are among more than 40 that meet in public schools for lack of a building of their own, were notified by school administrators that the buildings would be closed Jan. 2 -- the first Sunday of the new year -- due to Y2K concerns.

While the churches scrambled to find other locations for hundreds of congregants, Clark County School District officials yesterday said the closure was a misunderstanding.

"We have done some checking and have decided that we are going to call our schools that have asked churches not to be there and say that we do permit them to be in the school because they have a use agreement with us. So we will take care of it," said Kathy Pattee, assistant to Dr. Kay Carl, district assistant superintendent of elementary education and curriculum.

Carl sent the original memo to school principals telling them that the buildings were off-limits through Jan. 2 so that ventilation, computer, and alarm systems could be checked for Y2K compliance, according to Pattee.

"It was a precautionary measure so that they could address concerns about Y2K safety," said Bridget Phillips, principal of Dan Goldfarb Elementary.

Goldfarb is home to Orchard Baptist Church, which has more than 100 members. Like dozens of other religious groups in the rapidly growing Las Vegas Valley, Orchard pays $50 an hour for a minimum of three hours a week to use the school building for church services on Sundays.

District officials did not immediately know exactly how many churches have such arrangements, but estimated the number to be more than 40.

El Camino Baptist Church, which has more than 100 members, also was notified that it would not be able to meet in its regular spot, Eva M. Wolfe Elementary School, on Jan. 2.

The Rev. Russ Daines of El Camino said the school has never closed the building to his congregation in more than a year, even on holidays.

"We were trying to think quick about somewhere else to go," said the Rev. Tony Mayberry, Orchard pastor. "We were thinking we'd do a 'bring-your-own-chair to the park thing...'

"But if we can go back to the school, we'll do that -- because who knows what kind of conflicts we'll run into at the park."