School panel gets earful on construction problems

Terry Webster

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999 | 10:15 a.m.

Lagging science equipment standards and substandard reconstruction work dominated discussion at a public input meeting held Tuesday by the Clark County School District Bond Oversight Committee at Chaparral High School.

Linda Hafin, whose son is a senior at Boulder City High School, showed the committee a shoebox filled with recruitment letters that have been sent to her son from colleges across the country, including the likes of Harvard. She went on to say that because the school is lacking $50,000 in needed science equipment, her son will not have lab experience when he graduates and that will affect which college he can choose.

Emily Lee, who also spoke about Boulder City High School, said the lack of science equipment is appalling. She also called for newer library books, orchestra equipment and an auxiliary gymnasium.

Also asking for a new auxiliary gym was Boulder City High School teacher and coach Bobby Reese. One reason another gym is needed, he said, is that team practice schedules have start times ranging from 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Chris Fullman, a Chaparral High School teacher, told the committee the "retro fit" renovation project at his school is proving to be an ill fit for classroom needs.

"Somebody has to look at the contracts and plans and say something's missing," he said.

According to Fullman, just about everything is missing in his science classroom, including drains, faucets, electrical plugs and natural gas hook-ups.

"I'm going to spend my own personal money to buy gas tanks so my kids can boil water," Fullman said. 'I've got close to 200 kids who are going to go off to school without a lab science credit."

The emergency shower and eye wash stations in the classroom can't be used because there are no drains and the water would run into an adjoining classroom, Fullman said.