Students return Monday to expanded school system

Terry Webster

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000 | 11:26 a.m.

Back to school time in the Clark County School District is all about addition -- make that additions.

A new superintendent, Carlos Garcia; 13,889 new students, 1,200 new teachers, new school security systems, 10 new schools and 28 school building additions all are on tap for the 2000-01 school year, which starts Monday.

The sixth-largest district in the nation, the Clark County School District's student enrollment this year is projected at 231,028, up from 217,139 students in 1999-2000.

To help keep up with its growing enrollment, four new elementary schools and two middle schools are set to open on the first day of school.

An accelerated construction program will allow four additional elementary schools to open during the 2000-2001 school year. Until the schools are completed, students will be temporarily housed at other campuses.

Another expansion effort under way calls for building additions to 18 elementary schools and 10 middle schools, the construction of three replacements for older elementary schools, additional land for new schools, enhanced closed-circuit security systems, technology installation, equipment and furniture.

A total of $223 million will be spent on these efforts. Of that amount, around $168.8 million will come from 1998 bond revenues and $54 million will come from interest earnings and contingency fund savings from the 1996 bond program.

"It's getting to the point where in many parts of the county we can't find 10- or 12-acre elementary school sites or 20-acre middle school sites," said Patrick Herron, facilities division assistant superintendent.

A survey of school principals helped determine which schools received the additions. Factors considered were maintenance schedules, age of the existing buildings, crowded conditions and availability of sites for new construction, Herron said.

"A number of these additions are at schools where there are overcrowded conditions that could not be relieved with a new school," said Dale Scheideman, planning and engineering department director. "The intent is not to increase the number of students on a campus, but rather to house the students now in portables in permanent housing."

Last-minute registration for students also is under way.

Students who are returning to the same school generally do not need to re-register. Any address changes or other pertinent information should be updated, school officials said.

Parents who have questions regarding which school their child should attend may call the zoning office at 799-7573. Further questions can be addressed by calling the child's school or the school district's public information office at 799-5304.

School bus service is provided for all students who live 2 or more miles from the school they are assigned to. Approximately 98,000 students are expected to receive bus service this year. Eligible students are asked to register with the transportation department at 799-8100.