Gates Foundation grant to help high school

By Emily Richmond

Thursday, March 21, 2002 | 8:53 a.m.

The Clark County School District has won a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to open an alternative high school next fall focusing on technology training, school officials said.

Len Paul, superintendent of the northwest region of the Clark County School District, said the Horizon Northwest Alternative High School will drop its existing curriculum and become the new Gates school in the fall.

The foundation grant includes $50,000 for planning costs and a stipend of $1,000 for every student who enrolls, Paul said Wednesday. Administrators expect to have 120 students to start, with more signing up as the year advances, Paul said.

The money comes "just in time," Paul said. School District administrators decided last month to cut $2.2 million from next year's alternative education programs to counter a $10 million budget shortfall.

"It's a marvelous opportunity to refocus our approach and delivery for kids that sometimes fall between the cracks," Paul said. "This is our chance to grab those kids and keep them in school."

The specifics of the Gates school have not been finalized but will likely include internships with local companies, Paul said.

The Seattle-based Gates Foundation has pledged $70 million to help high schools in disadvantaged areas improve graduation and college attendance rates.