Smaller schools called beneficial but costly
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002 | 9:26 a.m.
If Nevada built more schools to decrease the number of students in each school, those students would learn more, be more likely to graduate and would have fewer discipline problems, members of the Legislative Committee on Education were told Wednesday.
But the plan to make those improvements appears to be cost prohibitive, officials said.
The state already has 31 schools planned for construction between 2005 and 2008. The "small school plan" would increase the number of new schools to 54 and would cost the state an additional $183.7 million over the three years.
The average primary and middle school in Clark County holds twice the amount of students than the national average. High schools in the county hold nearly three times the amount of students than the national average.
"There is no dispute that we have unusually large sized schools in Clark County," said Joyce Haldeman, Clark County School District's director of community relations. "The No. 1 obstacle that drives many of our decisions, of course, is cost."
The committee's goal is to find ways to build smaller schools and weigh the advantages against obstacles such as land availability, cost and equity for students in older low-income neighborhoods.
Aside from additional costs, finding enough available land that is affordable is a challenge for the School District because additional school sites would require about 212 more acres than currently planned.
Since the plan targets new schools being built, the advantage of smaller schools would likely be reaped in the outlying rural areas of Clark County where growth is occurring.
"Again, the big issue on this would be cost," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, who chaired the committee meeting.
Some cheaper options being explored are:
The committee will meet Jan. 13 to continue the discussion.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Vdara hotel marks opening of CityCenter
- Greenspun reorganizes local media operation, cuts staff
- Harry Reid on mortgages: ‘Bank of America must do more’
- A sad day at the Sun, but a day for hope
- UNLV’s poise to be tested in first road game of season
- Employee files lawsuit against Amazon.com, seeks class-action status
- Bail set at $1 million in fatal Thanksgiving Day shooting
- Firefighter jailed for kicking teen boy after basketball game
- Report: Nevada among friendliest states for small businesses
- Tiger Woods allegedly linked to LV nightclub exec
Blogs
The Kats Report
Noteworthy: More from the Trop, Cher changes, Newton on 'CBS Sunday Morning'
TUF Heavyweights
Marathon season finale
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Brian Sandoval is still against taxes, for limiting government and empowering people (6 Comments)
Elsewhere
TCU extends Gary Patterson through 2016
The Kats Report
Dissimilar landmarks -- Binion's and CityCenter -- reflect today's Las Vegas (8 Comments)
High School Sports Scene
Prep Football: State Championship (4 Comments)
Elsewhere
UFC debut in Boston likely July or August (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 3 Thu
- 4 Fri
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
-
The Cranberries at The Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Grand opening of Crystals at CityCenter
CityCenter-Crystals | 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Sans Age spa night at The Stirling Club featuring Danne' King
Stirling Club | 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
-
Bill Engvall at the Treasure Island Theatre
Treasure Island Theatre
-
Tabor Dame at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Stoney's Rockin' Country
-
ILORI sunglass boutique grand opening
Ilori Sunglass Boutique | 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati







