Six schools to be put on replacement list

Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003 | 9:03 a.m.

The Clark County School Board voted Monday to tentatively identify six schools as top priorities for replacement, pending the completion of feasibility studies by the district's facilities division.

J.E. Manch Elementary School, built in 1962, topped the list presented for the board's consideration at a facilities working group meeting Monday. The schools were ranked using a formula that included total square footage and the cost of either modernizing or replacing the campus.

Under that formula Manch was followed by McCaw Elementary School, Burkholder Middle School, Hoggard Elementary School, Taylor Elementary School, Tom Williams Elementary School and Crestwood Elementary School.

McCaw, Burkholder and Taylor were all built in 1954. Hoggard and Crestwood were built in 1952 and Williams in 1957.

During the last legislative session, lawmakers approved letting the Clark County School District use funds from the 1998 $3.5 billion bond measure to replace or modernize crumbling schools. The district is a third of the way through the 10-year capital plan to build 88 new schools by 2008. An additional 46 schools are already expected to be needed beyond that date, district officials said.

School Board President Sheila Moulton said she would support the tentative school list but wanted detailed reports as to how much of the existing campuses had already been modernized or rebuilt over the years.

"It's the responsibility of the trustees to ensure that every cent is spent appropriately," Moulton said. "This is about taxpayer accountability."