Burning questions at schools

By Emily Richmond

Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 | 9:11 a.m.

For Maria Chairez, the disparity between older and newer schools in Clark County could not be any more clear than the view from her back yard.

Chairez, principal of Quannah McCall Elementary School in North Las Vegas, lives next to Greenspun Junior High School in Green Valley.

"When I look out at the school, the first thing I see is the shade canopy," Chairez said. "Why is it OK for their kids but it's not OK for the kids at the corner of Donna (Street) and Carey (Avenue)? Something's wrong here."

Shade -- or lack thereof -- has become a growing issue in the Clark County School District and has become an issue of equity. New schools are built with shade canopies over playgrounds and outdoor areas. The old schools are, well, left out of the shade.

And that has caused a growing vein of discontent, especially as students can spend 30 to 45 minutes a day outside. That can cause problems when it warms up, although school officials try to juggle schedules to keep students indoors.

"We get some pretty loud complaints from parents all over the district," said Paul Gerner, associate superintendent of facilities. "We're asking people to be patient while we try to solve the situation."

On Monday, the School Board is to approve a plan to build shade at the district's schools. School Board members will have to set priorities for the 270 requests for shade canopies.

It could cost between $6 million to $8 million and take several years to complete all of the requests, Gerner said.

The School Board also will have to decide how to pay for the shade. While new schools being built are funded by a 1998 voter-approved bond issue, the shade for older schools will come from the district's facilities budget.

Gerner said the plan is to "start with the older schools at the center of town so they get relief first and then radiate outward."

McCall is one of more than 200 schools on the waiting list for shade structures.

The district's inner-city schools aren't the only ones that have had to fight for shade. John Vanderburg Elementary School in Green Valley, built about nine years ago, finally received one shade canopy last spring.

Neil Twitchell Elementary School, which is next to Vanderburg, was built as part of the 1998 bond program and had its shade structure from the start.

Vanderburg Principal Cathy Maggiore said parents have complained about the lack of shade. The PTA considered launching a campaign to pay for an additional canopy, but the estimated $15,000 cost seemed prohibitive, Maggiore said.

In prioritizing schools, Vanderburg will likely land farther down on the list because it has some shade. Maggiore said that would be appropriate.

"There are probably schools out there that don't even have one shade structure or any of the playground equipment we have," Maggiore said.

Chairez said her primary concern is for her school's youngest students -- the 3- and 4-year-olds in Head Start. On warmer days, students often return from the playground with flushed faces and red arms.

"We've even had some little ones need to lie down in the nurse's office (after playing outside)," Chairez said. "I've told the district we need the shade structure as a matter of student safety."

There have been noticeable improvements at McCall over the last year, said Michelle Bingaman, whose daughter is a second grader at the school. It had a new padded protective surface installed under the playground equipment.

"I know the newer schools get more attention, but they're (the district) catching up," Bingaman said.

Several former students of McCall, at the campus Thursday to pick up their younger siblings, said they wanted their brothers and sisters to have shade.

"Seriously, when it gets really hot the little kids can faint," said Mario Castro, who attends sixth grade at Jim Bridger Middle School across the street from McCall. "They have shade at Lincoln (Elementary School), they have shade at (Reynaldo) Martinez (Elementary School)."

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon said Thursday he was pleased the district was addressing the question of equity. Many of the county's oldest schools are within his jurisdiction.

"There's a real disconnect between the brand-new schools and some of our older, at-risk campuses," Montandon said. "I walk through the new schools and they're gorgeous. Then I stroll around the corner to Quannah McCall."

Montandon said he knows it is not realistic to expect the district to tear down every older campus and rebuild it.

"It would be nice if there were money for that but there isn't," Montandon said. "So whether it's a shade structure or a new theater or a new library like they're (the district) putting in at some of our schools, that's always wonderful news."

Emily Richmond can be reached at 259-8829 or at [email protected].