Looking back

Emily Richmond, Las Vegas Sun

Friday, March 3, 2006 | 10:42 a.m.

Clark County population 103,000 1.75 million Median home price $17,800 $250,000 Student enrollment 20,420 291,510 Total schools 30 317 District employees 1,300 34,249 Operating budget $7.25 million $1.7 billion Per-pupil expenditure $300 $5,600 Starting teacher salary $3,810 $30,468 High school construction cost $300,000 $60 million Matinee movie ticket 50 cents $6.50 Cost for postage stamp 3 cents 39 cents Gallon of gas 30 cents $2.38 Nations in Winter Olympics 32 85 Medals won by U.S. athletes 7 25

At a recent celebration of the 50th anniversary of Lincoln Elementary School in North Las Vegas, former student and current Clark County School Board member Susan Brager-Wellman was stunned by how little had changed from her fifth grade year.

"We used to walk by the principal's office standing straight and quiet because he could see out, but we couldn't see in (through the tinted glass)," said Brager-Wellman, who was a district student from second grade through her sophomore year of high school.

"When I went back I couldn't believe it - the office and the window were exactly the same, and little kids were still going by on their best behavior."

Fifty years ago this month, 14 separate school districts, under orders from the Nevada Legislature, formed the Clark County School District. At the time, there were just over 20,000 students in 30 schools.

In 1956 new teachers earned $3,810 annually, while Liberace was the Las Vegas Strip's highest paid performer, with a weekly salary of $25,000. State officials celebrated record gambling revenues for the prior fiscal year of $4.7 million.

Fast-forward to 2006. Clark County School District is now the nation's fifth-largest and fastest growing school district, with 291,510 students and 317 schools.

New teacher salaries have cracked the $30,000 mark for the first time. Celine Dion's three-year contract with Caesars Palace is estimated at $100 million. And for the last fiscal year, Nevada collected $712 million in gaming revenues.

"A lot has changed," said Brager-Wellman, who returned to the Las Vegas Valley with her family 35 years ago. "But many of our challenges are the same - dealing with growth, trying to build new schools and doing the best we can for all our children."

Emily Richmond can be reached at 259-8829 or at emily@lasvegassun.com.