ABOUT

 

As the student population in Southern Nevada grows the Clark County School District (CCSD) must look ahead and plan for sustainable infrastructure that will ensure student achievement for every student. CCSD’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is made possible through bond funds that allow the district to address student growth and all the areas it impacts. Bond funds cannot be used for daily operation costs, they can only be applied to CIP projects such as building new schools, school replacements, phased replacements, renovations, modernizations, technology upgrades and transportation.

 

In comparison to other states across the nation, Nevada is a state that historically has not provided assistance for school construction and modernization projects. Seeking voter approval to pass bond questions has been the only feasible way of obtaining financing to build schools at the pace needed.

 

CIP Through the Years  1974 – 1996

 

1974
The voters of Clark County approved a school construction program during a special election in May 1974. The initiative passed with a 67.1% (16,734) yes vote. The program built eight schools, supplied money for rehab and school additions at a cost of $39,400,000.

 

1978
The voters of Clark County approved a school construction program during a special election in March 1978. The initiative passed with 69.8% (23,443) yes votes. The program built nine schools, supplied funds for rehab projects and school additions at a cost of $39,770,000.

 

1982
The voters of Clark County were asked for a school construction program during a special election in March 1982. The program initiative was for $69,500,000 but did not pass by approximately 6.2%.

 

1985

 

May
The voters of Clark County were asked for a school construction program during a special election in May 1985. This would have been a “Pay-as-You-Go” program. The program initiative was for $112,931,853 but did not pass by approximately 1%.
December
The voters of Clark County approved a school construction program during a special election in December 1985. The initiative passed with 55.1% (44,782) yes votes. The program built 13 new schools at a cost of $60,136,292.

 

1988
Voters approved $669 million for a building program in 1988. The bond was passed with the promise that the building program would not require a tax rate increase. That promise was kept.

 

Conditions CCSD had no control over:

  • Increased costs and an unfriendly bidding climate account for increased costs during this bond program
  • Significantly higher bids due to the building boom in Las Vegas between 1989 and 1993
  • Higher than anticipated construction costs of schools in the outlying areas
  • Compliance with new facility requirements as mandated by the Americans With Disabilities Act
  • Installation of extensive computer networking in the school
  • Upgraded heating and air conditioning systems for increased performance and lower maintenance costs
  • Increased building costs accounted for $55 million, or at the time the equivalent of 10 elementary schools

 

New Schools – 57 schools were constructed in seven years. 85% of the seats projected were produced and 94% of the square footage projected was constructed.

Renovations/Modernizations – $85 million in renovations to existing schools were completed. The rehab and modernization work was seen through classroom improvements, restroom modernization, new intercom/telephone system, exterior lighting upgrade, science and computer labs, library upgrade, music/art/PE, HVAC, bleacher modernization, gym floor replacement, tech labs, shade structures, playground upgrade/equipment, and roofing.

 

1994
Voters approved Part A of the initiative for a $605 million building program to be completed by 2000. The program was to provide money for land acquisition, new school construction, major expansions, and modernization projects at existing schools.

Voters declined a Part B initiative that would have provided another $300 million for new school construction. Taxes would have slightly increased through this vote. The vote missed by less than half of one half percent. The additional funding would have allowed the district to build enough schools at the time to continue to build elementary schools on a 9-month calendar.

 

1996
Voters approved $643 million for a building program to be completed by 2001. The program was to provide money for new school construction, classroom additions, modernization projects at existing schools, and technology and science equipment.

 

1998 Capital Improvement Program

In November 1998, voters approved funding for a 10-year building program. The program promised to build 88 schools, renovate existing schools, acquire land for future school sites and provide two bus yards. The 1998 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) was funded from a combination of three revenue sources projected to enable CCSD to generate approximately $3.5 billion in bond proceeds over the 10-year program. Revised figures show $4.9 billion in funding with 101 new schools built, 11 replacement schools, five phased replacement schools and numerous renovations still underway. For more information, including a list of completed projects, visit the 1998 CIP section of this website.

 

2015 Capital Improvement Program

The 2015 Nevada legislature authorized funding to extend CCSD’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the next 10 years. Public input meetings were held in 2015 to help CCSD determine the priorities for the full 2015 CIP. In April 2016, the proposed 2015 CIP was approved by CCSD’s Board of School Trustees and many of the projects broke ground in the Spring of that year. For the latest information and construction updates visit the 2015 CIP section of this website.