ABOUT

 

During the 78th Nevada Legislature, Senate Bills 119 and 207 allowed for 10 years of bonding authority for the Clark County School District (CCSD) to construct new schools and renovate existing schools. It is estimated that the bond program will provide $4.1 billion in funds for the CCSD 2015 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) over a ten-year period.

 

CCSD was prepared with an immediate plan to start work for school construction to have six new schools and two replacement schools to be completed by the fall of 2017 and six more the following year in its most overcrowded areas.

 

A Growing Community

 

CCSD is at an all-time high in student enrollment with a record 320,738 students as of April 1, 2016. That’s a gain of more than 9,000 students over the past three years. The continued enrollment growth presents a number of challenges ranging from more congestion around schools to overcrowded facilities that could hinder instruction or pose potential safety concerns. Many of the older schools are also in need of major modernization and life cycle replacements such as HVAC, electrical and plumbing.

 

2015 CIP Gets the Green Light

 

CCSD held eight public input meetings to gather information in order to determine the guiding principles of the future capital program. This input was then presented to the CCSD’s Bond Oversight Committee, an advisory committee to the board on capital issues. After their review, recommendations regarding the capital program were presented to the Board of School Trustees. Recognizing the growth in Clark County, the Board approved a 10-year facilities master plan with a focus on providing new schools to alleviate overcrowded campuses, particularly at the elementary and high school levels. Additionally, the Board further approved school replacement projects along with much needed modernization and renovation projects at CCSD’s older campuses.

 

Approved Projects in the 2015 CIP Revision 1

 

Each of these items was approved by the CCSD Board of School Trustees with wording to allow for flexibility in addressing these projects as work continues and issues arise, especially in the area of maintenance:

 

  • Design and construction for the delivery of new schools for the 2018-19 school year
  • Siting of five new schools for the 2019-20 school year
  • Siting of 13 school additions for the 2017-18 school year, mid-year opening
  • Siting of 13 school additions for the 2018-19 school year
  • Completion of 11 replacement schools
  • Completion or partial completion of five phased-replacement schools
  • Approval of the prioritized list of renovation and modernization projects

 

 

Looking Ahead

 

The 2015 CIP will be adjusted at least annually to respond to changes in:

  • Enrollment growth
  • Legislative mandates
  • Aging facility needs
  • Community input

 

The 2015 CIP will be a demand-responsive, robust and fluid plan providing for changing priorities in response to CCSD’s capital needs. Any changes to the 2015 CIP will be made through the capital planning process, reviewed by the Bond Oversight Committee and approved by the Board of School Trustees.