CCSD breaks ground on first new campus since 2010

By NEAL MORTON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Pat Skorkowsky, CCSD Superintendent, are greeted by CT Sewell Elementary School students Teresa, left, Gloria, King, Kalia, and Charlie, Thursday, April 14, 2016 as they arrive at the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval adjusts CT Sewell Elementary School student Gloria’s hard hat as her schoolmate King, center, looks on Thursday, April 14, 2016 during the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

CT Sewell Elementary School students Teresa, left, Gloria, and King, right, play Thursday, April 14, 2016 after the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

Pat Skorkowsky, CCSD Superintendent, speaks Thursday, April 14, 2016 during the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, flanked by CT Sewell Elementary School students Teresa, left, King, Kalia, Gloria, and Charlie, speaks Thursday, April 14, 2016 during the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

Pat Skorkowsky, CCSD Superintendent, flanked by CT Sewell Elementary School students Teresa, left, King, Kalia, Gloria, and Charlie, speaks Thursday, April 14, 2016 during the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, center, and Pat Skorkowsky, CCSD Superintendent, second right,, Stete Sen. Mark Manendo, right, and CT Sewell Elementary School students turn shovels Thursday, April 14, 2016 during the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

State Sen. Mark Manendo speaks Thursday, April 14, 2016 during the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

State officials, including Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval stand during the Pledge of Allegiance Thursday, April 14, 2016 during the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new elementary school near the intersection of Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @bizutesfaye

Construction crews broke ground Thursday on the first new campus to be built in the Clark County School District since 2010.

A groundbreaking ceremony that drew Gov. Brian Sandoval and state lawmakers to the future elementary school site at Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive in Henderson marked the official beginning of the district’s plan to spend $4.1 billion on school construction over the next decade.

That plan’s first phase calls for six elementary schools to open in fall 2017, with six campuses to open the following year.

Along with the Henderson site, the district soon will begin construction at Antelope Ridge Drive; Arville Street and Mesa Verde Lane; Chartan Avenue and Pioneer Way; Lamb Boulevard and Kell Lane; and Maule Avenue and Grand Canyon Drive.

Two replacement campuses for the aging Bell and Lincoln elementary schools also will open next year.

As of April 1, the district reported a record enrollment of 320,738 students, up more than 9,000 over the past three years. The Clark County School Board has voted to prioritize the first half of its 10-year construction plan on relieving overcrowded classrooms with new schools.

The future school at Dave Wood Circle and Galleria Drive, for example, will provide some relief to the neighboring Hinman, Sewell, Thorpe and Treem elementary schools.

At 101,620 square feet, the new campus will house 53 classrooms to serve up to 850 students. The projected budget tops $28.5 million.

A separate construction plan dating back to 1998 will fund additions to West Preparatory Academy, near the intersection of Martin Luther King and Lake Mead boulevards.

Contact Neal Morton at nmorton@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279. Find him on Twitter: @nealtmorton