Triggers for making schools year-round reconsidered

Triggers for switching overcapacity elementary schools to year-round schedules could soon change.

The Clark County School Board unanimously decided Wednesday to provide notice to the community of proposed changes to the policy, which wouldn't require the Clark County School District to make schools year-round if the triggers are met, but would give officials the power of choice.

"These are not automatic triggers," Chief Financial Officer Jeff Weiler said.

There are three proposed triggers. First, the average increase to student enrollment for the last school year, the current year and the coming year's forecast must be more than 5 percent. Second, the current school year and the coming year's projected enrollments must be 25 percent more than the school's maximum capacity. Lastly, the school must be using more than eight portable classrooms in the current school year and be projected to do the same the following year. The reason for more than eight is that campuses were designed to accommodate eight portables, Weiler said.

Eighteen of the district's 217 elementary schools meet both criteria for overcrowding, with nine to 27 portables per school. These schools were up to 48 percent over capacity, a maximum reached at Treem Elementary School in Henderson.

However, only three of these 18 schools were also growing enough to meet the third and final trigger. These are Forbuss and Reedom elementary schools in the southwest valley and Treem.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at
tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.