Rezoning for high school students stirs anger

The Clark County School Board's Tuesday decision to rezone 250 high school students from one Henderson campus to another is drawing fire from those who've been affected.

The change moves Clark County School District students from Coronado High School, near Coronado Center Drive and Horizon Ridge Parkway, to Liberty High School, near Bermuda Road and St. Rose Parkway.

Gib Dawson, a father who lives in the Madeira Canyon neighborhood, called the board's decision "irrational."

Board members Deanna Wright and Sheila Moulton opposed the change.

Coronado parents affected by rezoning said they have nothing against Liberty but questioned why they were singled out. They said their neighborhoods do not have enough students to fill the 700 open seats at Liberty.

Annette Westerfield, another Madeira Canyon resident, described her reaction to the vote as "absolute, pure disgust."

Dawson, who attended Tuesday's meeting, said he kept waiting for "adults to come into the room and say this isn't right." He favored a more comprehensive rezoning approach, which would have included zoning changes for Green Valley and Silverado high schools. He said his plan would have solved overcrowding at Coronado, which is 500 students over its capacity, and given Liberty 400 additional students.

School Board President Terri Janison said the zoning proposals were fully vetted by the district's zoning advisory committee and the School Board. She also said changes in zoning have to be made gradually. If a high school lost 500 students in one year, it would lose staff and programs, she said.

Janison also recalled that last year, the School Board was criticized for favoring big changes in zoning when it could have opted for smaller adjustments.

"You can't win," she said.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-374-7917.