| New Schools Equal New HiresLas Vegas Schools | | | | approved by voters in 1998. The new design did |
| have ten new schools opening for the 2006-2007 | | | | cause a little concern but it actually creates a |
| school year. Nine are brand new schools, while one | | | | very functional and friendly space which can add |
| is a replacement of Rancho High School. This is | | | | to the success of a school. The Rancho High |
| part of a long term plan to meet student | | | | School principal plans to divide the school into four |
| population demands and create modern facilities. | | | | distinct sections each with its own assistant |
| The schools opening in August are six elementary | | | | principal and student services. These sections will |
| schools, two middle schools and two high schools. | | | | possibly be divided based on grade level or |
| The new elementary schools are Hayden | | | | program type.Rancho High School is well known |
| Elementary, Schorr Elementary, Steele | | | | for its magnet programs that aim towards the |
| Elementary, Thompson Elementary, Ward | | | | medical and aviation fields. These magnet |
| Elementary and Wright Elementary. The middle | | | | programs will have new offices and special |
| schools are Johnston and Tarkanian and the high | | | | facilities on the new Ranch High School campus. |
| schools are the new Legacy High School and the | | | | The ROTC will also have a new area. The Rancho |
| replacement Rancho High School. All these new | | | | High School ROTC is one of the largest in the U.S. |
| schools create the need for more teacher and | | | | and the facility will be able to accommodate over |
| support staff. With this in mind Las Vegas Schools | | | | five hundred students. The Ranch High School |
| is engaging in a very active recruitment process | | | | replacement is part of a long term replacement |
| including holding a recruitment fair this summer to | | | | plan by Las Vegas schools. The plan was to |
| be held at the Desert Rose Adult High School. In | | | | replace five existing schools Sunrise Acres |
| the area of academic staff Las Vegas Schools | | | | Elementary, Wendell Williams Elementary and |
| are hiring over one thousand new staff and | | | | Rancho High School are the first three with |
| teachers. But academic staff are not the only | | | | Booker Elementary and Virgin Valley Elementary |
| ones needed to keep a school running. These new | | | | to follow.Rancho High School is Second to Have |
| member schools of Las Vegas Schools are also in | | | | Mall DesignRancho High School is the second Las |
| need of bus drivers, transportation aides, vehicle | | | | Vegas School to have the mall design. The first |
| mechanics and substitute food service | | | | was at Buffalo and Grand Teton. The mall design |
| workers.The New Rancho High SchoolThe newest | | | | creates a new and unique space that provides |
| edition to Las Vegas Schools is the placement of | | | | natural light and fresh air to the classrooms while |
| the old Rancho High School. The new design may | | | | creating a more secure environment than a |
| seem surprisingly familiar to the students. The | | | | conventional school design. Both the current |
| new Rancho High School is based on the same | | | | principal and the president of the construction |
| design used in most suburban shopping malls. The | | | | company building the new school are former |
| new 330,000 square foot school was built on the | | | | Rancho High School graduates, who are |
| site of the former schools athletic field. The old | | | | extremely pleased with the modern |
| school will be torn down later in the school year. | | | | replacement.Stacy Andell is a staff writer for |
| The new Rancho High School follows a two story | | | | Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on |
| mall design and the total building cost was around | | | | all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a |
| $75 million. The money came from the Las Vegas | | | | nose for research and writes stimulating news |
| Schools $3.5 billion capital improvement plan | | | | and views on school issues. |