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