School consolidation set to be discussed

There’s been plenty of discussion in 2026 about Clark County School District’s proposed plan to consolidate schools in order to save money.

But what that plan may look like has yet to be determined, including in Boulder City.

A few of those questions are expected to be answered as the year winds down when the CCSD board meets on Dec. 2 to discusses recommendations they have received from consultants, educators and the general public. It’s not known if action will be taken by the board that day. If consolidation does occur, it’s been said that implementation could take years.

“The Clark County School District is advancing a comprehensive two-year planning process to develop a new Facility Master Plan that incorporates recommendations from multiple district-wide community surveys and dozens of community meetings,” CCSD’s communications department wrote in an email last week to the Review. “The goal of this plan is to ensure every CCSD student attends a modern school equipped with robust, enriched programming.

“While CCSD likely will recommend some school consolidations due to declining student enrollment, that is a small component of this proposal. The vast majority of capital bond funds will be dedicated to renovating, modernizing, and replacing aging schools.”

In September, CCSD Regional 3 Superintendent Theodore Robison spoke to the Boulder City Council during his quarterly update. There, he was asked by Councilwoman Sherri Jorgensen where things stood with the consolidation talk. Jorgensen is the city council’s liaison to CCSD.

“That final conversation hasn’t happened but we will make sure that it will be here, in Boulder City, as you’ll certainly be invited to be part of that conversation,” Robison said.

Jorgensen said she was pleased to hear that nothing final has yet been determined by CCSD.

This past school year, a pair of well-attended public meetings were held in Boulder City to discuss consolidation and a variety of options. It was stressed that the district wished to receive as much input from the public as possible before moving forward.

“We look forward to the process and having Councilwoman Jorgensen being so involved in that process,” Mayor Joe Hardy said to Robison. “It’s important we have that inclusion.”

Robison praised the turnout of those two community meetings last school year, one of which he was able to attend. He said that while no decision has been made, he promised to keep Boulder City in the loop, along with the other schools in the district. And while public input is important, in the end, any decision regarding consolidation will be that of the district.

Up to this point

Last school year, CCSD, the fifth largest school district in the nation, put out its five-year enrollment projections for all of its schools going out through the 2030-31 school year. For the Boulder City public schools, it showed the following with last year’s enrollment, projected number of students and the percentage of increase or decrease in five years:

■ Andrew Mitchell Elementary: 340, 296, 13% decrease

■ Boulder City High School: 582, 489, 16% decrease

■ Garrett Junior High: 380, 291, 23% decrease

■ Martha P. King Elementary: 359, 261, 27% decrease

Overall, CCSD is anticipating a 10-11% decrease in enrollment district-wide in five years.

The report also shows projected utilization percentages (number of seats filled) in five years. Mitchell came in at 64%, followed by BCHS 55%, King 45% and Garrett 41%. It was pointed out that these numbers take into account those students attending Boulder City schools though the Choice of School Assignment (COSA) program. Around 30% of BCHS’ enrollment and 15% of Garrett’s students come from outside of Boulder City.

During the first of those two community meetings, based on projected enrollments and the age of Mitchell (built in 1970), Garrett (1978) and King (1991), the district is looking at its options. Prior to the opening of King, Mitchell was a K-5 campus. Using the QR Code, a slight majority of those at that meeting chose the option that would combine Mitchell and King into one campus, likely at King since it is 21 years newer.

Six years ago, CCSD brought forth a plan calling for the closure of Garrett, King and Mitchell and building a new K-8 campus. That proposal received plenty of pushback from the community and the plan was scrapped. However, the preK-8 concept is now one of a handful of options being considered.