Agassi's school looks for new site

Andre Agassi has called his planned charter school the best opportunity to change a neighborhood.

Now the neighborhood is changing his plans.

After hearing vociferous arguments against the school's proposed location, City Councilman Lawrence Weekly has asked city staff members to look for an alternative site for the school.

"We've changed direction," Julie Rossetti of the Andre Agassi Foundation said. "We have a very strong possibility to get a different piece of land donated."

Nobody disputes Agassi's efforts to build a charter school in West Las Vegas.

In a video testimonial used to promote the school, Agassi says it "will actually give (children) a reason to learn, actually give them a reason to go to school."

But the students won't be attending a school on the corner of Owens Avenue and H Street.

That site -- generally referred to as Parcel B -- is instead being reserved for commercial development.

Basketball great Magic Johnson developed Parcel A at that location several years ago, bringing a Vons supermarket and several other services to the historically poor neighborhood.

But Johnson relinquished his control of the second parcel in March, when his company determined it couldn't lease additional building space proposed for development.

The city then gained back control of the 11-acre site, and the Agassi Foundation asked officials to donate it for the school.

Neighbors loved the idea of the charter school, but didn't want it on the land they consider the last great opportunity for economic development.

"One of the things this community is asking for are just services," Weekly said.

Residents have to drive across town for something as basic as a T-shirt or household tool.

Weekly is convinced the 11-acre site will be developed by someone for the type of commercial use the community wants.

As for the proposed school, the city is currently looking for other land nearby to donate.

The Agassi Foundation plans to spend $3.1 million on the first phase of the school. When it opens, possibly as soon as September 2001, the school will serve children in grades five through eight.

Additional phases will take the charter school through 12th grade.

Erin Neff

covers Las Vegas government for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-4062 or by e-mail at [email protected]

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