Board to weigh uses for school building

By Emily Richmond

Thursday, July 21, 2005 | 10:58 a.m.

A $14.5 million building some Clark County School District critics called lavish and a waste of money could end up turning a profit for the district.

Within weeks of closing a deal to buy the Townes Administration Building at 5100 W. Sahara Ave., the district received offers of $15 million and $18 million to sell, said Walt Rulffes, co-interim superintendent.

The Clark County School Board will consider next week how best to use the building, bought this spring, including the possibility of selling it and taking the profit.

"There was a lot of criticism when we bought the building, but it's looking like we got a good deal," Rulffes said. "I don't know that they (the School Board members) even want to sell but it's nice to know there's real interest out there."

Some School District observers have questioned whether the building, which includes a top-floor executive suite outfitted with leopard-print carpeting and textured wallpaper, was too lavish for a public agency. But most School Board members and district staff have defended the purchase, saying it would be impossible to build a similarly sized structure or rent equivalent office space for anywhere near the purchase price.

While there has been speculation that the West Sahara building might be remodeled to include a School Board meeting room, at a possible cost of more than $3 million, there are no plans for any such renovations, Rulffes said.

"The School Board hasn't approved anything like that and their approval would be required," Rulffes said.

In March 2004 the School Board backed a $58 million package of nonschool capital improvements, including constructing new headquarters for the Facilities and Technology divisions, a school police command center, offices for the Virtual High School and distance education program and a new complex for KLVX Channel 10.

However, as Rulffes outlined in a memo to the School Board in advance of next week's facilities discussion, there have been some significant changes to conditions since the nonschool capital plan package was approved: construction costs have escalated by as much as 20 percent, the distance education program has already expanded beyond initial projections and $14.5 million of the allotted funds were spent on the West Sahara property.

At next Thursday's School Board meeting Rulffes plans to outline several proposals for prioritizing the projects. There are also plans to form a "blue ribbon" committee made up of business and community leaders to help the district decide the best use of the space and facilities it already owns, Rulffes said.

Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said the offers to buy appear to validate the district's purchase price as a sound business decision.

Vilardo praised plans for an outside committee to help the district decide what to do next.

"It's an excellent step in the right direction," Vilardo said. "If they're reaching out to the community I hope they pick individuals who know how to identify what buildings are suitable for conversion, what can be rehabilitated and what's the best way to use the space they have."

As for the leopard-print carpeting, Vilardo said it doesn't make sense to incur the expense of changing or replacing it if the district doesn't plan on owning the building for long.

"It depends on their definition of temporary," Vilardo said. "If it's two years, it might be a little difficult to live with some of those decorations and establish the environment you want. But if it's four months, you close your eyes."

If the School Board did vote to move some of the central office staff to the West Sahara building it would free up space at the "Ed Shed" on East Flamingo Road for a long-planned Human Resources Intake Center.

Employees and job applicants often have to travel to various offices throughout the district to turn in documents, pick up photo ID badges or undergo the state-required testing for infectious diseases, said George Ann Rice, associate superintendent of human resources for the district.

"We would be much more efficient if everything was one-stop under one roof," Rice said.

Jacqueline Keplinger, who was applying for a job as a school bus driver at the district's main office Wednesday, said she had encountered a little red tape along the way.

"Actually, they've done pretty good setting this up," said Keplinger, who was at the East Flamingo Road office to turn in copies of her physical exam and driving records. "I found a place to park, walked in and there wasn't even much of a line."

District officials said they wouldn't complain if there was a line of bus driver applicants. With the new school year starting Aug. 29, they're still short 150 drivers.