Two-story schools would save money

Richard Cicerelle, Las Vegas

Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 | 2 a.m.

If we want to save money here in Clark County to fund our overcrowded schools, let’s look at a cost-saving option that should have been implemented years ago. Why not build two-story middle and elementary schools?

Simply double-decking the buildings more than doubles the capacity of schools. On the top floor, all the space can be dedicated to classrooms. The cafeteria and gym would be downstairs.

By building two-story schools, the district would save by purchasing one piece of property instead of two. The infrastructure for utilities, such as water and electricity, would cost much less. One roof instead of two. The savings go on and on.

As a school bus driver, I know the School District would also save by making sure that every bus traveling to school is filled to capacity. More than half the buses are arriving at schools with less than 70 percent capacity.

Let’s say we build two new middle schools using the current design of a one-story building. It would take 15 to 20 buses to serve each school. But with a two-story design only an additional five or six buses would be required for each if the buses were filled to capacity.

Also, one two-story school would require one set of administrators instead of two.

The current design for middle and elementary schools could be changed with minimal effort to incorporate the second-floor design. So add up the savings of land, materials, administrators, utilities, busing, etc., and I think it’s an option that would save costs for taxpayers here in Las Vegas. By the way, the high schools here in Las Vegas are all two-story buildings.