Education options grow in area

Among the schools planned for the Centennial Hills area in Las Vegas is the Northwest Region Career & Technical Center, a high school to be built at Durango Drive and Tropical Parkway that is in the early design stage. It is not expected to open to grades nine through 12 until the 2006-07 school year, according to Dale Scheideman, planning and engineering services director for the Clark County School District.

"It's going to be the modern version of a vocational school," Scheideman said. "It's going to be over 200,000 square feet and it will have about 2,000 students in its six academies. The academies will be hospitality, transportation technology, engineering and construction, telecommunications, child care and medical."

The construction contract for the estimated $40 million project is not yet out for bid.

Architect Steve Swisher of Swisher & Hall said the facility will feature a sustainable design and be energy efficient.

"We are designing a building that will be fused with technology, and fitted out with the actual equipment being used within the industry of each academy," Swisher said. "The kids who will come to this school will represent the different type of student in that these are students who choose to be there and no one has to be there. They will participate in their classes the same way that you will participate as an employee in a business."

Swisher said the design will be finalized within 90 to 120 days.

Scheduled to open for the 2004-05 school year is Centennial Academy, a private, nonsectarian school under construction in Montecito Town Center. The 37,000-square-foot institution, located on 5 acres near Centennial and Grand Montecito parkways, was designed by Perkowitz and Ruth Architects. The project's estimated cost is $8 million.

The single-story school will offer kindergarten through fifth grade, as well as toddler and preschool programs. Three playgrounds will be featured as well.

"The inside of the school and the campus will help create a comfortable learning environment. Academics at the school is important, but we want the students to feel nurtured as well," school administrator Miriam Dake said.

"Our school will serve a need in this growing area of the city. There is not a private school in this area that accommodates children ranging from 15 months through fifth grade like ours will."

An information trailer is open on North Durango Drive, north of Interstate 215.

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