Red Rock Elementary one of several Las Vegas valley schools reopening this year

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Several schools are preparing to reopen this year after a number of improvements and renovations.

It was all smiles as students at Red Rock Elementary School started the school year in a new building. The highly anticipated new campus was in the works for several years.

Principal Chantae Readye said the new building is a breath of fresh air.

“I’m excited to start the new year,” Readye remarked. “I’m excited that our kids get to come to a school like this and that we’re going to be able to give them a quality education, a building that they deserve.”

The school was first built in 1955 and landed on the list as a replacement school through the Capital Improvement Program.

It’s all to accommodate growth in valley schools, all while addressing structural issues and outdated systems. From pre-k through fifth grade, the school serves 470 students and Principal Readye said that number is expected to jump to 500 by the end of the school year.

“Some of our buildings had asbestos in them still, our HVAC would sometimes cut out, electricity would cut out so often our teachers kind of had to work on the fly to give education to our kids,” Readye added.

She said there were times when lights would go out, so they would pull them outside and do class outside. Now they have a building where everything works and they have places where they can choose to take the kids outside.

Aside from new classrooms, kids also have a bigger playground, a beautiful courtyard and a space for a growing garden.

“I think it shows that this city and our district and the people care enough about the kids in our community to give them a school that will work for them,” Readye said.

Red Rock Elementary wasn’t the only school with a facelift this year, CCSD leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Bennett Elementary in Laughlin last week.

The new elementary school and gym were added to the existing junior and senior campus.

Kindergarten teacher Stephanie O’Farrell said she couldn’t wait to get back to the classroom.

“This is just so exciting. I’m so thankful just to be a part of this, to be the first teacher to ever teach in a room with a view like this and the kids that we have, the admin that we have, my team that I’m working with. I’m just so excited for this school year,” O’Farrell explained.

The new Bennett Elementary School and gym were added to the existing junior and senior campus.

The other two schools opening this year include Mountain View Elementary School on Lake Mead and Nellis boulevards and Ruby S. Thomas on Eastern and St. Louis.

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