LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Clark County School District board unanimously approved emergency funding Thursday night for air conditioning system repairs and replacements at five schools, citing safety and instructional disruptions caused by heating and cooling failures.
Beckley Elementary received $8.8 million for emergency roof and HVAC work. A contractor was hired on April 28th to address nearly 100 work orders submitted during the school year, with approximately 25% reporting a complete loss of heating or cooling. The failures left classrooms and offices with high temperatures, poor air quality, and unsafe conditions.
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Roof failures compounded the issue. Leaks allowed water into occupied areas, creating slip hazards, exposing electrical systems to moisture and increasing the risk of ceiling collapse. A report stated: “Operations are being disrupted, and students and staff are at risk.”
Under state law, emergency contracts can be awarded “if an emergency exists affecting the public health, safety, or welfare.”
Garehime Elementary submitted more than 40 work orders, with approximately 50% reporting complete loss of heating or cooling. A full system replacement costs $7,454,720.
Hayes Elementary and Kesterson Elementary received $7,461,120 and $7,327,220, respectively, for similar repairs.
Southwest Career and Technical Academy needed emergency work after an underground hydronic pipe burst, resulting in a loss of cooling capacity throughout the campus. The repair cost $417,032.
Updated facility evaluation criteria
The board also unanimously voted to update the criteria for evaluating facilities. Brandon McLaughlin, CCSD chief of facilities, said changes to policy: “increased weight for critical systems or vital systems that have the potential to interrupt instruction, so that gives a greater importance to HVAC, roofing, plumbing systems, exterior envelope systems.”
Summer school is in session until July 10. The first day of the 2026-2027 school year begins Monday, August 10. The district will implement new start times for schools across the district beginning next school year. Read more about that here: https://www.fox5vegas.com/2026/01/20/ccsd-officials-discuss-school-start-times-following-survey-results/
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