LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Parents and community members are fighting to keep the only school on Mt. Charleston from shutting down for good, and county leaders are weighing in on their concerns over the ramifications of such a closure.
In May, FOX5 told you that parents were notified in a letter that officials decided to close Earl B. Lundy Elementary School “due to the expense of rebuilding the school from the storms and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Hilary in August 2023.”
According to County Commissioner Jim Gibson, county officials were informed that repairs would cost in the range of $10 million. Deputy Sept. Melissa Gutierrez told county officials that although federal funding was given to the area for storm damage, CCSD would not be reimbursed for any repairs.
“We are all very concerned,” Gibson said. “Students will have a three-hour experience to get to Indian Springs and back. There’s something wrong with that,” he said, noting that commissioners had heard concerns from local residents.
Parent Anthony Armas tells FOX5 his son boards the bus at 6:15 a.m., arriving in Indian Springs in time to eat breakfast and start school around 8 a.m.
“I‘m very concerned. That’s a long day for a kiddo,” he said, noting his son’s academic performance started to slip from the commute.
Parents also said they disagree with putting young kids on the same bus as middle and high school students.
Chair Tick Segerblom acknowledged the use of the building as a crucial community space and a meeting space for mountain residents.
“We ought to be engaged in conversations in how we could rebuild the school—whatever it takes,” Segerblom said.
“We pay the highest taxes in the state. If we’re willing to come up here and invest in our community and put our kids in school, the school district really needs to take this to heart,” said community member Misty Haji-Sheikh, who urged the district to find any and all solutions to keep it open.
Friday at 5:30 p.m., CCSD leaders will meet with concerned parents in Indian Springs.
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