32 Thursday, January 23, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
Task Force to address Pahrump's
higher education future
by Doug McMurdo
Gazette staff
PAHRUMP - The Pahrump Town Board held a
special meeting Saturday, January 18, primarily to
discuss the possibility of building a Community
College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) facility on the
site of Pahrump Valley High School. Pahrump is not
the only rural Nevada community lobbying for a
campus so "a sense of urgency" exists which com-
pelled the special meeting. A task force will be
impaneled as soon as possible to spear-
head the drive.
Assemblyman Roy Neighbors is said
to be "very supportive" of the idea and
informed town manager Scott Neilson to
"have the board decide on the desired
allocation" and he will draft a bill. The
proposed facility will total approximately
16,000 square feet at a cost of $3 million.
Annual operating cost will approximate
$300,000.
Building the facility on the grounds of
Pahrump Valley High School would cre-
ate a "win-win" situation for Pahrump.
Current high school students can use the
campus during the day (taking advantage of the more
up-to-date computer equipment) while adults could
utilize it in the late afternoon and evening hours.
Additionally, building the campus with a "time-
share" philosophy is much more frugal than to build
a separate facility.
PVHS Principal Jerry Hill addressed the board
and shared some serious concerns he has regarding
the future of our children's education in Nye County.
Describing Nye County School District as "a hurting
school district, " Hill explained students are currently
required to take computer literacy courses using out-
dated, obsolete equipment that does nothing to prepare
students for the reality of current technological advances.
Despite the problems facing the NCSD, and the obvious
benefit a CCSN campus would provide, Hill stated his
belief that Pahrump is "a growing community with a
great future." Town Board member Bob Little asked Hill
if PVHS had the room on site to build the campus. Hill
assured him that space would be found. Little also asked
if it is mandatory to build on the site of PVHS. The
consensus of the board and CCSN is the site needs to be
as near the school as possible. This would coincide with
the current program occurring in Clark County. The
greatest benefit a CCSN facility would bring to Nye
County will occur in approximately two years when the
school population will exceed 1,200 students if the cur-
rent 20 percent student growth rates
hold steady.
Town Board member Steve Rainbolt said it would
be "politically wise" to promote the idea of an on
campus site for the facility, citing there is plenty of
land available by the town or school district. Mem-
ber Gary Hollis urged the town to "get moving"
on the project.
CCSN student and local activist Sally Devlin
reminded board members of the almost $1 million
dollars Pahrump pays to the state in ad valorem
taxes annually. Devlin, angry at
the snubbing of Pahrump by state
officials, says that Reno is getting
"another community college, even
.... when student enrollment is declin-
ing."
Acknowledging Pahrump has
no real political clout, the need to
play "political hardball" is evident.
According to Little, who voiced
objections to the task force and
"government by committee" re-
minded members of the urgency
and implored moving forward
quickly.
The task force will consist of nine members, town
attorney Len Smith; town manager Scott Neilson; town
clerk Chartie Gronda; a member of the NCSD senior
administration; and several citizens at large. Interested
citizens are encouraged to contact Neilson and inform
him of your interest. Prominent Pahnmap resident and
former assemblyman Tim Hafen was unofficially named
as an example of the caliber of person this task force will
need in order to succeed.
Charles HoUis, who says he owns Valley Auto Parts,
resented the fact that tbe task force wiU consist of so many
"politicians" and not enough citizens. Rainbolt expressed
dismay at Hollis' comment saying, "I thought we're all in
this together." Rainbolt was taken aback by Hollis' com-
ment since the issue is obviously non-political.
Resident John Pritchard perhaps said it best when he
approached the podium to speak, saying, "We're not here
to raise taxes, take your land or water, we're
here to Pemmde the state to build us a college"
It's silly to fight among ourselves."
The motion to form the tempora W task
force passed 5-0. For
those interested in send-
ing letters of support to
our state representatives,
it was suggested that citi-
:zens write our State Rep-
• resentativestovoicesup-
port for this project.The
following is provided for
that purpose:
Asmnl,lr
Roy Neighbors
P.O. Box 33
Tonolmh, Nevada
8904941033
Senate
Mike McGinness
770 Wildes Road
Faam, Nevada
89046-7843
PRELIMINARY FLOOR PLAN
CCSN RURAL EDUCATION CENTER
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE OF
SOUTHER
NEVADA
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SCALE 2/28/96
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