Northern Nevada developers, Chip Bowlby and Robert Klein, announced today that their business, Summit Sierra LLC, will be donating $100,000 to the campaign to fund school construction in Washoe County.
At Tuesday’s Board of Finance meeting in Carson City, Nev., Bowlby lauded the Governor and Legislature for the work they did in the 2015 regular legislative session to fund important reforms to education, but was cautious about the ability for these new programs to have their maximum impact when Washoe County schools face serious overcrowding and repair needs issues.
“Washoe County is on its way to having a first-class education with third world facilities,” Bowlby said. “Businesses will be weary of relocating to an area when their employees’ children will be transported from bus stops at 4:30 a.m. to be educated in crumbling schools.”
Co-Managing Partner and President of Klein Financial Corporation, Robert Klein, challenged his fellow developers and business leaders to meet their responsibility of donating to the ballot initiative to fund new school construction and repair needs.
“Developers and business leaders have a responsibility to meet the demands new projects place on existing infrastructure and that is why we have pledged $100,000 to ensure this question passes in November,” Klein said.
Len Stevens, CEO of the Chamber and member of the community group advocating for the ballot question to fund new schools, praised the donation: “Chip and Robert’s $100,000 commitment on behalf of Summit Sierra LLC sends a strong message that business leaders are ready to come together to build and repair schools for our kids.”
The Public Schools Overcrowding and Repair Needs Committee, a group of community and industry leaders, voted in February to move forward with a question on the November ballot to raise sales tax to fund school construction in Washoe County. If the question fails, the school district has said double-sessions for schools would be likely, meaning kids would be in class as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m.
