Plans for a new middle school in the Arrowcreek area of south Reno will be discussed with the public during a town hall meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in the multipurpose room at Hunsberger Elementary School, 2505 Crossbow Court.
Washoe County School District is working with the U.S. Forest Service to acquire about 60 acres off Thomas Creek Road east of Hunsberger. If the sale goes through, it would occur under the authority of the Education Land Grant Act of 2000.
The tentative opening date for the new middle school is fall 2020 but some factors, including labor availability, could push that back, district spokesman Riley Sutton said.
“It’s not a confirmed date,” Sutton said. “It could be pushed out a year depending on project schedules.”
The district currently is focused on opening three schools in fall 2019, middle schools in Sun Valley and Spanish Springs and an elementary school in south Reno. Also on tap is a high school in the Wildcreek area expected to open in fall 2021 and the re-purposing of Hug High School into a career and technical academy, expected in fall 2022.
The Arrowcreek area middle school would house sixth through eighth graders and be modeled similarly after Depoali Middle School, with some technology and safety upgrades. Growth in south Reno could mean congestion at area middle schools in years to come.
“Depoali is full now, not over capacity but at maximum capacity,” Sutton said. “Pine is also just about to be at capacity. This school could possibly impact every middle school and elementary school south of I-80.”
Sixth graders are still attending some elementary schools and the district’s goal is to relocate them to middle schools, freeing up space at elementary schools.
School construction is being funded by a voter-approved a sales tax increase from 7.725 percent to 8.265 percent that is expected to raise funds during the next nine years to build 15 new schools. Such money cannot be used for teacher or administrator salaries or other school operations.
The Forest Service is currently taking public comment by email to David Drake at [email protected] or online at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=52446.
More information: http://www.wcsdbuilding.com/middle-school-south-reno/ or
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52446
