Clark County School District wins Planning Commission approval to rebuild Matt Kelly Elementary

The Planning Commission approved the Clark County School District’s replacement of Matt Kelly Elementary School, voting to send the proposal forward to City Council.

CCSD's Chris Dingle presented the project and said the design team had held three community meetings to gather input about program needs and neighborhood priorities. Architect Eric Gross said the design team focused on keeping the campus “indoor‑outdoor” in character while adding modern classroom, safety and accessibility improvements. Principal Jerrell Hall told commissioners he and local families supported the redesign and emphasized the school’s long local history: “We are very proud of our 62‑year legacy of learning at Matt Kelly Elementary School,” Hall said.

Planning staff recommended approval of the site development plan review and master sign plan, finding minor deviations from Title 19 development standards were consistent with the form‑based code and the Vision 2045 Downtown Las Vegas goals for mixed‑use corridors and transit access in other matters; for this school staff concluded the project fit the neighborhood and met applicable standards. Commissioners voted in favor of the project; staff said the item is final action unless appealed to the city clerk within 10 days.

Why it matters: The replacement consolidates a long‑standing neighborhood elementary school onto a modernized campus and will require the district to close the existing site during construction; school officials said the timetable will include about a year of shutdown while the new building is constructed. Commissioners and applicants said the project was shaped by community meetings and emphasized improved learning environments and safety.