CCSD board pauses new school construction for one year to update facility master plan

The Clark County School District Board of School Trustees voted 7-0 Thursday to pause entering new school construction contracts for one year while staff complete a comprehensive facility master plan and broaden community engagement.

The pause was presented as a way to align limited capital funds with updated enrollment, program and community needs after trustees and staff described declining student yields and escalating construction costs. Brandon McLaughlin, assistant superintendent for the district’s Construction Development Division, told the board that the pause applies only to new contract commitments and not to active construction sites.

"We're simply desiring to hold off on any new commitments to ensure that we have alignment with our long term needs or capital improvement program," McLaughlin said during the presentation. Superintendent Sandra Ebert said the one-year pause will allow staff to analyze campus-by-campus needs and explore alternative grade structures and program uses, such as K–8 or career-focused campuses.

Why it matters: CCSD is pursuing additional bond funding even as it pauses new projects. McLaughlin and Rick Baldwin, director of Comprehensive Planning, told trustees the district is seeking approval for $400 million in general obligation bonds and $200 million in revenue-backed bonds. Exhibit A attached to recent reference material shows $770 million in active construction contracts and about $339.9 million in available capital dollars; McLaughlin said the district still needs roughly $430.6 million in bond funding to meet obligations for fiscal 2026–27.

Staff said pausing new contracts can reduce the risk of allocating funds to projects that an updated plan might recommend changing or repurposing. They also outlined the scale of cost growth: projects approved in December 2021 totaled $3.5 billion and have grown to more than $5.1 billion because of escalation and inflation, leaving an identified funding gap of about $1.6 billion.

Trustees who spoke in favor of the pause cited falling birth rates and changing student yields in Clark County, financial prudence and the opportunity to consider different campus configurations. Trustee Ramona Esparza Stropigan, who moved the motion to accept the capital improvement plan revision with the pause, said the community forums and the master-plan process will be important to identify what local communities want and need.

Board discussion also covered near-term priorities and maintenance. McLaughlin said maintenance and modernization work will continue during the pause and that the district will use different funding streams—such as excess statutory reserves—to address projects that are not bond‑eligible, including targeted safety and security work.

Public engagement: staff said the facilities master-plan team has been conducting community forums across the valley and expects a larger set of fall engagements after a summer of additional analysis. Attendance at spring forums ranged from a few people to about 30–35 depending on location, staff said; the district plans more advertising and trustee participation for fall sessions.

The vote: Trustee Ramona Esparza Stropigan made the motion to accept the 2015 Capital Improvement Plan Revision 6 with a one‑year pause on new construction contracts; Trustee Jesus Dominguez seconded. The motion passed 7 to 0.

Next steps: staff will complete the Facility Master Plan over the next year and return recommendations to the board. In early 2026, presenters said the board would have updated options and a revised funding picture to consider.