Palo Verde High finally nearing completion

      When Palo Verde High School opened its doors on Aug. 25, about 1,158 students crammed its halls anxious to christen Summerlin's first public high school.
      The freshman and sophomore students arrived at a school that was little more than half-finished, marking the first time in Clark County School District history that a high school was built in phases.
      Now, more than four months after Palo Verde opened its doors, the school is nearing completion and has become a proud landmark in the master-planned Northwest community.
      "We have had our ups and downs as far as construction goes," said Terry Smith, school principal. "But the kids have been fantastic and the support we have received from the Summerlin community is overwhelming."
      Smith, who had served as the principal at Sawyer Middle School, her staff and last year's freshman class had been housed in trailers last school year on the Bonanza High campus awaiting the completion of their own home.
      They moved in, for the most part, in August but the school, located at 333 S. Husite Drive, is still under construction.
      Smith said she has been frustrated at times with the slow construction process but there is a strong sense of pride being part of a new school.
      "I remember that first day and how nervous and excited the students and staff were," Smith said. "I think that enthusiasm still remains and we're looking forward to coming back from the break with a completed school."
      Many programs at the high school have had to spend the entire first semester in temporary homes because of the construction process. The drama department and the music department have all had to find any empty room available just to practice.
      Carrie Feeger, head of the Palo Verde drama program, has been disappointed that her theater is incomplete but remains positive about the situation.
      "You can't do anything about it when you don't have any control over the situation," Feeger said. "We have made do with what we were given and I look forward to moving into our new building."
      The drama program was scheduled to move into the Palo Verde Theater sometime during the winter break and will begin second semester classes inside the spacious 500-seat building.
      Another group that has had to find a temporary home during the first semester is the Panther marching band. Instead of a completed music room, the members of the band have been revving up their tunes inside the school's auto shop.
      "It's been frustrating for them but I think that they are comforted by the fact that their own room will be done soon," Smith said.
      Anyone who works or attends school at Palo Verde has a typical answer about how they like their new home.
      "I love this place," said freshman Joe Torres. "It's neat having a new school where everything is clean and taken care of. It makes you proud and makes you want to keep it clean."
      Torres said he and his classmates keep close watch over their new campus and even pick up trash if it litters the campus.
      "Not everyone has the same amount of pride," Torres said.
      Smith said students at the school have, for the most part, kept the campus pristine and take pride in its appearance.
      "Sure we have some exceptions," Smith said. "But I have been pleasantly surprised with the way the students have kept the campus clean. If they see trash or graffiti they immediately clean it up or notify the office."
      Said sophomore Becky Chambers: "Everyone is nice here and I really like where the school is. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate because the view is so beautiful."
      Palo Verde has the scenic Red Rock Canyon and the Spring Mountains as its colorful backdrop to the west and a breathtaking view of Las Vegas to the east.
      Perhaps the biggest physical problem that has plagued Palo Verde during its phase construction has been the absence of a public address system and a bell system.
      The systems rely on each other, which means if one doesn't work they both don't work. The lack of a bell and public address system has created a little extra work for Palo Verde staff.
      "Our teachers and staff have had to keep a daily clock and tell students when it is time to switch periods," Smith said. "We've just been hand-delivering messages the old-fashioned way, which takes more time but we've adapted."
      Smith said overall she is pleased with the school's first semester and looks forward to the rest of the school year as well as the next few years.