Lyon County schools to consider redistricting

The expected opening of Dayton Elementary School III in August may change where all students in Lyon County go to school.

Parents gathered Monday evening at Sutro Elementary School to see maps and discuss the proposed redistricting, the second in the last two years.

Three factors have been considered in the proposed rezoning: That students are kept as close to their neighborhood schools as possible, that there are as few displaced students as possible, and that there be balanced enrollment at all three schools while accounting for current growth areas.

Under the proposal, students living southeast and north of Highway 50 from Six Mile Canyon will attend DES III, at 1200 Ferretto Parkway off Highway 50 East in Dayton.

Children who live west of Six Mile will attend Sutro Elementary School, while those living on the east side of Dayton Valley and Mound House will go to Dayton Elementary. Children in Iron Mountain/Stagecoach will continue attending Silver Springs Elementary School

The school, which is a mirror image of the new East Valley Elementary School in Fernley, will have an initial capacity of 600 students, which officials believe could reach capacity within two years, based on projected area growth.

To date, there has been no discussion about latchkey or travel to a day-care facility, an added concern for those with children in half-day kindergarten.

School Superintendent Nat Lommori explained that most of the funding for new schools has come from bonds and from the $1,600 per home residential construction fee that is paid when new construction permits are filed with the county.

Those fees, which have been collected since January 2006, stay in the area from which they come. Therefore, if fees are generated from growth in Dayton, the funds support projects in Dayton.

Other legislative options are also being considered and Washoe County for instance, is considering a proposed real estate transfer fee, which Lyon County is open to considering as well, Lommori said.

He added that some of the builders have donated land for future school sites, while others have done nothing. A vocational facility for the high school will be discussed at the Feb. 20 board meeting.

The school district will make maps available at Sutro Elementary, 190 Dayton Village Parkway, for parents to review prior to the March 13 school board meeting, when the proposal will be decided. The meeting takes place at Dayton Elementary School, 285 Old Dayton Valley Road.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Lyon Count School District at (775) 463-6800.