Cyndi Loza

Sources of money to build nine schools and renovate others in Washoe County will be identified today by a legislature-appointed panel.

After nearly six months of discussion, the School Construction and Revitalization Advisory Committee will meet at 8 a.m. at Reno High School, 395 Booth St.

“The committee felt it needed a lot of discussion about the district’s needs and that is what we’ve spent the last few months (on),” said committee member and state Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks. “But we’re at where the rubber meets the road now and we have about six weeks to come up with our recommended solution. It’s time to get the work done, folks.”

The group has until May 1 to reach a consensus on the needs of the school district and the revenue options available.

“The pace, just because of my personality, is slower than what we’d like,” Superintendent Paul Dugan said, adding he is confident the committee will meet its deadline.

The plan includes upgrading older schools, classrooms and technology and the construction of nine schools to handle anticipated growth in the area, a total of about $880 million.

“I would welcome that (money) in a heartbeat, there’s no question about that,” Reed High School Principal Mary Vesco said.

Vesco said her 34-year-old school needs to replace items such as stained and old carpeting and upgrade its technology.

Upgrading older schools is needed to provide those students with the same resources available to students attending newer schools, Swope Middle School Principal George Brown said.

“Ideally, every student in the district, technologically speaking, should have access to the same thing,” Brown said.

The committee will present a proposed question for the Nov. 4 ballot to school trustees and county commissioners.

If approved by voters, the earliest the school district can receive money for the revitalization plan is January 2009.