Celebrating Collaboration, Benefiting Students and Residents:

May 1, 2017 Tagged as

Media Release
For Immediate Release
www.washoecountylibrary.us

Contact:
Victoria Campbell
vcampbell@washoeschools.net
775-333-3789

Local Agencies Applaud “Win-Win” at Wildcreek

Reno, NV (May 1, 2017) – The Washoe County School District (WCSD), Washoe County, and the cities of Reno and Sparks are celebrating the first step in a regional effort to improve schools and public spaces through the regional “Wildcreek Project.” Agencies have agreed to move forward together in this cooperative endeavor, which will result in a variety of benefits for residents across the Truckee Meadows as well as students attending WCSD schools.

The new school at Wildcreek will help alleviate overcrowding at schools in Reno and Sparks, while also adding community resources to part of the land where Wildcreek Golf Course is currently located. At the same time, Procter Hug High School would be repurposed as career/tech academy, drawing students from all over the District to study Career and Technical Education (CTE) in skilled careers and trades. The CTE academy would open its doors for the 2022-23 school year, and continue to meet a growing need for CTE educational options for students as they prepare to embark on their careers, while adding new courses of study to adapt to changing demands of 21st century workplaces.

“This is a shining example of the power of cooperation and collaboration,” said Dr. Angie Taylor, president of the WCSD Board of Trustees. “This community has come together to support our students on their educational journeys, alleviating overcrowding and providing updated facilities for our students and supporting our mission of Every Child, By Name and Face, to Graduation. We are setting the stage not only for our students to thrive, but our entire community to flourish. We truly appreciate the help and support of our regional governments on this project, and the voters’ support of WC-1 that made this project possible.”

“This community project is exciting for the region as a whole,” said Bob Lucey, chairman of the Washoe County Commission and chair of the Board of Directors for RSCVA. “With the high costs of property and construction, this is the least we can do from the Washoe County perspective to ensure our students are getting the best resources possible for success at the high school level. The Wildcreek project will improve the quality of life in the area, which in turn drives economic development and tourism to the region.”

“We are excited to participate in this wonderful project that will benefit so many students attending school in Reno,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. “A major RENOvation at Hug will not only benefit students, but the entire neighborhood surrounding the school, creating a positive ripple effect for thousands of residents. This is a great example of local agencies coming together to do the most good for students, families, and our community as a whole.”

“This cooperative agreement will serve residents of Sparks in many constructive ways, and we are proud to take part in this joint endeavor,” said Sparks Mayor Geno Martini.

The Wildcreek Project is scheduled for completion in 2021, and current plans call for the construction of a new high school and an updated golf course. Residents of Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County will have the opportunity to provide input on future additional uses at the Wildcreek site as regional agencies continue to explore other community uses such as a community center, indoor swimming pool, pre-kindergarten center, and more.

The new high school—the first to be completed with WC-1 revenue— will accommodate approximately 2,500 students, which will help alleviate overcrowding at other schools. The new high school will remain unnamed, as will the future career/tech academy on the repurposed Procter Hug campus, until a formal naming process involving community input can take place.

Under the agreement between WCSD, Washoe County, the City of Reno, and the City of Sparks:

Washoe County will sell the land to WCSD for the purpose of building a high school
Washoe County agreed to reinvest funds from the sale of the land back into the Wildcreek property
The new school at Wildcreek will ease overcrowding at high schools in Reno and Sparks through a public rezoning process that will take place closer to the opening date of the school
The golf course at Wildcreek would continue to serve residents of Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County
Students from across the District could attend the CTE Academy at Hug High School, learning crucial skills demanded by careers of the 21st century

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