Clark County School District (CCSD) is completing the final input process for Moapa Valley’s school facilities, which includes the potential closure of Mack Lyon Middle School. This process began a year ago in a meeting at the Overton Community Center with consultant CannonDesign. The only thing discussed at that meeting was how CCSD bond funds should be used to improve Moapa Valley schools.

Flash forward to April 16, 2026, and the same consultants presided over a lively “listening session” at the MVHS library. The approximately 100 attendees expressed concern about the possibility of closing Mack Lyon Middle School and relocating students to other schools. CannonDesign used the 136-page report they developed to open the door for this potential middle school closure.

Virgin Valley held its own listening session on April 22 to gather input on the same report. CCSD proposed only two options for Virgin Valley schools: no changes, or maintaining the current operational model with some facility renovations or rezoning. The fact that neither option proposed closing any Virgin Valley schools explains the low attendance at this listening session, with fewer than 10 community members.

During the Virgin Valley listening session, CannonDesign offered two additional insights into this whole process. First, if a community loses a school, CCSD will compensate with “trade-ups.” Trade-ups are educational improvements available at another school. Second, CCSD will launch an online-only community preferences survey on Monday, April 27, at fmp.ccsd.net/surveys/. The online survey will remain open for several weeks. Participants must select the schools to include in their survey, which would be all four Moapa Valley schools. Selecting the four schools will allow input on the three proposed options. These options may include updates to the original 136-page report.

CannonDesign cautioned that survey responses are not votes, but rather suggestions for the final Facilities Master Plan (FMP). These survey results are important because they could affect the options presented at Moapa Valley’s final listening session, scheduled for May 5, 2026. This is when the community will have the opportunity to provide final, detailed input on the best educational solutions for rural, remote schools.

The following questions need to be answered: What facility needs and/or changes will each option require, and what challenges does each option bring?

CCSD will hold several other meetings to help determine how to spend bond money to achieve the best educational outcomes. All this information will then be presented to the CCSD Board of Trustees for final comment and a vote.

Lindsey Dalley