Future of historic Southern Nevada schoolhouse still unknown months after closure

More than six months after the Clark County School Board voted to shutter Goodsprings Elementary School, the future of the historic schoolhouse remains uncertain. The Clark County School District and the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District are in early exploratory discussions about converting the building into a library for the town, located roughly 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas.

Library district spokesperson Lisa Jacob said the district is conducting discovery and due diligence to understand operational, financial, and facility considerations. "Our priority is to complete a thoughtful review so that any future decision is based on a clear understanding of the potential benefits, responsibilities, and long-term impacts to the Library District and the Goodsprings community," Jacob said. Both districts said no decisions have been made and there is no timeline for an agreement. The library district currently operates a small library adjacent to the school.

Goodsprings Elementary officially closed on June 30 after district officials determined the $1 million cost to keep it running was not justified for the one student who would have attended this school year. The rural schoolhouse, recognized as the longest-operating school in Nevada, was open for 113 years. The district remains responsible for maintenance costs unless an agreement with another operator is reached, though a spokesperson said existing staff at nearby schools perform minimum necessary maintenance with no specific dollar amount attributable to the campus.

The Goodsprings Historical Society has also discussed using the building to display historical artifacts. Society president and school alumnus Steve Fleming said both districts have been receptive to providing space. "We as a historical society have a great history of the school, which has been compiled over the last 40 years and that probably is as good as any rural school in the country," Fleming said. He hopes to showcase the school's history inside the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, rather than at the society's museum in the original post office.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal