AMARGOSA VALLEY -- Residents of Nye County from Amargosa Valley north will see their projects done first if the school bond initiative passes Nov. 7, Nye County School Board President Debbie Wescoatt said Thursday.

Wescoatt talked to a small gathering of a handful of parents at the Amargosa Valley Elementary School, in the first of a series of town hall meetings promoting this fall's bond initiative. Nye County school board members Tracie Ward and Cindy Marcotte also attended.

The rollover of the bond initiative will result in $140 million to $150 million in revenue for the school district over 10 years, Wescoatt said. The 10-year bond issue expires in 2008. It allows the school district the funds to build new schools without having to go out for a bond issue on each occasion.

Wescoatt said Pahrump is averaging 500 more elementary students each year. By the time the Floyd Elementary School opens in August 2007, Pahrump will probably need another school, she said.

"At one point we even talked about building a new school here, a new elementary school. Then I've heard today people here want a high school," Wescoatt said. "If your growth continues, in a couple years it might be feasible. But right now it's not."

School Principal Mary Sue Morin said if Amargosa Valley had its own high school, the Beatty High School might be forced to close. Beatty High School only had 134 students on count day last Friday; Morin said about 24 of them take the 30-mile bus ride from Amargosa Valley.

Amargosa Valley Elementary School, kindergarten through eighth grade, had 192 pupils last Friday, an increase of 17 over last year, which amounts to a 9.7 percent increase.

Morin said the first and second grades have about 10 or 11 pupils in each class and fourth grade only nine, but the middle school grades are getting crowded with 24 students per class.

Nye County School Superintendent Rob Roberts said if the enrollment of 192 pupils increases to 400, the school district may be able to build a new elementary school. The school district also could just build the basic footprint of a school, he said, like a kitchen, gym, cafeteria and multipurpose room.

Morin said school pupils would like a new gym, as the existing gym is also used for Amargosa Valley town board meetings.

Parent Kathy Barent asked why the existing school had to be replaced, inquiring if there was structural damage. Wescoatt said the Amargosa Valley senior center could move into the old school if a new one were built.

Barent complained parents in Amargosa Valley can't attend Nye County school board meetings.

"Board meetings can be video-conferenced to Amargosa Valley. All you have to do is ask," Wescoatt said.

Other parents talked about more simple requests, like more grass and shade on the school grounds for the hotter months.

Teacher Dennis Rafferty urged the school district to fence in the playground. He said two baby rattlesnakes have been found there.

If impact fees of $1,600 per new home constructed in the Pahrump Regional Planning District generate enough money, the school district will have other revenue to pay for improvements in places like Amargosa Valley, Wescoatt said.

The Nye County School District has a local tax rate on property of 58 cents per $100 of valuation in addition to the standard 75 cents per $100 levied by school districts statewide.

The school district bond initiative will be the first question on the ballot, Wescoatt said.

"Talk to every one you know and encourage them to vote yes," Roberts said.