Month: January 2022

Nevada Ed-Watch 1/27/2022

Posted on by Opportunity 180

The Ed-Watch series is designed to increase access to information on what decisions are being made regarding public education in Clark County and Nevada.

Clark County School District Board of Trustees 

What is the Board of Trustees & what are they responsible for? The CCSD Trustees are publicly elected decision-makers for the school district. They are responsible for providing oversight to the Superintendent and establishing District-wide policy. Trustees are accountable to work with their communities to improve student achievement.

Click here to learn more and see a list of current Trustees
Click here to find your Trustee District

How often does the Board of Trustees meet? Trustees meet twice per month (second and fourth Thursdays) at 5 pm both virtually and at the Edward A. Greer Education Center Board Room (2832 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89121).

Click here for a full list of Trustees meetings and agendas
Click here to visit Hope For Nevada’s #NVEd Calendar

Can community members engage at Trustee meetings? Decision-making bodies benefit greatly from hearing public input and multiple perspectives. Currently, members of the public can submit comments on agenda and non-agenda items through email or voice recording. Public comment can be provided in person, via email, or via voice recording. Email comments should be submitted to Boardmtgcomments@nv.ccsd.net. To submit a voice recording on items listed on the meeting agenda, call 702-799-1166. Voice recorded public comment is limited to 1 minute 30 seconds.

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Clark County School District Board of Trustees Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda.
Watch the meeting playback on Facebook or CCSD EduVision.

What happened at this meeting?

Public Comment

Members of the public shared public comments regarding: 

  • Concerns about the implementation of AB469.
  • Concerns about violence in schools and the safety of students and staff.
  • The need to hire more Black and Latino male educators and administrators. 

Consent Agenda Highlights:

  • Approval of Annual Report of CCSD Authorized Charter School Performance Report
  • Approval of a Memorandum of Agreement between CCSD and Acceleration Academies to support students that have disengaged from school
  • Approval of an agreement with the Give Better Group to support the deployment, accountability, and communication of the CCSD’s federal rescue plan dollars spending priorities. 

Board Approved MOA with School Administrators & Professional-Technical Employees for Juneteenth holiday. 

The agreement adds Juneteenth to the list of granted holidays for members of the Clark County School Administrators & Professional-Technical Employee union. Juneteenth became recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, commemorating the end of slavery by marking the day that enslaved people in Texas were finally informed of their emancipation.  

Explore the agreement. 

Trustees Approved Amended Calendar 2021-2022 School Year

The update to the calendar reflects make-up days that account for CCSD’s 5-day pause related to COVID mitigation. Students will now have school on February 7 and April 28 as make-up. 

Access the updated school calendar for students. 

Access the updated school calendar for staff. 

Trustees Heard Update on Assembly Bill 469 Compliance 

Assembly Bill 469 (2017) required the implementation of a plan to reorganize Clark County School District following the passage of Assembly Bill 394 (2015) which provides principals with increased autonomy over schools and budgets. 

The discussion was a continuation of an AB469 monitoring discussion related to the reorganization of CCSD. CCSD staff gave an update on progress towards compliance, indicating that the final items CCSD needs to comply with are items contingent upon negotiations with bargaining units and/or require decisions that the district interprets to not be in the best interest of kids. Trustees discussed the need for training on the history of AB469, and it is anticipated that the State Board of Education will provide guidance to the Nevada Department of Education to conduct this training. Further, trustees discussed the need to resolve the issue of compliance with the law in order to ensure more time at board meetings can be focused on student outcomes. 

Trustees also appointed Trustee Guzman to be the CCSD Trustee representative on the State Board of Education’s Assembly Bill 469 Subcommittee (4-3).  

Members of the public shared comments on this item regarding: 

  • Support for full implementation of AB469.
  • Opposition to AB469 due to the additional resources needed at the school level.
  • Support for adding a trustee to the AB469 subcommittee convened by the State Board of Education. 

Learn more about this agenda item from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

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Nevada Ed-Watch 1/20/2022

Posted on by Opportunity 180

The Ed-Watch series is designed to increase access to information on decisions being made regarding public education in Clark County and Nevada.

Nevada State Board of Education

What is the State Board of Education & what are they responsible for? The Nevada State Board of Education adopts regulations based on Nevada laws, which are passed down to individual school districts in Nevada to implement. The Board has 11 total (7 appointed and 4 publicly elected) members.

How often does the State Board meet? The Nevada State Board of Education meets once per month on Thursdays at 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM. Click here to see the 2022 Board Meeting Schedule. Click here to visit Hope For Nevada’s #NVEd Calendar.

Can community members engage at State Board Meetings? A time for public comment is provided at the beginning (for agenda items) and at the conclusion (on any matter) of each Board meeting. Members of the public may provide public comment in writing via email; public comment will be accepted via email for the duration of the meeting and shared with the State Board of Education during the public comment periods. Public comment may be emailed to NVBoardED@doe.nv.gov.

Click here for a list of all State Board Members.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Nevada State Board of Education Meeting

Click here to see the regular SBOE meeting agenda.

Click here to watch the meeting playback.

What happened at the regular meeting?

Public Comment #1

Written public comment was read into the record by staff regarding: 

  • The need to ensure AB469 is being upheld.
  • The willingness of the CCSD Board of Trustees Officers to work directly with the State Board of Education to ensure compliance with AB469. 

Superintendent’s Report

  • Pupil-Centered Funding Plan Update:
    • The Commission on School Funding has affirmed their support of the definition for “at-risk” weighted funding category and is currently reviewing the cost of education index. 
  • Overview of Teacher Recruitment & Retention programs funded by federal relief funding:
    • Nevada received approximately $1.5 billion in federal relief funding for K-12 education. 10% of the funds are reserved for the The Nevada Department of Education to run statewide programs. Four priority areas were identified for the use of those funds: Advancing Equity, Teacher Recruitment and Retention, Social-Emotional Learning & Mental Health, and Efficiencies for Long-Term Success. Board members received an update on Teacher Recruitment and Retention program including: 
      • Incentivizing Pathways to Teaching – $20.7 million
      • DonorsChoose Grant Program $8 million
      • Nevada Educator Preparation Institute and Collaborative (NV-EPIC) $6.1 million
      • Nevada Educator Preparation Institute and Collaborative (NV-EPIC) $2.9 million
      • Teaching and Training CTE Rural and Urban Expansion and Support $2.3 million
      • Statewide Leadership Networks $3.2 million

Click here to view the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Focus Area Overview. 

Board Approved Consent Agenda 

Board Heard Update on Nevada 2020-21 Graduation Rates

In 2021, 30,479 students graduated, bringing the state’s 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate to 81%, down from 82.5% in 2020 and 84.1% in 2019. The largest graduation rate gap among race/ethnic groups statewide was between Asain students at 92.3% and Black students at 70.3%. Among students part of special populations, students who are in foster care had the lowest 2021 graduation rate at 43.3%. 

The majority of students continue to graduate with a Standard Diploma (57.6%) with 18.2% earning an Advanced Diploma and 23.3% earning a College and Career Readiness Diploma. Board members discussed the importance of prioritizing college and career readiness diplomas as the default for students, rather than the Standard diploma, in order to continue progressing towards the Department of Education’s goal of increasing the number of students who are considered college and career ready upon graduation.

Click here to view the full presentation. 

Board Heard Presentation on Nevada Commission on Mentoring 

Board members received an update on mentoring initiatives from Karl Catarata, Chairman of the Nevada Commission on Mentoring.  The purpose of the commission is to support, facilitate and coordinate mentoring programs in Nevada. The commission has established three priorities: ​​1) Establishing a National Mentoring Affiliate 2) Providing capacity-building grants to local mentoring organizations in Nevada through return of funding, and 3) Statewide Annual Conference on Mentoring.

Click here to view the presentation. 

Board Heard Update from AB469 Subcommittee

Board members heard a presentation from the AB469 Subcommittee regarding the Subcommittee’s progress on the implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 469 from the 2017 Legislative Session. The purpose of the subcommittee is to create guardrails and definitions that clarify the intention of the law for principals who intend to fill staff positions with substitutes.  Board members heard an update on the development of definitions for the terms “the greatest extent possible” and “in good standing” as related to principles to staffing. Board members discussed the need to further define “to the greatest extent possible” to include more explicit guidelines.  

  • in good standing 
    • The employee has the appropriate license for the open position 
    • Their previous evaluation is positive
    • Not actively engaged in disciplinary proceedings 
    • Good attendance 
  • to the greatest extent possible 
    • The principal has the ability to see all eligible candidates
    • The principal has made every effort to hire a candidate 
    • The district must develop procedures for principles to ensure compliance with “to the greatest extent possible” 
    • The district cannot place an employee without the consent of the principal 

The subcommittee also provided examples of potential consequences for noncompliance with the law including district financial oversight, monitoring of the superintendent and/or monitoring of the board of trustees, receivership of the district, and suspension or removal of the superintendent or board of trustees.  Based on feedback from the board, the subcommittee will re-review their recommendations and bring them back to the board for final approval. Upon formal acceptance of the recommendations by the board, they will be submitted to the Nevada Legislature.

Click here to view the presentation. 

Board Heard Update on Progress of the State Plan for the Improvement of Pupils (STIP)

Each year, the department updates the State Plan for the Improvement of Pupils (STIP) aligned to needed improvements in student outcomes. NDE staff provided the board with an update on two goals: 

  • Move up in State rankings from 18th in September 2020 to Top 10 by July 2026 in K-12 Student Achievement, as measured by Quality Counts.
    • Update: Nevada maintained its standing at 18th as of September 2021. 
  • Increase the overall number of students receiving the College and Career Ready (CCR) diploma from 23.9% in July 2021 to 50% by July 2026 and eliminate gaps of student groups while raising the overall average.
    • Update: In comparing students receiving CCR diplomas, Nevada saw an 0.6% decrease between the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021.

Click here to view the full presentation.


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Nevada Ed-Watch 1/13/2022

Posted on by Opportunity 180

The Ed-Watch series is designed to increase access to information on what decisions are being made regarding public education in Clark County and Nevada.

Clark County School District Board of Trustees 

What is the Board of Trustees & what are they responsible for? The CCSD Trustees are publicly elected decision-makers for the school district. They are responsible for providing oversight to the Superintendent and establishing District-wide policy. Trustees are accountable to work with their communities to improve student achievement.

Click here to learn more and see a list of current Trustees
Click here to find your Trustee District

How often does the Board of Trustees meet? Trustees meet twice per month (second and fourth Thursdays) at 5 pm both virtually and at the Edward A. Greer Education Center Board Room (2832 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89121).

Click here for a full list of Trustees meetings and agendas
Click here to visit Hope For Nevada’s #NVEd Calendar

Can community members engage at Trustee meetings? Decision-making bodies benefit greatly from hearing public input and multiple perspectives. Currently, members of the public can submit comments on agenda and non-agenda items through email or voice recording. Public comment can be provided in person, via email, or via voice recording. Email comments should be submitted to Boardmtgcomments@nv.ccsd.net. To submit a voice recording on items listed on the meeting agenda, call 702-799-1166. Voice recorded public comment is limited to 1 minute 30 seconds.

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Clark County School District Board of Trustees Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda.
Watch the meeting playback on Facebook or CCSD EduVision.

What happened at this meeting?

Public Comment #1 on Non-Agenda Items

Members of the public provided comments on non-agenda items regarding: 

  • Concerns about the teacher and staff shortages.
  • Concerns about the district “5-day pause”. 
  • Concerns about unintended consequences of the new enrollment system. 
  • Concerns about the use of masks in schools. 
  • Benefits and sick leave for substitute teachers to address the substitute teacher shortage.
  • Concerns regarding CCSD Regulation 5112 – Change of School Assignment and the impact of school reassignment on student mental health.
  • Concerns from students that the dress code policy is oppressive toward female students.
  • Requests to allow students to remain in-person for their program classes if schools are closed again due to COVID.
  • Concerns about an impending school closure and the impact on student mental health.
  • Exhaustion of teachers due to the teacher shortage.
  • Concerns about the new CCSD zone variance policy and the impact on siblings who will have to attend different schools.
  • Concerns that mandatory reporters are not reporting child abuse and abusers continuing to be employed.
  • Concerns regarding teachers being allowed to take cell phones from students.
  • Considerations for redefining the qualifications in place for substitute licensure.

Click here to view written public comment on non-agenda items submitted online.

Consent Agenda Highlights:

  • Approval of student expulsions according to NRS 392.467 (Board Policy 5114 and Regulations 5114 and 5141.1).
  • Approval to establish a Student Training Agreement between CCSD and the Valley Health System, L.L.C. for students to receive clinical experience in a healthcare setting.
  • Approval to allocate funds made available from the U.S Department of Education through the Nevada Department of Education state set-aside ESSER budget to provide opportunities for CCSD to initiate a districtwide Tier I Restorative Practices Implementation Project in an amount of $2,597,490.04.
  • Authorization to submit and implement the state-funded program for Salary Incentives for eligible 2020-2021 licensed personnel to be paid from FY22 in the approximate amount of $509,493.28.
  • Authorization to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement between CCSD and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Division of Environmental Protection Bureau of Air Quality Planning and Churchill County School District to replace one eligible diesel-powered school bus with one zero-emission school bus and purchase and install one charging station for the replacement zero-emission school bus.

Members of the public shared comments on this agenda item regarding:

  • A request for quicker school year expulsions reporting.
  • Congratulations to CCSD’s new hires.
  • Concerns that school libraries do not have a wide variety of books.
  • Concerns that staff do not have enough sick days.
  • Concerns about the restorative justice program.

Click here to view a detailed list of all consent agenda items.

Trustees Heard Update on ​​Plan for Path Forward Program of Distance Education and Plan for the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction

In order to open for the 2021-2022 school year and access federal reopening funds, CCSD submitted a plan to the Nevada Department of Education outlining plans for virtual learning and a safe return to in-person learning. Trustees heard an update on the revisions to this plan, as required every six months. The revisions included: 

  • Updates to language outline the correct usage of masks.
  • Information on student COVID screening. 
  • Information about safety regarding student transportation. 
  • Social-emotional supports and resources for staff. 

The revised plan will be submitted to the Nevada Department of Education on January 14 for approval. 

CCSD will also begin the Test to Stay Program, which is a COVID mitigation strategy for individuals who have been exposed to someone who tested positive in the school setting. This is a voluntary program in which students and staff can opt-in. 

Students who test positive and are symptomatic will engage in distance learning, managed by their school. CCSD staff clarified that schools are not offering full-time distance learning. 

Members of the public provided comments regarding: 

  • Concerns about the COVID testing and notification protocols. 
  • The need to implement quality distance education for students who are unable to be in-person.

Click here to view public comments submitted online 

Click here to view the revised plan. 

Click here to read more about this in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Trustees Approve Agreements between CCSD and Employee Bargaining Units (6-0-1)

The bargaining units include the Clark County Education Association, Education Support Employees Association, Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-Technical Employees, Police Officers Association, and the Police Administrators Association. The agreement provides for FTE and 5 unions.  

The agreements allow for two $1,000 bonuses, with the first to be paid for FTE with regular status on January 1, 2022. The second bonus will be distributed to qualifying employees who remain active through the end of the school year. Substitute teachers, temps, and senior leadership will not receive retention bonuses. The total cost of the bonuses is $66 million. 

The motion passed 6-0-1. One trustee abstained from voting due to a potential conflict of interest.

Click here to view the summary. 

Public Comment #2

Members of the public provided comments on non-agenda items regarding:

  • The approach to translation of IEPs and how comprehensive they are.
  • The substitute teacher hiring process.
  • Concerns about the expulsion rate for Black students and the need for a plan to ensure Black student excellence.

Upcoming Meeting

The next regular board meeting will take place Thursday, January 27, at 5:00 pm.

Adjournment

Prior to adjournment, a token of appreciation was given to Linda Cavazos for her term as President of the Board of School Trustees.

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