Good morning, welcome indie education Newsletter.I'm Rocio Hernandez. nevada independent K-12 education reporter.
This newsletter provides an overview of the latest education stories and highlights interesting educators, students, programs, and other events and resources around the state. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter and receive it by email every week.
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News summary
🏫 Washoe County School Superintendent finalist makes case before school board — The Washoe County Board of Education had the opportunity last week to select five finalists to become the district's next superintendent. He is the district's fifth in the past 10 years.
Questions centered on whether candidates intended to remain in the district “for the long term” and what it would take to retain them. The district's most recent superintendent, Susan Enfield, resigned less than two years after he took office.
The district is inviting community members to share their thoughts on the finalists in an anonymous online survey. Surveys will be accepted until May 3rd, and results will be published on May 8th.
The Board of Education will make a selection in mid-May, and the new superintendent will be inaugurated on July 1st.
✏️ City of Las Vegas accepts school supplies in exchange for parking fines – From May 1st through June 14th, drivers will be able to pay off certain parking violations issued by the City of Las Vegas by donating school supplies. Equipment such as pencils, rulers, scissors, etc. must be new and have a cash value equal to or greater than the amount of the fine.
Eligible citations include exceeding the parking meter's paid time, occupying two spaces, and parking a vehicle in the same location for more than 72 hours. Other citations may also be eligible.
Supplies must be dropped off at the City Parking Services Office located at 350 S. City Parkway within 30 days of the date of the citation. A purchase receipt is required for donations. Supplies will be donated to the Public Education Foundation's Teacher Superstore.
big story
Washoe Teachers Union supports two of four incumbents in school board elections
The Washoe Education Association is signaling its desire for change on the school board by supporting two candidates who the teachers union president said showed a willingness to work with the group in recent interviews.
During this election cycle, the union is supporting Board President Beth Smith and Trustee Alex Woodley, as well as challengers running against Trustees Jeff Church and Diane Nicolette. .
WEA President Karen Evans said the union was impressed with Perry Rosenstein, one of six candidates running against Nicolette for the District G seat. He has experience starting and growing two technology businesses and currently works as a substitute teacher, according to his bio on the county's elections page.
Evans said Nicolette, who recently retired as director of the EL Code Foundation Child Care Center at Truckee Meadows Community College, has been reluctant to engage with the union and does not appear to be a strong supporter of the union. It is said that In his emailed statement, Nicolette said he has worked diligently to support the district's teachers and avoid reliance on any one group of employees.
Mr. Evans said that because of Mr. Hull's past experience as a teacher and his current job as program director for the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, which focuses on blending civics and history, the union was able to help Church and the District A election. He said he is supporting Christine Hull over the third candidate. We provide education to the K-12 classroom.
“Overall, we are looking for a board member that we believe truly supports public education and values the voices of educators, so Christine is a clear candidate for District A in this regard. We feel that Mr. Hull is the best fit,” Evans said.
Church, known for his conservative views and who has been controversial since taking the board seat in 2021, was not surprised by his lack of union support.
“It's not news that a dog bites a person,” he said in an emailed statement. “If the WEA supported the conservatives, it would be front page news.”
school spotlight
Catholic School Work Study Program Providing experiences to high school students and providing tuition assistance
When 17-year-old Evelyn Saldana graduates from high school next year, her resume will include work in a casino's human resources department, a law firm and a radio station.
Saldana was able to experience these different workplaces through the Corporate Work Study Program at Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School in North Las Vegas. The program offers students career opportunities with partner employers such as UnitedHealthcare, Henderson Library, and Southwest Gas. . The school is currently accepting applications for admission for next year.
These partners then pay Catholic schools an annual fee that goes toward subsidizing student tuition. The amount ranges from $25 to $250 per month, depending on household income.
“Our students are literally getting an education here while also being exposed to a variety of career paths,” said Lisa Birkhead, the school's president and former lieutenant governor.
The school is located near the University of Southern Nevada's North Las Vegas campus and is part of the Cristo Rey network, which includes 35 schools across the country and aims to support students from low-income families. Nearly all of her 220 students at the North Las Vegas school are people of color, primarily identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
Work-study programs are similar to internship programs. Saldana, who works in human resources at Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, said she's learning about how benefits work and what to look for in resumes and soft skills such as communication.
“I learned a lot of transferable skills, like phone calls, emails, and things that look easy but aren't, and I feel like I'll need them for my future job,” Saldana said.
She said her experience working at Ellis Island and other work sites also helped the once shy student come out of her shell. Saldana is currently studying criminal justice and psychology in college, she said.
“I didn't really want to talk to anyone. I was very closed off. I knew what I liked and I stuck to it,” she said. “But now I’ve learned that public speaking is something I’m really good at. [I wouldn’t have] I learned that if I hadn't gone through the process of answering the phone on my first day of work. ”
Do you have a student or staff member who should be featured in the next issue of School Spotlight? Share your nomination with me [email protected].
Viewing assignments
Schools Show Off Their Hard Work at Las Vegas Student Farmers Market
Check out the video featured in last week's issue about the huge student farmers market that took place in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Spoiler: There’s a cute chick 🐤
additional credits
CCSD retirees allowed to take up 'essential' teaching jobs
The Clark County Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to require districts to offer vacant positions to eligible retirees if they can prove under state law that they have made efforts to hire non-retirees. It was resolved. Las Vegas Review Journal report.
Tennessee introduces bill that would allow teachers to carry firearms in schools
Teachers and school employees in Tennessee may soon be able to carry handguns on campus, thanks to a bill passed by the General Assembly. nashville public radio report.
event
🍎 Subcommittee on Educational Accountability — Wednesday, May 1, 9 a.m.
Topics on the agenda include a discussion of the School Funding Board's 10-year plan to optimally fund K-12 education and increases in K-12 funding approved by Congress in 2023. , including presentations from the district on how it has impacted teachers and support. staff.
🍎 State Board of Education Meeting — Wednesday, May 1, 2 p.m.
The agenda includes a presentation on the board's planned high school start time study.
🍎 Clark County Board of Education Work Session — Wednesday, May 1, 4:00 p.m.
The agenda includes discussion of a tentative schedule for the superintendent search process.
Featured social media posts
this feat This comes after tribal members told lawmakers that the current schools are in an “unacceptable” condition. This was made possible by bill AB519.