Last night marked a shift in leadership within the Clark County School District as four new trustees were sworn in to the School Board. During the ceremony, which included local student performances, Lydia Dominguez, Tameka Henry, Lorena Biassotti, and Emily Stevens took their oaths of office, beginning their terms.
During the ceremony, each trustee made brief inaugural speeches, expressing their commitment to addressing pressing educational challenges. According to News 3, the trustees have a roster of priorities to start to address, ranging from safety enhancements to grading reforms. "It would be our safety that would have to be something that we really need to relook and reevaluate how we can enhance our safety measures," Lydia Dominguez, representing District B.
Tameka Henry, now at the helm of District C, emphasized the critical shortage of licensed educators in classrooms. "I really want all of our classrooms to be filled with a licensed educator, right?" Henry asserted in an interview with News 3. Her comments reflect a broader concern for the quality of education, honing in on the need for students to have access to knowledgeable and skilled teachers across all subject areas.
Shaping policy around educational materials also took center stage, as District E's Lorena Biassotti highlighted challenges regarding Policy 6160 or 6161. "I think we need to revise that policy and make it so where more parents are- can be involved, and that their opinions are taken into account more so than the librarian or the principal," Biassotti said, as per News 3. The discussion on educational materials is poised to become a key item on the board's agenda.
Furthermore, Emily Stevens, the newly inducted trustee for District A, critically addressed the grading Reform Initiative. "The grading Reform Initiative. Anybody can look it up online. They can look it up on CCSD's website. It's a failure," Stevens shared with News 3. With children of her own in the district, Stevens has witnessed the impact firsthand and is determined to see a shift in how student performance is assessed.
As the new trustees begin their roles in school district governance, the community remains attentive. According to KTNV, all trustees have expressed a commitment to making a positive impact for students and educators. With tasks such as hiring key district personnel ahead, along with a work session on tomorrow and their first regular board meeting on Thursday, the trustees are set to begin their duties.
