LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Clark County District Board of Trustees is making strides to include the community as they search for the next school superintendent. On Tuesday night, the board announced it has narrowed its search to three candidates: Jesse Welsh, the CEO of Nevada State High School; Ben Shuldiner, the Superintendent of Lansing School District; and Jhone Ebert, the current State Superintendent of Public Instruction. A community forum has been scheduled for Monday, March 10, 2025, at 5 p.m. at Rancho High School to allow the public to meet the candidates directly.
"The board has decided to include the community in the process. There will be an opportunity for students and parents to connect," said Nanciann Perez, of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), the firm assisting with the superintendent search. During the forum, candidates will hold separate sessions with parents, students, staff, and community members. For those unable to attend, the sessions will also be livestreamed, enabling broader participation. Ahead of the event, individuals can submit questions via a dedicated form available on the superintendent search webpage.
"There will be a form available for those who cannot attend in person; questions can be submitted starting Friday, February 28, 2025," Perez added. She emphasized the importance of community feedback, describing it as beneficial for the trustees' decision-making process.
Rebecca Dirks-Garcia, actively involved with several schools and an administrator on the local parent Facebook page, expressed the importance of engagement. "It is really important for the community to be engaged; this leader is incredibly important," she highlighted. She urged parents to provide feedback either by attending the forum or following along online, stating, "Trustees need to listen to the feedback and be prepared to justify the choice they make." This sentiment drives the goal of transparency and accountability within the selection process.
Meanwhile, parents and teachers within Edwardsville District 7 are also being called to action. Starting February 28, 2025, District 7 will distribute surveys to gauge community opinions related to potential changes to school start times and transportation logistics. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton announced at the February 24 school board meeting, “This survey is going to ask some specific questions to gauge the opinions of the community as it relates to these changes. This will also help us understand the impact of the changes on our students.”
The survey will remain open until March 7, 2025, with results set to be discussed at the board's special meeting on March 10. Shelton encouraged families to dedicate 15 to 20 minutes of their time to contribute valuable insights. The board members' previous informational meeting addressed proposals to modify bus routes and school start times, aiming for efficiency and reduced transportation costs.
Among the proposed changes, intermediate schools would start at 7:30 AM, primary schools at 7:30 AM, middle schools at 8:45 AM, and high schools at 9:00 AM. These options stem from feedback taken from earlier community surveys, presenting opportunities for improved student schedules and extracurricular activities.
The resonance of community engagement is also evident at New Hanover High School (NHHS) where the school hosted an open house meeting on February 27, 2025. This gathering aimed to gather feedback from parents and alumni about the school's vision and renovation plans, prompted by the county's recently funded master plan aimed at enhancing the school environment.
Attendees engaged with displayed boards outlining future construction plans and discussions about the heritage of NHHS. Alumni like Ben Ivey, who attended the school nearly 50 years ago, expressed thoughts on preservation and modernization. "The campus had grown, obviously, to include both sides of Market Street. It was a challenge going from one end of the campus to the other," Ivey recollected.
Ivey emphasized the importance of maintaining the school’s legacy, saying, "I’m just hoping they don’t take away the history." Meanwhile, Geoffrey Rempel, another parent, voiced the need for modernizations, advocating, "It needs to be freshened for security; the entire footprint needs to be redone to accommodate a modern school campus in 2025.”
This sentiment captures the essence of community aspirations – balancing the need for modern facilities with the preservation of their educational heritage. Enthusiasm for modernization is coupled with nostalgia, stressing the importance of history within community educational spaces. The efforts across Clark County, Edwardsville District 7, and New Hanover exemplify proactive approaches aiming to engage communities meaningfully, impacting the future of education positively.