Children of ‘at-risk’ school scurry to welcome first lady

Benjamin Grove

Friday, Oct. 16, 1998 | 11:21 a.m.

Teacher Priscilla Rocha said she hasn't slept since Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her stop at Halle Hewetson Elementary School during a fund-raising trip to Las Vegas today.

Clinton planned her Las Vegas trip to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Jan Laverty Jones. Jones, a friend of Rocha, steered Clinton to the at-risk school, Rocha said.

"I'm even more excited than the kids," Rocha, who is also a candidate for the Nevada State School Board, said. "I tell them that they are not going to work in the casinos serving somebody else's water. They want to be like Hillary."

Hewetson Principal Lore Carrillo late last week got word from the White House "advance team" that the first lady would be stopping at the school. Clark County School District officials sent in crews of workers to dress up the school with new paint and work on the grounds.

"I wish she would come more often," said one worker who was slapping off-white paint onto a wall at Hewetson on Wednesday. "Maybe I could get some more overtime."

Students on Thursday practiced how to conduct an orderly assembly and made "It Takes a Village" posters, an appreciative nod to the first lady's book.

"They're very excited," Carillo said. "We've been telling them that they are very special because of this visit. This is a unique opportunity for them."

Students seemed shocked that the first lady had considered their school.

"I know it is hard for her to get to places, and I know she is very busy," 8-year-old Melissa Gill said. "I'm surprised she has enough time to come to our school."

Several parents also said they were grateful to the first lady for stopping at Hewetson.

"I say, 'You go, girl,' " said Lisa Robinson, mother of 9-year-old Whitney.

Parents also said they did not care about the Clintons' personal problems.

"I don't pay attention to that," said Robert Sao, father of a second-grade daughter. "People should focus on our economy or what is going on in other nations -- what is happening in Kosovo -- instead of the Lewinsky matter."

Roy Martin Middle School student Briana Jackson, who was picking up younger siblings at Hewetson on Wednesday, said Hillary Clinton was "cool," but she had harsh words for her husband.

"He should lose his job," Briana said. "He should have to do community service."

Clinton and her husband spent part of the day Thursday hosting panels in Washington about violence in schools. Clinton has put children and women's issues at the top of her agenda in six years as first lady.

"I see Hillary as an inspiration to women and as a role model to students," Rocha said. "She cares enough to come to an at-risk school."