Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

EDITORIAL:

Nevada students, teachers need our support

Nevada’s chronic struggles to create a robust education system reflect not just an unwillingness to adequately fund our schools as a public policy priority, but also a lack of strong, consistent leadership in pursuing other ways to support our students.

Consider these three recent stories, which illustrate ways we can support our students — or shoot ourselves in the foot.

One step forward

State Treasurer Kate Marshall kicked off the second year of a program that opens a college savings account for every kindergartener in the state. Marshall, who is running for secretary of state, said the $50 in the account could grow to $1,000 by the time the children are college age, which might pay for some books.

But the larger message is this: “You’re telling a child in a real, tangible way, ‘You are college bound.’”

That’s an important message, and one that should be reiterated. Every student should leave high school well-prepared for a job or college, and they all should have the opportunity to pursue a college education if they desire.

Another step forward

The Sunday recently looked at how teachers at Jydstrup Elementary deal with a student body that includes pupils who speak 37 languages. Teachers are finding ways to bridge cultural and language gaps through song, exercise and lessons.

Learning about diversity and other cultures should start in kindergarten.

“The impact of learning about other people is so (important) at kindergarten,” kindergarten teacher Kara O’Brien said. “You teach kids to look on the inside rather than their appearances.”

The Clark County School District has an incredibly diverse student body, and it’s refreshing to see how teachers are creatively handling a challenging situation.

One step backward

In Reno, the Washoe County School Board agreed to buy out Superintendent Pedro Martinez’s contract. It’s a sad story. Martinez is a highly regarded administrator who worked as a deputy superintendent in Clark County before taking the job in Reno. The Washoe County board gave him high marks until a majority of members wrongly alleged that he had falsified his credentials, and hastily tried to fire him this summer. The state attorney general rebuked the board for breaking the open-meeting law, and Martinez sued for wrongful termination.

Trying to mediate an agreement, a judge said it was “impossible” for the superintendent to continue working with the board and recommended a settlement that will cost Reno schools about $800,000, including legal fees.

School boards have every right to fire a superintendent who isn’t doing the job, but this case was egregious.

This should be a reminder for education leaders: They are there to do what’s best for the students, not engage in bizarre public battles, as the Reno board did.

This is not the way to start a school year, and it puts a black mark on Nevada’s education system.

The bottom line

Students, teachers and schools in Nevada need our support. That starts by providing students the opportunity to live out their dreams through good teaching and affordable college programs. It also includes rewarding and supporting teachers and administrators who do good work.

The community has a vested interest in education — those kindergartners one day will lead the state — and it’s in our own best interest to do all we can to encourage, help and support everyone involved in education.

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