Education

Joe Downtown: Latest 5K run ideas include squirt guns and striptease: June 15, 2013; By Joe Schoenmann; As a not-so-popular teenager, she took up running. When the other kids saw she was good at it, high school life became easier. Almost two decades later, Tanya Carrier is convinced running is a catalyst for positive change.

With negotiations underway, district finds its superintendent salary is competitive: June 14, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; As contract negotiations continue with new Clark County Schools Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky, district officials learned the salary for their top administrator is in line with those of its peer districts. Pat Skorkowsky was appointed to a four-year term earlier this month. His predecessor, Dwight Jones, who abruptly resigned in March for personal reasons, was paid a base salary of $270,000 per year.

New regulations for evaluating Nevada teachers win approval: June 14, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; The Nevada Board of Education unanimously adopted legislative changes to a new teacher evaluation system rolling out this fall. In 2011, state lawmakers mandated a four-tiered rating system that grades teachers as being "highly effective," "effective," "minimally effective" or "ineffective" based on student test scores and how well teachers model good teaching practices.

Sandoval says yes to tax-free comped meals, no to legislative committee: June 13, 2013; By Cy Ryan; Gov. Brian Sandoval wrapped up his work Thursday on bills passed by the 2013 Legislature, signing six into law, including the agreement that the state could not collect sales or use tax on complimentary meals given to some players in casinos or on the free food provided to their employees.

Think tank's campaign again puts it on collision course with teachers union: June 12, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; The Nevada Policy Research Institute is launching another campaign to encourage teachers to drop their union memberships.

'I am a reformer': New schools chief Skorkowsky shares plans for district's future: June 12, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; Pat Skorkowsky has big plans to move the Clark County School District forward. The new superintendent sat down with the Sun's editorial board on Tuesday to share his vision for the nation's fifth largest school district.

Las Vegas High senior ends K-12 years on perfect notes: June 12, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; When Natasha Greene was in elementary school, she set herself a lofty goal: Make it to graduation without missing a single day of school. Friday, the 18-year-old senior did just that, graduating from Las Vegas High School with a perfect attendance record from kindergarten through 12th grade. That means for the past 13 years — or 2,340 school days — Greene has never missed a day of school. Not a single one. Not only that, Greene finished her schooling with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

Nevada’s high school graduation rate third lowest in nation: June 11, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; Despite making some gains, Nevada has the third worst graduation rate in the nation, according to an Education Week report released last week. In fact, the Clark County School District was still named the nation's third biggest "dropout epicenter," behind New York City Public Schools and Los Angeles Unified School District. Education Week projects 9,552 nongraduates in Clark County's class of 2013, up from 5,754 nongraduates last year.

92-year-old instructor embodies UNLV’s lifelong learning program: June 11, 2013; By Alison Saclolo; “Was anyone else alive during the Great Depression? Just me?” Ruth Elliott grinned at her students, who had exploded with laughter. Elliott, who will turn 92 in July and describes herself as being in her 92nd year of life, simply shrugged. Her question wasn't completely out of left field. Her class was entirely composed of retired and semiretired individuals, all of them at least 50 years old. The nonagenarian, who has six children, 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, is the oldest instructor at UNLV's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

With legislative successes, Hispanic caucus enjoying its newfound strut: June 11, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; The new driver privilege law marks only one of the achievements of a Hispanic legislative caucus that has begun to show its strength as a major player in Nevada politics.

Page ascends to top spot on Nevada Board of Regents: June 10, 2013; By Sun Staff; Members of the Nevada Board of Regents have selected Kevin J. Page as the board's new chairman.

Stars not in alignment as state unveils its school-ranking system: June 7, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; More than 100 Clark County public schools' ratings were downgraded under Nevada's new school accountability system unveiled Friday morning. The downgraded schools included 20 "top-performing" campuses stripped of their five-star rankings and demoted to a middling three stars.

How your child's school could change now that the Legislature has adjourned: June 7, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; It makes for good politics when legislators say they're doing everything for the kids, but sometimes they're right. Parents with children in the Clark County School District can expect some major changes as a result of bills the Legislature passed during the past few months.

At Green Valley graduation, tribute to a fallen classmate is 'just enough': June 7, 2013; By Alison Saclolo; On Thursday morning, the crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center burst into cheers for a gone-but-not-forgotten member of the Green Valley High School family. William Mootz, 17, died in August 2012 after he fell into the Pittman Wash during a downpour and was pulled away by violent rushing waters. After an extensive search, his body was found in Wetland Parks, three days before he was supposed to start his senior year.

Regents to provide $2.6 million 'bridge' for Northern Nevada colleges facing cuts under state's new funding formula: June 6, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; Nevada's higher education leaders unanimously approved $2.6 million in "mitigation" funding to help Northern Nevada community colleges transition to a new funding formula. Gov. Brian Sandoval's budget, approved by the Nevada Legislature just a few days ago, includes a new funding formula for Nevada's seven colleges and universities.

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