Emily Richmond

Story Archive

Carolyn Goodman: A champion of education: Carolyn Goodman’s tenure at the Meadows School, which she founded, to end as new opportunities beckon; Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010; In December, Carolyn Goodman announced she would retire in June from her position as president of the Meadows School, the nonprofit private campus she founded in 1984 and has led ever since. Goodman, whose husband is Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, spoke with the Sun recently about her plans post-Meadows, including speculation that she will seek to succeed her husband as mayor.
Gibbons' education plan would replace voter-elected board: Friday, Jan. 8, 2010; Gov. Jim Gibbons’ proposed overhaul of public education would include the dismantling of the State Board of Education, a 10-member panel elected by voters.
How Gibbon's proposed cutbacks might be felt in classrooms: Plan would eliminate funding for class-size reduction and all-day kindergarten; Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010; It was unclear how much money districts stand to lose, as Gov. Jim Gibbons hasn’t specified what portion of the eliminated state dollars would be returned to schools. But the proposed cuts would almost certainly require massive layoffs, district officials say.
School board to pick new leaders Wednesday: Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010; The Clark County School Board is scheduled to choose its president, vice president and clerk at a work session Wednesday.
Math help available online for Clark County students: Monday, Jan. 4, 2010; As Clark County students prepare for next week’s semester exams, there’s online math help available at the Regional Professional Development Center.
Schools to state: Keep out of our kitty: Proposals would prevent education dollars from reverting to general fund; Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009; As the year draws to a close, K-12 and higher education officials are looking ahead to see how they might guard against the deep cuts, layoffs and fiscal uncertainty that defined 2009 for Nevada’s public schools.
Democrat assemblywoman won't seek re-election: Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009; CARSON CITY – Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, a 10-year veteran of the Legislature, said today that she won’t seek re-election. The 63-year-old Democrat, who represents Carson City and parts of Washoe County, said she also won’t seek the vacant state Senate seat in Carson City.
Holocaust expert offers experience to instruct colleagues: Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009; When teacher Irv Madnikoff relocated to Las Vegas from Miami four years ago, he brought with him nearly two decades of classroom experience, including having created an award-winning Holocaust studies course that earned congressional praise.
Teacher’s Holocaust remarks spur probe: State law bans district from firing her, however, if she has no previous misconduct; Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009; A high school physical education teacher’s controversial comments to her students that reportedly disputed historical details of the Holocaust might not trigger her firing because state law requires one reprieve for professional misconduct.
Learning from afar taking UNLV far: Online programs help students get degrees, are profitable for school; Monday, Dec. 28, 2009; Kimberly Townsend Little walked the stage at UNLV’s winter commencement ceremonies this month and picked up her doctorate in nursing. For her, it was a rare visit to the campus. She lives in North Carolina and completed her course work online.
A lot is riding on you, coach Hauck: A successful sports program like football can bring in more students, more fans and even more money for a university; Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009; UNLV President Neal Smatresk calls the school's athletic program the “front porch.” “We want people to walk up, look around and hopefully come in and visit...” he said. To spruce up its porch, UNLV hired football coach Bobby Hauck.
Leaving UNLV, going out into the world: UNLV’s winter graduates assess their futures; Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009; More than 3,000 UNLV students received diplomas last week at the Winter Commencement. The work world that awaits is less than welcoming — the economy remains mired in recession and the state’s unemployment rate stands at 11.8 percent.
Education secretary calls Gibbons to urge change: Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009; U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan called Gov. Jim Gibbons on Dec. 8 to express concern that a Nevada statute is blocking the state from qualifying for as much as $175 million in grants for public schools.
Education panel advances plan to qualify for $175 million: Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009; The Silver State is inching a step closer to qualifying for as much as $175 million in federal education dollars.
State lawmakers to draft bill to qualify for federal grant: State must allow using test scores to evaluate teachers to qualify for 'Race to the Top' money; Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009; To put itself back in the running for as much $175 million in federal education dollars, Nevada must quickly change state law.
The Legislative Committee on Education will meet Thursday to discuss how to get the Silver State back in the “Race to the Top,” the competitive grant program offering $4.35 billion for innovation and reform. Nevada’s potential share was estimated at between $60 and $175 million.
Jump starting a proposed academy for the county’s top students: $600,000 appropriation could help start first program in district to group gifted children, but more funding likely needed; Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009; Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act nearly eight years ago, public schools have focused on raising the test scores of their lowest achieving students. That has rankled some parents of students who not only meet but far exceed state and federal education standards.
School district cutting down on overtime pay: Twelve of the district’s 13 divisions have recorded declines in overtime this year; Monday, Dec. 14, 2009; In 2008, when overtime costs — and public outrage — were cresting, the Clark County School District put new rules in place, setting strict limits on the number of extra hours employees could work and changing how those assignments are awarded.
Where schools' overtime cuts have been made: Monday, Dec. 14, 2009; Here’s a breakdown of how the five divisions that cost the School District the most in overtime in 2008 trimmed costs, and how that in turn is affecting the scope and quality of services to the education community:
Moving beyond ‘winter holiday’ controversy: Mom, School District settle differences over son’s assignment; Friday, Dec. 11, 2009; A mother who was upset that her fifth-grade son’s writing assignment on a winter holiday tradition excluded “American Christmas” says she resolved her issues with Clark County School District officials. It took some back and forth, however.
Teacher leader: District collaboration more important than longer lesson plans: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009; Teachers will be at the Clark County School Board meeting today to express concern over new – and more stringent – requirements for their written lesson plans.
Former chancellor backs Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood: As UNLV nears AD hire, Rogers says he never tried to force his hand; Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009; Despite erroneous reports that University of Arizona Athletic Director Jim Livengood had been offered and accepted the same position at UNLV on Friday, he’s still thought to be a strong candidate for the job.
Why leave out 'American' Christmas?: Fifth grader’s assignment to report on winter tradition in another country angers his mom; Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009; When a fifth grade teacher instructed her students to write about any winter holiday tradition other than ones commonly practiced in the United States, she didn’t anticipate how the assignment might be perceived at home.
But the contention and confusion that has ensued demonstrates the murky waters local educators must often wade through when it comes to the holiday season.
The future of our everyday technology: A glimpse into what tomorrow holds for our lives in the home and out on the road, according to UNLV's engineering students; Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009; UNLV’s College of Engineering’s annual senior design competition is an opportunity for students to solve perplexing engineering problems from the everyday — a faster trip across campus — to the highly technical — smarter traffic signals and solar panels.
Superintendent reaches out to retired administrator to boost struggling schools: Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009; Karlene McCormick-Lee retired from her senior administrative post with the Clark County School District in June, but she could soon be back on the payroll as a consultant.
How the economy is failing students: Study shows parents’ financial hardships reflected on students’ report cards; Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009; The Clark County School District has always struggled with its sky-high population of poor children. The number of homeless students is expected to reach 8,000 by the end of the academic year, a 30 percent increase. And a full 44 percent of the district’s students receive free or reduced-price lunches, a commonly used indicator of childhood poverty.
State’s community colleges trying to avoid sacrificing quality for quantity: Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009; In the three tiers of Nevada’s system of higher education, the role of the community college has been constant: There will always be room for new students.
In Youth Forum participants, Smatresk sees future UNLV grads: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009; At the 53rd annual Sun Youth Forum, where he was making his debut as a moderator, UNLV President Neal Smatresk tapped furiously on his iPhone. “I’m telling our recruiters to get over here,” Smatresk said. “These kids are incredible.”
Nevada’s just not for us, many top high schoolers at Sun forum say: Friday, Nov. 27, 2009; At the Sun Youth Forum this week, 100 students were asked whether they planned on living in Nevada as adults.
Teens tackle the issues: Nearly 1,000 students from 50 high schools gather for 53rd annual Sun Youth Forum; Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009; In 1955 then-Sun Publisher Hank Greenspun worried that adults weren’t doing enough listening and too many young voices were going unheard. For the 53rd annual Sun Youth Forum, nearly 1,000 students from 50 high schools gathered Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. They made full use of the opportunity to tackle the issues of the day, including such statewide concerns as whether to legalize marijuana and how to diversify Nevada’s economy.
Las Vegas woman out to show retirees it’s never too late to learn: Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009; For 10 years Elise Hanseman has been promoting the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV as a way for retirees to stay active and learn about various subjects in their free time.
UNLV students feel pinch of economy in wallets and in class: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009; Sitting in a relatively quiet corner of the game room at UNLV’s student union, friends Tara Altizer and Arielle Dickson are finishing their lunches.
Smatresk vows more openness: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009; UNLV President Neal Smatresk’s meeting with the Faculty Senate — and his pledge of better communication about budgetary decisions — appears to have helped smooth some ruffled feathers.
County OKs health clinic despite neighbors' opposition: Residents voice concerns about traffic, location during two-hour discussion; Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009; Despite vocal opposition from some Spring Valley residents, the Clark County Commission unanimously approved a special use permit for a student health clinic at Elaine Wynn Elementary School.
Budget crunch at UNLV results in ... pay raises?: Streamlining administrative work calls for influx of $500,000; Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009; UNLV is spending about $500,000 on raises and new positions for nonteaching administrators, raising hackles among faculty facing unpaid furloughs and support staff who have seen their ranks thinned by layoffs.
Nevada out of ‘race’ for innovation funding: State could get into second round of competition, but only if law barring use of test scores in teacher evaluations is changed; Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009; It’s official: Nevada has been shut out of the “Race to the Top,” a federal grant program offering $4.35 billion to improve the nation’s public schools. Keith Rheault, Nevada’s superintendent of public instruction, said Thursday “it’s looking pretty hopeless ... they won’t even let us come to the starting line.”
School maintenance slipping: To-do list of a division hit by budget cuts has nearly tripled in a year; Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009; As of July 31, the district’s backlog of maintenance work orders had nearly tripled to 12,937 from 4,327 at the end of July 2008, according to information being presented at Thursday’s School Board meeting. According to the report, the district buildings generally are not in “showpiece” condition, nor do they reflect “comprehensive stewardship.”
First grad of Nevada Southern, now UNLV, didn’t expect to be: UNLV donor Jon Cobain, not his class’s valedictorian, was tapped for historic role; Monday, Nov. 9, 2009; Jon Cobain didn’t give much thought to his place in history when he walked across the stage and accepted his college diploma from Nevada Southern, which would later become UNLV.
Success!: Despite the toughest of economic times, UNLV hits mark of $500 million in cash and pledges; Friday, Nov. 6, 2009; Nearly eight years ago multimillionaire businessman and philanthropist Jim Rogers met with Don Snyder, then-president of Boyd Gaming, to explore the possibility of UNLV mounting its first-ever capital campaign. ¶ Consultants were hired to test the university’s readiness for a proposed $250 million drive, and the potential level of community support. ¶ The consultants’ report was far from encouraging: UNLV lacked the heft and infrastructure to attempt such a massive, multiyear undertaking, and community support was lacking. ¶ Rogers — who served five years as the higher education system’s chancellor before retiring in June — not only decided to forge ahead, but he raised the campaign’s target to $500 million. People scoffed. ¶ On Thursday, UNLV President Neal Smatresk told a UNLV Foundation dinner audience of 600 supporters that the goal of $500 million in cash and pledges had been exceeded.
Success: UNLV hits mark of $500 million in cash and pledges: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; Nearly eight years ago multimillionaire businessman and philanthropist Jim Rogers met with Don Snyder, then-president of Boyd Gaming, to explore the possibility of UNLV mounting its first-ever capital campaign. A consultants’ report was far from encouraging: UNLV lacked the heft and infrastructure to attempt such a massive, multiyear undertaking, and community support was lacking. Rogers not only decided to forge ahead, but he raised the campaign’s target to from $250 million to $500 million. People scoffed. On Thursday, UNLV President Neal Smatresk told a UNLV Foundation dinner audience of 600 supporters that the goal of $500 million in cash and pledges had been exceeded.
Program gives incentive to consider college — in eighth grade: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; The eighth grader was curious Wednesday why he had been chosen to attend an off-campus event to motivate him to aim for college, given that middle school was proving to be a challenge.
Permit issue puts clinic on hold: School District didn’t seek county approval to build health center; Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009; Much of the anger voiced at a Spring Valley neighborhood meeting Monday about a proposed student health clinic at Elaine Wynn Elementary School was directed at the Clark County School District for not having previously discussed the plan publicly.
UNLV announces $12.6 million scholarship program: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009; UNLV President Neal Smatresk this morning announced the largest active endowed student scholarship program in the history of Nevada higher education -- $12.6 million from the Engelstad Family Foundation.
Neighbors speak out against school clinic: Principal says children benefit, but some think area would look impoverished; Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009; The burden of identifying students with health issues has increasingly fallen to local public schools, some of which share their campuses with independently operated health clinics. Over the years the health clinics at six Clark County campuses have done more than just connect needy students with basic care. Staff have spotted potentially life-threatening illnesses and diseases that might otherwise have gone undiagnosed.
Math teacher posted numbers for championship football team: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009; Sports fans might have recognized the name of a teacher featured in a Las Vegas Sun story about single-sex classes at West Prep’s middle school.
On Nevada Day, how well do you know Nevada?: Residents give their answers: Right, wrong and creative; Friday, Oct. 30, 2009; Less than a month after moving to Nevada in fifth grade, Katharine Conti impressed her school’s music teacher by learning all the words to the state song. How unfortunate for Conti that she was one of dozens of Nevadans approached Thursday at the DMV in Henderson by a reporter armed with questions about the Silver State. Nevada Day, which falls on Saturday and commemorates the date the state entered the Union, will be observed as a state holiday today.
In single-sex experiment, school failed to measure: District has no data for one campus, so questions are left unanswered; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009; For six years a Las Vegas junior high school separated its seventh graders by gender for reading classes, in a bid to boost student achievement.
For shot at a jackpot, state must ante up, alter law: Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009; Nevada has the chance to qualify for as much as $200 million in federal education grants. But to do so, the Legislature will have to change state law in a hurry. That would require a special legislative session that carries at least a $100,000 price tag. Is the gamble worth it? Gov. Jim Gibbons says no, unless there is another reason to call legislators to Carson City for a special session.
Crime fighting dogs — and their handlers — to have their day: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009; The 19th annual Las Vegas Police K-9 Trials are this weekend, with 36 police dog-officer teams from across the United States and one from Mexico competing. Metro Officer Mike Horn, president of the nonprofit group behind the event, joined the force in 1980 and the K-9 unit six years later.
Idea behind charter is already in action: Magnet high school program helps train future teachers; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009; John Jasonek, executive director of the Clark County Education Association, has asked the State Board of Education to sponsor his proposed charter school, where high school students could simultaneously earn high school and college credit for classes toward teaching degrees.
Schools have valued partner in Elaine Wynn’s group: Since 2003, it has made a big difference helping where parents, schools fall short; Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009; More than a decade ago Elaine Wynn approached the Clark County School Board with an offer — to help establish a local affiliate of a national organization that helps find community partners for needy campuses. The group even offered to set up a student health clinic.