Paul Takahashi

Education Reporter

Paul was born in New York City and grew up in a New Jersey suburb, exit 163. He studied journalism at Northwestern University because he loves to tell stories about issues affecting the everyday lives of ordinary Americans. Previous to joining the Sun in 2010, Paul helped cover Barack Obama's election night rally from Grant Park for a Chicago TV station, and filed video stories from South Africa.

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Story Archive

Clark High computer labs to bear name of Jimmy Kimmel: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013; The Clark County School Board unanimously approved naming four new computer labs at Clark High School after late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
School District approves $250K-a-year contract for consultant: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013; The Clark County School Board approved a $250,000 contract for consultant Ken Turner on Thursday.
UNLV students prepare to build competition-ready 'net-zero' house: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013; After more than a year of design drafts, a group of bright UNLV students is ready to break ground on a fully functioning house powered exclusively by the sun. In January 2012, UNLV was selected to participate in the Solar Decathlon, a biennial competition that challenges 20 collegiate teams from around the world to design and construct a solar-powered house. It's a pertinent challenge for a desert city like Las Vegas, where sunshine is abundant, natural energy resources are scarce and smog checks and air-quality warnings are ubiquitous.
After donation, Jimmy Kimmel might be even bigger name on Clark High campus: Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013; Jimmy Kimmel's name may soon adorn the technology wing of a local high school pending final approval by the Clark County School Board on Thursday night.
Gas prices in valley jump 38 cents a gallon since last month, AAA reports: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013; The average price for a gallon of gas in Nevada has skyrocketed to $3.54, up 38 cents from a month ago, according to the latest AAA Nevada monthly gas survey. The average price for regular unleaded gasoline saw the biggest increase in the nation this past week.
School District names new assistant superintendent for ELL students: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013; The Clark County School District has selected Lucy Keaton to become the first assistant superintendent of the district's English Language Learner program.
Heart Attack Grill spokesman dies from heart attack: Monday, Feb. 11, 2013; The second unofficial spokesman for the Heart Attack Grill in downtown Las Vegas has died from a heart attack. John Alleman was taken off life support shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday, said restaurant owner Jon Basso.
Man sought in attempted murder is shot dead by police officers: Friday, Feb. 8, 2013; Metro Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in the central valley today that killed a man wanted in an attempted murder case.
Dean to step down from UNLV's Harrah Hotel College, continue work on stadium project: Friday, Feb. 8, 2013; The dean of UNLV's hotel college is stepping down from his position to focus his efforts on major campus initiatives, including the UNLV Now stadium project. Harrah Hotel College Dean Don Snyder has been the university's point man for its proposed $800 million stadium.
Adelson Education Campus receives $50 million gift from namesake benefactors: Friday, Feb. 8, 2013; The Adelson Education Campus received a $50 million donation from its namesake family, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson. The donation will benefit the Adelson campus' three schools, located in Summerlin and Henderson. Founded in 2006, the Jewish community private schools serve about 600 students, from preschool-level to high school.
Arbitrator sides with CCSD in contract dispute with teachers: Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013; An arbitrator ruled Thursday in favor of the Clark County School District in its contract dispute with the local teachers union, saving the district more than $38.6 million over the next two years.
Superintendent passionate in defense of $250K-a-year consultant: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013; Clark County Schools Superintendent Dwight Jones vehemently defended his $250,000-a-year consultant, whose initial one-year contract went before the School Board for a third time Wednesday.
UNLV police chief ready to fight to keep guns off campus: Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013; UNLV's police chief said he was prepared to testify before the Legislature against a proposed bill that would allow guns on Nevada’s college campuses. Freshman Assemblywoman Michele Fiore, R-Las Vegas, is expected to reintroduce legislation in the coming weeks that would allow concealed-weapon permit holders to carry guns on the UNLV campus and other state college campuses.
Suspect arrested in shooting of two soccer players at park: Monday, Feb. 4, 2013; North Las Vegas Police have arrested a man suspected of shooting two women at northwest valley park on Jan. 19. Ezra Peoples, 18, of Las Vegas, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, according to a Metro Police press release.
Cimarron-Memorial, Sunrise Mountain added to ranks of 'turnaround' effort: Monday, Feb. 4, 2013; The Clark County School District announced three new turnaround schools on Monday: Cimarron-Memorial High School, Sunrise Mountain High School and Wilhelm Elementary School.
Support staff union wants arbitrator to rule on health insurance dispute with CCSD: Friday, Feb. 1, 2013; The local school support staff union is calling for an arbitrator to settle its health insurance dispute with the Clark County School District. For months the Education Support Employees Association has been lobbying the School District to lower support staffers' health premiums.
'Their eyes just light up': Coronado teens experience rewards of mentoring: Friday, Feb. 1, 2013; On the day of Coronado's big rivalry game against Foothill, you might expect to find some Cougars shooting hoops at a last-minute practice after school. But it's a Wednesday afternoon, and the basketball courts at the Henderson high school are empty. The courts are quiet because Coronado's basketball and cheerleading teams have agreed to trade a little court time for classroom time to mentor children at a nearby elementary school.
State teachers union praises business-tax ruling: Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013; Nevada's teachers union rejoiced in the Supreme Court's decision Thursday to uphold a margins tax proposal to fund education.
Charter schools, vouchers on education leaders' wish list: Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013; Nevada's education leaders called for the expansion of charter schools and vouchers during a panel discussion highlighting School Choice Week.
Training prop triggered false alarm at test site: Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013; The "suspicious item" that caused a scare Tuesday at the Nevada National Security Site turned out to be a training prop that was left behind after an exercise, officials said Wednesday.
New office aims to help CSN students transfer to UNLV: Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013; UNLV and CSN officials unveiled a new partnership office on Tuesday that aims to help community college students transition to the university.
'Suspicious item' causes scare at atomic testing site: Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013; A suspicious, but nonthreatening item caused a scare at the Nevada National Security Site late Tuesday afternoon. Officials did not give any details about the object late Tuesday night, but called the situation a "security incident."
Committee recommends rezoning more than 2,000 students: Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013; A Clark County School Board committee has recommended rezoning more than 2,000 students in the southwest valley.
Fund to help honor mother, son slain by Metro officer: Monday, Jan. 28, 2013; A memorial fund has been created for a Boulder City family slain by a Metro Police officer last week.
Elderly man dies, woman injured in garage fire: Monday, Jan. 28, 2013; A man died and a woman was injured after a fire ripped through a garage at a southern valley home on Monday, according to the Clark County Fire Department.
School District making strides in classroom and culture, consultant contends: Monday, Jan. 28, 2013; The Clark County School District is moving in the right direction but still has a lot of catching up to do, said Frederick Hess, an education scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington, D.C., think tank. Hess spoke to the Las Vegas Sun editorial board last week.
School District eyes 12 schools for turnaround efforts: Friday, Jan. 25, 2013; The Clark County School District is considering turning around 12 low-performing schools in the coming months. The principal and some staff could be replaced at these new "turnaround" schools.
Students in KKK costumes spark controversy at Las Vegas Academy: Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013; A class presentation involving students dressed in Ku Klux Klan costumes has one local high school embroiled in controversy.
Auditors raise red flags over School District practices: Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013; An independent audit of the Clark County School District's financial practices found several errors, including incorrectly reporting a federal solar grant and not following district policy when issuing large checks.
Parents voice concerns over CCSD rezoning options for southwest valley schools: Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013; Southwest valley parents — some visibly upset — expressed their concerns about the three rezoning proposals put forth by the Clark County School District during an attendance zone committee meeting Tuesday.
Report doesn't foresee Nevada graduation rates meeting national average anytime soon: Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013; Nevada is unlikely to increase its graduation rate to the national average over the next decade, according to a federal report released this month. The Silver State produced 23,493 public high school graduates during the 2010-11 school year, which represented a graduation rate of 62 percent — the lowest in the nation.
Photos: Take a look inside CCSD's police department: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013; The Clark County School District is among just 127 districts across the country that employ their own police departments. With more than 311,000 students, 37,000 employees and 357 schools to protect, the job of CCSD police officers is daunting. There are myriad threats to campuses today, from drugs, gangs and thefts to natural disasters, fires and mass shootings.
At Las Vegas conference, experts urge schools to teach 'run, hide, fight' in shootings: Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013; The average school shooting lasts just 12 minutes. That means all too often, help arrives too late to prevent mass casualties as demonstrated by last month's Newtown, Conn., tragedy, which took the lives of 26 people – including 20 young children.
Chancellor puts UNLV Now proposal among top issues facing Nevada higher-education: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013; Here is what Dan Klaich, Nevada's higher education chancellor, had to say about several higher-education issues during a meeting Tuesday with the Las Vegas Sun's editorial board.
State's higher-ed institutions face postrecession challenges, chancellor says: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013; As Nevada recovers from the Great Recession, state leaders must begin reinvesting in its higher education system to produce a better-qualified workforce for a more diversified economy. That's according to Nevada's higher education chancellor, Dan Klaich.
UNLV likely to shutter its campus in Singapore: Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013; UNLV will likely close its sister campus in Singapore after officials decided not to renew its contract with a local technology institute, officials from both schools confirmed Monday.
Fourth suspect arrested in double slaying at apartment complex: Monday, Jan. 14, 2013; Metro Police have arrested the fourth suspect in connection with two shooting deaths last week.
Elderly woman dies after being hit by car in Summerlin: Monday, Jan. 14, 2013; An 86-year-old woman crossing a street in Summerlin was struck by a car and killed Monday morning, according to Metro Police. Officers were called near the intersection of Lake Mead and Rampart boulevards.
Man is shot, killed in eastern Las Vegas Valley: Monday, Jan. 14, 2013; A man was shot and killed in the eastern valley Monday night, according to Metro Police. Officers were called to the 400 block of Page Street — near East Stewart Avenue and North Lamb Boulevard — about 6:15 p.m.
Afternoon rollover on U.S. 95 sends two to UMC: Monday, Jan. 14, 2013; Two people were sent to the hospital Monday after a single-vehicle rollover accident in the northeast valley, according to Nevada Highway Patrol officers. Troopers were called to the southbound lanes of U.S. 95 at Ann Road about 3:30 p.m. A white SUV had rolled over, said Trooper Jeremie Elliott.
3-year-old killed, driver seriously injured in head-on crash: Monday, Jan. 14, 2013; A 3-year-old child was killed and a man was transported to University Medical Center with serious injuries today following a head-on collision with a sport utility vehicle, Metro Police officials said.
School District to open financial books to public online: Monday, Jan. 14, 2013; The Clark County School District unveiled an online portal that allows the public to view the district’s financial records. Superintendent Dwight Jones announced the tool during his second State of the District address.
Planned stadium will be state's 'next big thing,' UNLV official says: Friday, Jan. 11, 2013; UNLV's 60,000-seat stadium proposal will feature a 100-yard-long video screen, making it the “world's largest multimedia immersive experience,” according to developers. UNLV officials and its private partner, Majestic Realty, presented an update to Nevada's higher education leaders on Friday.
Higher-ed leaders approve Nevada State College's campus expansion: Friday, Jan. 11, 2013; Nevada's higher-education leaders on Friday approved construction of two new buildings on Nevada State College's campus. Nevada State College's student enrollment has surged from 177 students in 2002 to 3,389 students a decade later.
Technology is key to student achievement, former NYC schools chief says: Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013; Former New York City schools Chancellor Joel Klein stressed the importance of technology in the 21st century classroom during a keynote speech today at the Higher Education Tech conference at the International CES.
CCSD board eyes rezoning to ease crowding in SW valley schools: Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013; Nearly 3,000 Clark County School District students could be rezoned in an effort to alleviate severe crowding in southwest valley schools.
Split Clark County School Board taps Edwards as president: Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013; Carolyn Edwards was re-elected as president of the Clark County School Board in a rare 4-3 vote Wednesday. Edwards had stepped down as School Board president last school year to serve as president of the Nevada Association of School Boards. She returns to her Clark County position a month before the 2013 Legislative session begins in February.
CCSD marks opening of new Variety School campus for special-needs students: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013; As thousands of Clark County students returned from winter break to familiar classrooms on Monday, more than 100 Variety School students had their first day back in a brand-new building.
Back to year-round schools? District weighs options for crowded southwest valley campuses: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013; The Clark County School District hosted a town hall-style meeting Monday night to discuss possible solutions to school overcrowding, including major rezoning, moving to double-sessions and reverting to a year-round calendar.
Metro identifies suspects in Sunday shooting: Monday, Jan. 7, 2013; Metro Police have identified two suspects in Sunday's shooting incident involving several patrol officers. Brandon Joseph Ogonowski was shot and injured by a police officer, according to a Metro press release sent Monday.