Good morning, and welcome to the Indy Education newsletter. I’m Rocio Hernandez, The Nevada Independent’s K-12 education reporter. 

This newsletter provides a recap of the latest education stories and highlights interesting educators, students, programs and other events and resources throughout the state. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter and receive it each week via email.

I want to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions on what I should be covering to [email protected]. 

News briefs

📱Two school districts launch surveys on cellphones during class — Elko and Nye counties have launched separate surveys to gather feedback on whether cellphones should be allowed in classrooms. It comes after the Washoe County School Board voted Tuesday to pilot a program prohibiting students from using cellphones while in the classroom or during instructional time if they interfere with learning or school operations. 

Nye County’s survey is open through noon Dec. 5. The Southern Nevada district said its school board is considering many options, including requiring students power off their phones throughout the whole school day, including during lunch, but isn’t considering requiring cellphones be left at home. The district said students will always have access to their phones in the event of a crisis. 

The Elko County School Board meeting on Dec. 3 will include a discussion of its district’s survey results, which the district will use to develop a potential cellphone policy. 

🏫 “Topping off” ceremony for new Reno career and technical academy — The Washoe County School District held a “topping off” ceremony last month to celebrate the final beam being placed on the new Debbie Smith Career and Technical Academy that’s still under construction. It’s the district’s second career and technical education high school and will open in August. 

The school will feature nine programs such as teaching, engineering and manufacturing and culinary. 

School Spotlight

Minden student calls for support for assistance program following the end of universal free school meals 

Douglas High School senior Ender Dempsey had never really paid attention to local politics until he started hearing about controversies surrounding his district’s school board, particularly a proposed policy related to transgender students.

That motivated him to start tuning into the meetings, and eventually join the school board as its first student representative. He will serve in the position for one semester, after which another student will take over. 

“The biggest issues in particular for me personally was that they weren't focusing on students, and it just kind of ended up getting involved in national politics,” Dempsey said. “I just wanted to bring students and the board together.”

Being on the school board has helped Dempsey see a different side of the trustees. 

“After meeting all of them individually and talking to them, I learned how much they really care about students in general and just all the kids,” he said. “These people are good people, even if we don't politically agree with each other.”

Dempsey also wants to use his platform to elevate issues that directly affect students such as the end of the state’s universal school meals program. During the pandemic, federal waivers and the state’s COVID-19 relief funding allowed Nevada schools to feed all students free meals. But the program ended at the end of the last school year. In 2023, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a bill that would have appropriated $43 million in state funding to continue the program, in part because of his food waste concerns.

This school year, free meals are available only to students who apply and are eligible, or who belong to a school or district that qualifies for a federal program that allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Aspire Academy High School is the only Douglas County school that qualifies for the program. 

The shift prompted the Douglas County School District to bring back its Angel Meals Accounts program, which is set up at every school to help students, including those who have negative or unpaid balances on their school meals account, who might need assistance paying. 

Dempsey highlighted the program, which is funded through community donations, at the board’s Nov. 12 meeting and urged community members to donate.

“Every school has students who need meal support so every donation will help,” Dempsey said. “Kids will learn better if they're not hungry.”

This year, about 1,700 of the district’s nearly 5,000 students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, leaving the rest of students to pay the full price, which can range from $2.25 for breakfast for elementary school students to $4 for lunch for high school students.  

Jordy Foster, the director of the district’s school nutrition program, said so far this school year, the program has received more than $2,000 in donations, and the accounts have been used almost 200 times. 

“We're going to use them until there's no funds in there,” Foster said. 

Dempsey said he hopes the board’s student representative position will lead to more Douglas County students getting involved with the school board.  

"I would love to see more students engaged because the board can do things that affect student lives,” he said. 

After he finishes his term on the school board, Dempsey is looking forward to graduating from high school and attending UNR or UNLV and majoring in applied math. 

Have a student or staffer who we should feature in the next edition of School Spotlight? Share your nominations with me at [email protected].

Reading Assignments

Lombardo appoints compliance monitor for Clark County schools following budget issues

Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Department of Education are also requiring Clark County School District (CCSD) officials to submit a corrective plan of action after CCSD was found noncompliant with two state laws following budget issues discovered two months ago.

Nevada’s high school graduation rate rises slightly, remains below pre-pandemic levels

Schools are working to help their students recover from disruptions that included a move to virtual learning during the pandemic.

Two Moms for Liberty allies joining the Clark County School Board. What happens now?

Culture war issues centered in the Clark County School Board’s races will likely be a source of tension next year as two former members of a conservative parents group join the 11-member board.

Washoe school board accepting applications for vacant seat

The District C seat was left vacant by former Trustee Joe Rodriguez, who resigned from the board Nov. 15 after he was elected to the Sparks City Council.

Extra Credit

From NPR: This year's FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it's 'a piece of cake'

From the Nevada Appeal: Nonprofit tackles absenteeism to prevent trickle-down impacts

Events

🫔🎻 Tamales & Mariachi Festival — Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The festival, held at the Historic Fifth Street School located at 401 S. Fourth St. in downtown Las Vegas, will feature an abundance of tamale styles from all over Latin America and performances from three internationally renowned mariachi bands. The event is free and open to the public. 

Featured social media post

The Las Vegas elementary school was the only Nevada school this year to receive this national recognition.