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.

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

News briefs

🏛️Reno, Incline High School teams take home awards from national civics competition — Students from Reno High School and Incline High School received recognition for their performance in this year’s We the People national competition, which took place earlier this month in Virginia. 

“While this is not the first time Reno High has made the top 10, it is the first time we did for an ‘in-person’ event, not on Zoom, and that was special,” Richard Clark, a social studies teacher from Reno High School who coaches the school’s team, said in a statement.

This is the ninth time since 2014 that the Washoe County School District has sent two teams to the competition, which sees students testify as expert witnesses in simulated congressional hearings before panels of judges to present and debate their positions on questions surrounding the U.S. Constitution.

“During this time of disinformation and hyperpolarization, it is imperative that we train our young citizens to have factual, reasoned, civic discourse,” Milt Hyams, a government teacher from Incline High School who coaches the school’s team, said in a statement. “Now more than ever we need students and citizens that are willing to engage in these difficult conversations in a constructive way.”

📝 Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Cabinet accepting applications  — The Nevada Department of Education is accepting applications for its Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Cabinet, which is comprised of educators across the state and meets quarterly with department leadership to inform and advise them on state policies, initiatives and priorities related to K-12 education. The application is open through June 7.

School Spotlight

Gardening teaches Clark County students lessons on nutrition, conservation and STEM

Clark County students showed off their green thumbs — and their arts and craft skills — at the annual Giant Student Farmers Market last Friday at the Downtown Summerlin shopping center in Las Vegas. 

The market was made possible with support from Green Our Planet, a nonprofit organization that began in Las Vegas in 2013 by two documentary filmmakers and has since expanded nationally. It provides grants, equipment and training for schools looking to start gardens or hydroponic laboratories — soil-free growing systems that can be set up indoors — on their campuses. 

The organization’s co-founder and CEO Ciara Byrne said these activities teach students about conservation, nutrition, entrepreneurship and even science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Green Our Planet’s programming has expanded to about 1,000 schools in 44 states, and Byrne said the nonprofit is looking to expand into 10,000 by 2033. 

“We mostly work with Title I schools, not just here in Nevada, but across the country, because we want to give kids in lower-income communities more access to opportunities like this,” she said. 

Victoria Fertitta Middle School eighth grader Angel Villalobos sold crafts, radishes, carrots and chamomile flowers prepared by her and fellow members of the Las Vegas school’s gardening class.

“We learn about different bugs, which ones are good bugs and which ones are bad bugs for our garden beds, and we just learned about when to plant different types of vegetables and fruits,” she said.

Madeline Kelly, a first grade teacher at Marion Earl Elementary School in Las Vegas, said her gardening club of about 20 students meets every Friday morning. Parents also come to help.  

“We love pulling the weeds and getting our hands dirty,” Kelly said. “We just love being out there being in nature and hearing the birds in the morning.”

Kelly said most of the produce her students were selling was grown at her school’s indoor hydroponics lab. She said this system, funded via a grant from Green Our Planet, is easier to maintain and keeps the plants protected from harsh, outdoor weather conditions. 

Students from Dr. C. Owen Roundy Elementary School in Las Vegas sold eggs laid by chickens from teacher Marley Collins’ farm. Teachers also brought over young chickens that the school’s pre-kindergarten classes helped raise. 

“We bring the eggs in and we have them incubate and hatch on campus with the students,” Collins said. “So students get to raise them and name them and care for them for a few weeks, and then when they mature, my husband and I bring them home to our farm.”

Collins said raising the chicks teaches students soft skills such as responsibility and safe animal handling. They got to practice their math skills and got a taste of democracy in action when the students voted on the names for the chicks. 

Proceeds from their sales went back to their schools to continue sustaining their programs, which Byrne said provides another learning opportunity when students help decide how they will reinvest those funds. 

Last year, Green Our Planet received $3 million from state lawmakers through one of two so-called Christmas tree bills, SB341. Byrne said the organization has funding to provide 50 more Nevada schools with hydroponics equipment and programming typically valued at $12,500. Interested educators can find more information on Green Our Planet’s website.

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

Washoe County superintendent finalist withdraws

A former Florida superintendent and Clark County School District administrator, Christopher Bernier, has withdrawn himself as a finalist in the Washoe County School District’s superintendent search. 

Fact check: Do up to 73% of school meals end up in the trash?

The fact check is a response to recent claims by Gov. Joe Lombardo related to his veto of a 2023 bill that would have funded universal free breakfast and lunch for Nevada pupils. 

Glitches in new simplified financial aid application creates headaches at Nevada colleges

An attempt to make it easier for students to apply for federal financial aid to attend college has led to a series of issues that has delayed Nevada colleges’ ability to get that assistance out to students. 

Extra Credit

WEB EXTRA: CCSD Board of Trustees President Evelyn Garcia Morales

Garcia Morales fell short of fully answering questions during an interview with KLAS-TV that touched on former Superintendent Jesus Jara’s resignation, nonvoting trustees and her re-election campaign.

WCSD principals are last employees to get raises after year of negotiationsAlthough the contract between the district and principals’ union has been settled after nearly a year since negotiations started, the parties are still locked in a court battle over back pay from a previous contract, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

Events   

🍎 Clark County School Board meeting — Thursday, April 25, 5 p.m.   

The agenda includes designating certain positions such as special education bus drivers and secondary math teachers as critical labor shortage areas and a possible appointment to the district’s Sex Education Advisory Committee. 

📝 Anti-bullying and bullying prevention info session — Thursday, April 25, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

The Nevada Department of Education’s Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment and Clark County School District are hosting an informational session to help parents and families understand more about bullying. The session will also explain parents’ rights on bullying matters, the bullying appeal process, risk factors and how to counteract those risk factors to help prevent bullying. The event will be held at the Family Support Center located at 1720 S. Maryland Parkway in Las Vegas. 

🍎 Washoe County School Board special meeting — Friday, April 26, 9 a.m. 

The school board will be interviewing the five finalists vying to become the district’s next superintendent. In addition to the meeting, the community will have a chance to meet the finalists at a Thursday evening event from 5-8:15 p.m. at Wooster High School, located at 1331 E. Plumb Lane in Reno.  

💵 Commission on School Funding meeting — Friday, April 26, 9 a.m. 

The agenda includes an assessment of student achievement under the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan. 

Featured social media post

Congratulations Suzie Fly on 45 years behind the wheel!

This story was updated on 4/25/24 at 9:21 a.m. to correct Ciara Byrne’s title.