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

Carson High’s marching band going to Chicago for Thanksgiving parade — After earning two first-place finishes and other trophies from the Damonte Ranch Marching Band Invitational in Reno in early November, the Carson High School Blue Thunder Band is gearing up to play at the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, the second-largest Thanksgiving parade in the country behind the Macy’s-sponsored event in New York City. 

“It’s an incredible honor for our students to participate in one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious Thanksgiving parades,” said Nick Jacques, Carson High School’s band director. “This opportunity reflects their hard work and passion for music, and we’re thrilled to represent our school and community on such a prominent stage.”

The band has raised about $12,000 of the $20,000 it needs to pay for the Chicago trip and is also raising funds to purchase new marching band uniforms for next year. Individual donations to support the band can be made until Nov. 12, to the band booster club directly online. Corporate sponsors are also welcome. 

Families and supporters can watch the parade live on Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service. 

💵 City of North Las Vegas awards $280,000 to local educators — The North Las Vegas City Council approved $280,000 in microgrants for educators on Thursday as part of the city’s efforts to address issues such as teacher retention, family engagement and chronic absenteeism among students. Forty educators from 19 schools received grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Some efforts these funds will help start include an eight-week Saturday school math program at Brian and Teri Cram Middle School and a carpentry project at Desert Rose High School where a class will build 32 beds for local children.

⏰ State education board seeking legislative backing on high school start time issue — The State Board of Education voted Wednesday to seek legislative support to try to get a bill drafted for a proposal for later high school start times. A recent survey by the board found that a majority of the respondents felt that later start times could help students get additional sleep and benefit their mental and physical health. Respondents signaled a preference for start times between 8 and 8:30 a.m. Currently, most Nevada high schools start at 7 a.m. Other respondents expressed concerns that later start times could interfere with extracurricular activities or make drop-offs challenging for parents or that students would use the extra time to play video games rather than sleep. 

School Spotlight

Students play hard during Advanced Technology Academy’s Board Game Marathon

More than 200 students packed into Advanced Technologies Academy’s cafeteria Nov. 1 for the school’s Board Game Marathon, a tradition that goes back about 20 years. 

Aside from traditional board games, students also played video games on giant screens set up at one end of the lunch room. Pool tables and air hockey tables were set up at another end. 

The three-hour event after school sprawled out into the courtyard, where pingpong tables, giant Jenga, giant chess pieces and foosball tables were laid out. 

It’s the biggest event of the year for the magnet school, which doesn’t have sports but offers classes in programs such as advanced computer science, architectural design and biomedicine for students from across Clark County who are accepted through an application process. 

“This is bigger than HoCo (homecoming). This is bigger than prom,” said senior Travis Hunsaker, president of the school’s Board Game Club, which put on the event.  

Advanced Technologies Academy, commonly known as A-TECH, serves about 1,200 students and is located in West Las Vegas. It’s ranked as the top public high school in Nevada and among the 100 top schools in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. 

Mike Patterson, Nevada’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, started the club in 2005 after his students told him how much they enjoyed the board games he incorporates into his math lessons. At first, it was composed of about 25 students who met in his classroom to play board games. 

That number has grown to 100-120 students who meet Thursdays in the school’s cafeteria to play. Those Thursday afternoon meetings eventually grew into a Board Game Marathon where the whole school is invited to participate in the fun. 

“Our school is very academically focused and this is a release from the stress of school,” he said. “I used to think everybody loves board games, but I realized what everybody loves is friends.”

A-TECH Principal Anthony Marentic, who’s been at the school for four years, also gets in on the fun. He offers Maverick Bucks, the school’s currency, to students who can beat him in a game; they can then use the “money” to purchase items from the school’s snack shack. 

“It got to like 30-40 bucks one day, and no one beat me,” he said. 

Tickets for the event range from $5 for a basic ticket that includes entry to a $15 ticket that comes with pizza, drinks, ice cream and popcorn. The club also offers tickets at a discounted price for students who volunteer during the event. 

The money they raise goes toward buying more board games for the club and future marathons. They’ve also supported other clubs within A-TECH and at other schools, as well as outside organizations such as the YMCA. 

“It's our way to kind of help others to have the fun we're having, because somebody gave us that chance too,” Patterson said.  

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

Moms for Liberty-linked candidates win in school board races

Here’s a look at election results for the Clark and Washoe county school boards, as well as the Nevada State Board of Education and the Board of Regents, which governs higher education.

Extra Credit

From Hechinger Report: What education could look like under Trump and Vance

Events

🍎 Washoe County School Board meeting — Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m. 

The agenda includes a discussion on a proposal to manage students’ cellphones and other electronic devices in classrooms. 

Featured social media post

Best of luck!