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COMMENTARY: Too many obstacles hinder education advancement in Southern Nevada

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COMMENTARY: Too many obstacles hinder education advancement in Southern Nevada


More than 100 days have passed since my final board meeting as the superintendent of the Clark County School District. This time has given me the opportunity to reflect on the state of education in Nevada.

It’s crucial for families to understand the obstacles our school system faces in serving our children. I was brought on board in 2018 with a clear mission: to elevate the educational experiences and outcomes for our students. I was hopeful, encouraged and up for the challenge. Despite efforts by me and the team, however, we encountered significant resistance from various groups that hindered our progress.

Many interested parties — including the teachers union, administrators union, some community leaders, local elected officials and some members of the School Board — often prioritized personal interests over the necessary reforms that could have propelled our students forward. This resistance has contributed to the persistent challenges in student outcomes, keeping Nevada behind in national educational rankings.

In my previous roles in Massachusetts and Florida, I was part of high-functioning teams that implemented successful reforms and improved the lives of students. I came to Nevada hoping to replicate those successes. Here, the potential for improvement is vast due to the state’s size and the capabilities of our students, and we were poised to capitalize on this limitless potential.

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The core issue does not involve the structure of our school district or the process of selecting a superintendent. The real challenge lies in the lack of a unified, unwavering commitment to student success at all levels of leadership, both state and local, and how the system is manipulated by special interests.

We need to look to other successful models such as the District of Columbia, Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts and the Florida A+ Plan, which former Gov. Brian Sandoval considered for inspiration. Unfortunately, political obstacles — particularly from figures financially backed by the Clark County Education Association, such as Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro — have stifled similar initiatives here. It’s critical to understand that, while teachers unions play a vital role, their focus must be aligned with clearly articulated student achievement and accountability, not merely their own interests.

Examples from other states show us that with a dedicated commitment to reform, it’s possible to leap from the lower echelons to top national rankings within a decade. These states prioritized early literacy, empowered parental choice and implemented stringent accountability measures for student progression and graduation, alongside substantial funding.

To achieve similar results, we must enforce a rigorous accountability framework for teachers, administrators and students, while expanding parental choice and offering financial incentives for educators. Gov. Joe Lombardo’s recent historic funding for education is a significant step forward, but it must be accompanied by a firm commitment to these proven principles.

Each and every student in Clark County, including our own children, deserve educational choices just as much as others across the country do. It has been a successful model for increasing engagement, raising graduation rates and developing a healthy workforce. Let’s not allow power struggles overshadow our duty to them. We must rally behind initiatives that place the success of our children first and elect leaders who will support these efforts in partnership with Gov. Lombardo.

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Together, we can transform our educational landscape and ensure our children’s future is bright.

Jesus F. Jara is the former superintendent of the Clark County School District.



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Nevada

Nye County Sheriff urges caution after deadly month on rural Nevada roads

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Nye County Sheriff urges caution after deadly month on rural Nevada roads


A string of deadly crashes in and around Pahrump has prompted Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill to push for more safety measures along dark, sidewalk-free roads.

“The worst penalty is death, if you consider that,” McGill said.

The recent deaths include a single-vehicle rollover on State Route 160 during the morning hours of the last Wednesday in January that killed one person and injured another.

Then, into February, two pedestrians were killed in less than three days.

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The first was a 7 p.m. crash on Quarter Horse Avenue. Investigators believe a 2006 Jeep Liberty was driving on the street when it hit a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A few days later, this last Saturday, state troopers responded to a crash just after sundown at Charleston Park Avenue. A sedan hit a pedestrian, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.

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Nevada State Police investigators are still investigating both pedestrian cases before more details are released.

McGill said the recent crashes were enough to spur action.

“When the third one came out, I was sitting at home and watching TV. I looked at my wife and I said, ‘We got to do something about this,’” McGill said.

McGill is responding with a reflective vest giveaway, pointing to limited infrastructure as a possible factor. He noted a lack of street lights off State Route 160 and no sidewalks inside the community.

“The only light that you have is the ambient light from houses and cars so it is really dark,” McGill said.

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John Treanor of AAA Nevada said poor visibility can quickly turn dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.

“It is very easy to be confronted with a situation that you cannot see coming because the visibility might be bad,” Treanor said.

Treanor encouraged pedestrians to carry lights and drivers to be prepared if they end up outside their vehicles in dark conditions.

“Having lights on you. Even carrying a flashlight allows something where a driver can see it,” Treanor said. “If you are a driver, make sure you have the right stuff in your car, in case you do get in a situation where you are on the side of the road and now you are in dark. Make sure you have a kit with some reflectors, some lights. Anything the trunk of your car in case you need it.”

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McGill said vigilance is important even in daylight.

“Any time of the day, you have got to be vigilant. You have to keep aware of your surroundings if you are a walker or on a bicycle or if you are the driver,” he said.

Authorities also urged caution as more people may pull off roads in rocky areas along the route toward Death Valley National Park during springtime blooms, increasing the need for drivers and pedestrians to stay alert.

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Mansion on the Nevada Side of Lake Tahoe Swiftly Sells for $46 Million

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Mansion on the Nevada Side of Lake Tahoe Swiftly Sells for  Million


A waterfront mansion on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe just sold for $46 million, less than three weeks after hitting the market. 

The speedy deal marks a departure from the typical U.S. market.

Nationwide, homes took a median 78 days to land a buyer in January, five more than the same time last year and the 22nd straight month of homes taking longer to sell on a year-over-year basis, according to data from Realtor.com. 

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The lavish log cabin-like residence, in Incline Village, listed on Jan. 24 for $47.5 million. It sold 20 days later, on Feb. 13, listing records show. 

The more than 7,000-square-foot residence was built in 2014, and has double-height living spaces, walls of windows, beamed ceilings, fireplaces, and plenty of rustic exposed stone and wood, listing images show. 

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There’s also a gym, a wet bar, a spa, a wine room, an office, two separate game rooms, seven bedrooms and dramatic Lake Tahoe views. Outside, there’s a private sandy beach, multiple decks, a heated driveway and two exterior fireplaces, according to listing information. 

MORE: Visited by Kings and Larger Than Manhattan, Giant Scottish Estate Asks £67 Million

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The seller and the buyer are both limited liability companies, according to property records. Both parties were represented by Jeff Brown of Tahoe Mountain Realty, who declined to comment on the deal. 

The median home price in Incline Village was $1.595 million as of December, a fall of 3.3% from a year earlier, according to data from Realtor.com. Listings, meanwhile, spent an average of 130 days on the market. 



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Green Valley edges Liberty in Class 5A softball — PHOTOS

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Green Valley edges Liberty in Class 5A softball — PHOTOS