Superintendent outlines plans to aid struggling schools

By Ian Whitaker

Monday, Feb. 29, 2016 | 2:17 p.m.

The Clark County School District is “leaping forward” with plans to improve struggling schools amid increasing scrutiny by state lawmakers.

In his annual State of the District speech today at Cimarron-Memorial High School, Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky outlined a plan to expand the number of schools that provide support for English language learners and unveiled new partnerships with outside organizations.

Next year, the district will expand its franchising program by two schools. The program was unveiled last year, with two of the district’s star principals each taking over the management duties of an additional school.

John Haynal, who took over Vegas Verdes Elementary after his success at Roundy Elementary, is now also taking over Wynn Elementary.

Las Vegas High School Principal Debbie Brockett, meanwhile, will take over Keller Middle School, bringing the number of principals in the program to three.

Skorkowsky’s plans also include expanding the number of “Zoom schools” by nine. The schools provide English language learners extra support and resources.

“We’re leaping forward,” Skorkowsky said, repeating the theme of his speech. “We are at the point where we are seeing amazing success.”

He also announced partnerships with UNLV, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, and, possibly, the city of Las Vegas to provide much-needed support for certain schools.

Skorkowsky’s annual address has typically been his chance to give an update on the progress of his Pledge of Achievement. It includes improving the district’s performance in areas such as college readiness, graduation rates and narrowing achievement gaps.

The superintendent highlighted a number of improvements made by the district over the past year, including increased parent involvement, five schools exiting the district’s Turnaround Zone, the designation of three National Blue Ribbon Schools and skyrocketing demand for the district’s magnet schools.

Skorkowsky also praised state legislators for their support of a number of education programs last year, including universal full-day kindergarten.

“Finally, every student in the state of Nevada will have a full-day kindergarten experience, which is huge,” Skorkowsky said.

But while the district is making strides in certain areas, it still struggles when it comes to broad indicators such as test scores and graduation rates. Nevada routinely ranked at the bottom of education lists last year, though some analysts have said the Silver State has done well, considering the challenges it faces.

The superintendent’s address comes days after school board members voted unanimously to renew Skorkowsky’s contract for another two years.

The school board’s decision was a major endorsement of Skorkowsky at a time when scrutiny of the Clark County School District is at an all-time high.

Gov. Brian Sandoval’s support for millions of dollars in tax increases to fund public education in the Legislature last year came with strong accountability measures.

Nevada lawmakers are in the process of examining waste at state schools and deciding whether to break up the power of the Clark County School District’s central office, which many view as a hindrance to school achievement.

Those concerns did not make it into Skorkowsky’s presentation, though School Board President Linda Young slyly addressed critics of the district during a short introduction.

“There are so many people who tell us we’re not capable,” she said. “They throw statistics at us, but we say no, we’ll rise up.”

New Zoom schools for the 2016-17 school year: Beckley Elementary, Crestwood Elementary, McWilliams Elementary, Park Elementary, Thomas Elementary, Brinley Middle, Cannon Middle,

Fremont Middle and Von Tobel Middle.

Five schools will exit the Turnaround Zone for the 2016-17 school year: Canyon Springs High, Mojave High, O’Callaghan Middle, Roundy Elementary and Sunrise Acres Elementary.

Two schools will enter the Turnaround Zone for the 2016-17 school year: Cheyenne High and Woolley Elementary.

Two schools will join the district’s Reinvent program: Peterson Elementary will receive wraparound services and support from Wynn Las Vegas, and Paradise Elementary will partner with UNLV to develop a teaching laboratory. A third school, Hollingsworth Elementary, could see a partnership with the city of Las Vegas.