Paul Takahashi

Story Archive

Chancellor calls for tuition hike at UNLV; student leaders object: Friday, March 7, 2014; Dan Klaich’s proposal has reignited the debate over how UNLV can finance its Tier-1 aspirations while still remaining affordable for...
Regents may shift gears on UNLV med school plans to appeal to Southern Nevada donors: Affiliation with UNR could be detrimental to fundraising efforts, officials told; Friday, March 7, 2014; Nevada’s higher education leaders are reconsidering the accreditation process for a proposed new UNLV medical school amid concerns about losing donor support from Southern Nevadans.
As scrutiny of school funding formula grows, a discussion of what's fair: Friday, March 7, 2014; If Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis’ task force doesn’t deliver on a new funding formula, activist groups are considering litigation to force the issue.
School District won’t seek money now to ease classroom crowding: Wednesday, March 5, 2014; The Clark County School Board won’t pursue a ballot initiative for school renovations and construction this year, primarily because...
17 Las Vegas-area magnet schools honored by national group: Tuesday, March 4, 2014; The Magnet Schools of America has recognized 17 Clark County School District magnet schools for their academic excellence.
Deafness doesn't ground aspiring pilot from Rancho High: Tuesday, March 4, 2014; There are those who question whether Jordan Livingston, 19, should be allowed to fly an airplane. The business that awarded him an $8,000 scholarship to Embry-Riddle is not among his doubters ...
2 college students from Las Vegas land White House internships: Friday, Feb. 28, 2014; Two college students from Las Vegas received internship offers from the White House, according to a press announcement released Friday.
CCSD's many at-risk kids should factor into funding formula, legislators are told: Friday, Feb. 28, 2014; Nevada is one of just eight states nationally that doesn’t take at-risk students into account in its funding formula. CCSD officials told legislators why "we should be embarrassed" about it.
Purchase of 510 iPads for preschool use gets green light: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014; The Clark County School Board unanimously approved a grant application on Thursday to purchase 510 Apple iPad tablet computers and protective covers at a cost of about $245,055.
Four-day school week is kept intact in rural Clark County: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014; A four-day school week for some rural Clark County students will continue until 2016.
School Board votes to hire 150 more Teach for America teachers: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014; Critics of the well-heeled Teach for America organization aired their varied concerns, but it was in vain, as the board unanimously approved a $300,000 hiring contract.
Consultants tease UNLV panel with examples of newest college, pro stadiums around the country: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014; CSL International gave stadium authority board members a flavor of stadiums around the country. But the big question remains: How much would this new UNLV stadium cost?
CCSD to end 13-year, multimillion-dollar relationship with for-profit school-management company: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014; Over 13 years, the Clark County School District has forked over more than $30 million to Edison, a private education management company that runs seven schools in Las Vegas. So why now, after renewing its contract with the company five times, is the district calling it quits and severing ties with Edison?
State superintendent says policy review will help ensure privacy maintained in student records: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014; Nevada Schools Superintendent Dale Erquiaga has ordered a complete review of the Education Department’s student privacy policies and data-sharing agreements amid concerns from parents about third-party access to their children’s school records.
Three more schools getting extra help through turnaround program: Monday, Feb. 24, 2014; The Clark County School District today announced three new “turnaround” schools: Bailey Middle School, and Manch and Mountain View elementary schools.
19 Clark County students in running for prestigious academic honor: Friday, Feb. 21, 2014; Nineteen Clark County School District students were named candidates for one of the highest academic honors programs in the nation.
Touro University open to partnering with UNLV on health care: Friday, Feb. 21, 2014; Six weeks after taking the helm of Touro University Nevada, Shelley Berkley said her private medical school is willing to partner with UNLV in its quest to create the first public medical school in Southern Nevada.
Berkley says Nevada should be focused on creating more residency programs for medical students: Friday, Feb. 21, 2014; Former Democratic Congresswoman Shelley Berkley told the Las Vegas Sun editorial board on Thursday that she hasn't taken a position on the UNLV medical school.
UNLV announces 36 members of panel to choose new school president: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014; Nevada’s higher education leaders have tasked this group with conducting a national search to find a permanent replacement for former President Neal Smatresk, who took the helm of the University of North Texas, near Dallas, earlier this month.
More Nevada high school students taking college-level courses: But fewer are passing the AP tests to earn the college credits; Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014; More Nevada high school students are taking Advanced Placement exams, but their passing rate falls below the national average. A decade ago, about 16 percent of the graduating class took at least one AP exam during high school. Last year nearly a third of graduates took an AP exam.
Assistant superintendent taking post as elementary principal: Friday, Feb. 14, 2014; Lucy Keaton, the first assistant superintendent of the Clark County School District’s English Language-learner program, is stepping down from her position to become principal of an elementary school, district officials announced Friday.
School District reveals new vision statement: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014; The Clark County School District has a new vision statement after seven months of discussions.
District drops frequency of elementary school report cards: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014; The Clark County School District will issue report cards for elementary school students twice a year instead of three times a year.
CCSD high schoolers granted new options for college-course credit: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014; Clark County high school students can earn high school and college credit for 13 additional College of Southern Nevada courses.
CCSD putting additional 10 elementary schools on year-round schedule: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014; Ten additional Clark County elementary schools will switch to a year-round calendar this fall to combat classroom crowding, Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky announced.
Business leaders: Forget the margins tax ... fix the school funding formula: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014; Business leaders opposing a new tax initiative for education are advocating a new solution to Las Vegas’ school funding woes: Change the state’s K-12 funding formula.
Skorkowsky woos business community with talk of greater transparency, educational gains: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014; Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky urged local business leaders today to partner with him to create a new vision for the Clark County School District.
Nevada's school funding formula among culprits for latest 'F' grade on education: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014; Education researchers looked at several indicators to determine whether a state provides school funding fairly, and they found that Nevada does not.
For high schoolers, job shadowing a rare glimpse of 'what real life is all about': Friday, Feb. 7, 2014; Wendy Ellebrecht has a simple, but powerful message for Las Vegas students thinking about dropping out of high school. Don’t give up, because you’ll regret it. Facing a room full of Desert Rose Adult Education students, Ellebrecht shared a personal story of how a high school dropout went back to class, earned a diploma and worked her way up to become a manager at one of the largest corporations in the world.
CCSD might wait until 2016 to ask voters for renovation, construction money: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014; With a contentious tax initiative for education already on the 2014 ballot, the School Board is likely to wait until the 2016 election to put its own ballot measure before voters. The board decided Wednesday to delay its vote on the matter, seeking more information from staffers.
After failing eye tests, these Las Vegas children come out clear winners: Organization outfits low-income, sight-challenged children with free eyeglasses; Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014; Kevin Stewart struggled to see clearly. At school, the fifth-grader would squint and crane his neck to see the whiteboard. He needed glasses — and help to pay for them.
New health plan for CCSD cops, support staff features lower premiums: Friday, Jan. 31, 2014; The Clark County School District is offering a new health care plan for support staff and school police officers that lowers employee contributions, but results in higher copays.
State BOE approves new standardized tests for Nevada high school students: Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014; Nevada’s K-12 education leaders today approved requirements for four new standardized exams being developed for high school students. Earlier this year, the Nevada State Board of Education began phasing out the current High School Proficiency Exam in favor of new assessments aligned with more rigorous academic standards, called the Common Core State Standards. Starting with the current crop of freshmen (Class of 2017), students must pass four end-of-course exams to graduate.
Clark County graduation rates may not have been as bad as previously thought: Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014; For the past two years, the Clark County School District reported artificially low graduation rates because it incorrectly classified some students who had moved away as high school dropouts.
'Shame on you': Rogers blasts officials over UNLV president choice: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014; “Every college president across this country must be howling at the thought that a man with a B.A. from Wyoming is now the academic leader at UNLV.” That’s the opinion of the opinionated Jim Rogers, Las Vegas TV mogul.
CCSD makes strides in quest to increase graduation rate: District sees rate increase 16 percent from 2012 to 2013; Monday, Jan. 27, 2014; The Clark County School District’s high school graduation rate jumped nearly 10 percentage points in one school year, primarily because of better student accounting practices, officials said.
Regents reward UNLV's Hauck with contract extension, pay raise: Friday, Jan. 24, 2014; Nevada’s higher education leaders today approved a $200,000 raise for UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck. Regents on a 10-3 vote approved a three-year contract extension with Hauck.
Regents appoint non-academic Snyder as acting UNLV president: Strong support from business community propels selection; Friday, Jan. 24, 2014; Nevada higher education leaders appointed UNLV stadium point man, former Hotel College dean and Las Vegas business leader Don Snyder to become the university’s acting president.
Don Snyder gets chancellor's nod to become UNLV's acting president: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014; Nevada higher education Chancellor Dan Klaich has recommended that UNLV stadium point man Don Snyder become the university's acting president.
What kind of president is UNLV looking for?: Officials hear concerns of staff, faculty and alumni at public meeting; Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014; With the impending departure of UNLV President Neal Smatresk, higher education leaders have been meeting with campus and community leaders to seek public input on the presidential search. Questions abound.
UNLV psychology professor focuses on putting athletes in right frame of mind: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014; During the season, student-athletes are under incredible pressure to perform, both on and off the field. Sometimes, the stress gets to be too much. To cope, some resort to risky behaviors, such as binge drinking. To help them perform at their best in all aspects of their college life, a UNLV psychology professor has created The Optimum Performance Program in Sports.
CCSD's Skorkowsky unsure if margins tax for education 'is right way or not': Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014; Pat Skorkowsky said he hasn’t taken a position yet on an upcoming ballot measure that would raise taxes for education.
Committee recommends boundary changes to ease crowding at 14 CCSD schools: Superintendent also weighing year-round classes at 39 CCSD schools; Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014; As the Clark County School District hit a record enrollment of 314,643 students this past fall, officials again are looking at several options to alleviate school crowding. Officials say elementary schools are on average 14 percent over the building capacity; the most crowded campuses have nearly double the number of students the building was designed to hold.
Nevada State College kicks off $54 million building project: Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014; Nevada State College broke ground today on two new campus buildings, which will be financed mostly with student fees for the first time in state history.
Advocacy group says Nevada on the right track with education reforms: Monday, Jan. 13, 2014; A national group advocating education reforms commended Nevada lawmakers for instituting new school policies they hope will improve student achievement. For the past two years, StudentsFirst — founded by former Washington, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee — has released report cards evaluating education policies in 50 states and the capital.
School officials OK $129,000 contract for district CFO: Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014; The Clark County School Board unanimously approved a $129,096 contract for the School District's new chief financial officer.
Heavyweight stadium consulting firm in line to assess UNLV project: Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014; Over the next six months, a national stadium consulting firm will conduct local surveys and financial analyses to determine the facility needs and economic feasibility of a new UNLV football stadium.
Report says Nevada schools again worst in nation for giving children a chance for success: Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014; A child growing up in Nevada has the lowest chance for academic success in the country, according to a national study released today. The 2014 “Quality Counts” report graded Nevada a “D” on its “chance for success index,” the lowest possible rating.
Report raises questions about Nevada's school accountability under No Child Left Behind waiver: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014; In the 2011-12 school year, Nevada had 225 schools that were deemed failing under No Child Left Behind. After Nevada received its waiver, the state Education Department named just 33 schools as failing schools. These so-called “priority” and “focus” schools are among the bottom 15 percent of schools in the state when it comes to passing rates and year-over-year improvement on standardized tests.
UNLV removes 'interim' from title, names new dean at Honors College: Monday, Jan. 6, 2014; UNLV announced a new dean for its Honors College today. Interim dean Marta Meana will permanently head the Honors College, according to a university announcement. Meana has been a psychology professor at UNLV since 1997 and has served as interim dean of the Honors College since July 2012. The Honors College works collaboratively with UNLV’s academic colleges to challenge and educate 450 of the university’s top liberal arts and science students.