CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara joins in on Toni Gasbarrino’s 12th grade virtual English class at Basic Academy of International Studies during the first day of the 2020-21 school year, Monday Aug 24, 2020.
Published Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 | 8:50 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 | 9:11 p.m.
Some Las Vegas-area students in the Clark County School District will return to partial in-person learning on March 1.
The School Board on Thursday approved a memorandum of agreement with the Education Support Employees Association detailing COVID-19 safety protocols to formally pave the way to bring back students in pre-kindergarten through third-grade.
All students have exclusively learned remotely since last March at the outset of the pandemic, when the school year abruptly moved to a digital setting. Two previous attempts to return to some form of in-person learning stalled when coronavirus cases spiked in Clark County.
“We need every member of the CCSD team working together to support students and their fellow employees to ensure everyone remains healthy as we take this giant step toward overcoming this year of adversity,” said Jesus Jara, the schools superintendent, in a statement.
The safety standards in the agreement include personal protective equipment for all employees, thorough classroom and building sanitation and monthly virus testing for employees. There’s also daily symptom screening for educators and students, and contract tracing plans.
Additionally, employees who are considered part the “vulnerable population” won’t be required to return to campus.
“This agreement is a good start to keeping the reopening of schools as safe as possible for education support professionals and students,” ESEA President Jan Giles said in a statement. “ESEA will be working closely with CCSD and our members to ensure safety is a priority as we move forward with reopening.”
It’s unknown when older students will return.
The School Board took public comment for about an hour, hearing from many high school students and their families with pleas to allow them to return to campus. Many also urged the return of prep sports, where Nevada is one of the lone states to prohibit athletic competition. The decision to play games lies with Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association — not the School Board. Gov. Steve Sisolak said Thursday that he is working with the association in determining if sports can be played.
One parent who addressed the board was Ryan Anderson, who introduced himself as a teacher and coach. He emphasized the emotional toll on young athletes who have been forced to the sidelines.
"Our kids need to be playing sports. I've had numerous athletes call me in tears, big, burly senior boys, call me in tears to let me know that their lives are in shambles because they're missing out on their senior year of athletics," he said.
CCSD parent Bonnie Lolly shared a similar message about her son, who plays baseball.
"Last March, after months of daily practices and workouts, the boys on Centennial varsity team showed up for their very first varsity season and they were told there would be no game and no season. It was devastating," she said. "Now, as a senior, this is it. He will never get this back again. He already lost last year. Please, please let these kids play their sports. They have missed out on so much already."
Student Sam Wheeler said, "Sports is life. It's all we've got and without being able to do that, it's horrible."
