People hold up signs during a rally before a meeting of the Clark County School Board at the Lowden Theater in downtown Las Vegas Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. Many parents and students at the rally were asking for an immediate full-time return of students to the classroom. Others were asking for an August 2021 return.
Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 | 11:20 p.m.
They chanted “all kids, full-time” and “let them play.” They carried signs with similar messages.
The group of demonstrators gathered in front of Las Vegas Academy ahead of a meeting Thursday night of the School Board to urge the Clark County School District to give the option for all students to return to full in-person learning after nearly a year of learning remotely because of the pandemic.
Many pre-kindergarten through third-graders will return to the classroom starting Monday under a hybrid model — two days a week in the classroom and three days at home working via computer. Slowly but surely, students in other grades will start returning through the first week of April.
By April 6, those in pre-kindergarten through fifth can return to five days a week with face-to-face instruction. But the older grades will remain with the hybrid model.
Most of the demonstrators were children, many of whom are high school-aged and sported apparel featuring their school’s name.
Caden McKnight, the student body president at Centennial High School, told the crowd that his 17-year-old friend died and instead of going to school to grieve with friends, he had to open a laptop the next day alone in his room.
“I’m here to speak on behalf of the students who have not had their voices heard by the district, the students who once got nothing but straight A's but now struggle to pass their classes, the students who worry they will not be able to attend a graduation with the friends they’ve gone to school with for 13-plus years, the students who have felt so isolated they chose to take their own lives,” he said.
As McKnight spoke, cars drove by honking their horns in support. One of the cars had “kids’ mental health matters” written on the window in white shoe polish.
Clark County Schools Superintendent Jesus Jara said in November that at least 11 students had committed suicide since the school closures last March. “We are not only in the midst of a health crisis, but we are being challenged with a mental health crisis and an academic crisis,” he said at the time in urging that students return to campus.
But reopening wasn’t practical in the late fall because of the winter spike in virus cases. That’s not the case anymore, as Nevada’s 14-day positivity rate was 8.6% — or the lowest since October — and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has brought hope. Many educators have already received both doses.
The School Board was meeting in person for the first time since last March at the outset of the pandemic. They were greeted by the protesters asking for the same privilege, to have school in-person.
The 30 minutes of public comment was dedicated to parents and students pleading with the School Board to open schools full-time and bring back high school sports. The spring sports season will be played over six weeks starting in April, and fall sports will have 20 organized practices but no competitions against other schools.
Those who shamed officials for the way they handled the pandemic got an applause from supporters holding bright neon protest signs. The few who spoke in favor of keeping kids home were booed.
Axcel Ramirez, a senior at Valley High School, delivered an impassioned speech when he told the board, “I am sitting at home. I have failed all my classes. I haven’t learned anything, to be completely honest with you.”
Ramirez, the football team’s captain, has watched on social media as friends in nearby Utah had a season, including the cherished senior night when players are escorted onto the field for the last time with their parents.
“My mom doesn’t know what to do. My mom is confused, but I know you guys are confused as well,” he said. “We have never been through this, a pandemic. I understand that. What I don’t understand is why we can’t go to school if 48 other states are doing that.”
