Three CCSD board incumbents face challengers in upcoming election

The field is set for Clark County School Board seats up for election this year, and for some candidates, the race could be over as early as June.

Three incumbents — Brenda Zamora, Irene Bustamante Adams and Linda Cavazos — now face a finalized list of challengers following the close of the filing window earlier this month. Under Nevada law, nonpartisan races with more than two candidates, such as the school board’s District F, can be decided outright in the June 9 primary if a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

However, in Districts D and G, where only two candidates have filed, those races will skip the primary ballot and proceed directly to the Nov. 3 general election.

Seven candidates have filed to run across three available seats, according to the Clark County Election Department:

• District D (downtown, a portion of east and northeast Las Vegas): Incumbent Brenda Zamora is seeking a second term against challenger David Gomez.
• District F (southwest valley): Incumbent Irene Bustamante Adams is running for a second term against challengers Robert Hutchinson and Laurence Neely.
• District G (a portion of east Las Vegas and north Henderson): Incumbent Linda Cavazos is running for her third full term against challenger Paul Casey.

The 11-member board currently operates as a hybrid body, where seven elected, voting members work alongside four appointed, nonvoting members representing local municipalities.

CCSD honors top employees

The school district celebrated its employees and named its top teachers, support professionals and administrators Monday at the annual Evening of Excellence and Educator of the Year Awards.

The winners were:

• Elementary Teacher of the Year: Ariel Hamilton, first grade, George E. Harris Elementary School
• Support Professional of the Year: Melanie Kakaio, CCSD Magnet Schools Department
• Central Office Administrator of the Year: Carmen West, Office of the Superintendent
• Principal of the Year: Lindsay Packer, Keith C. and Karen W. Hayes Elementary School
• Licensed Specialist of the Year: Todd Herrick, counselor, Southeast Career and Technical Academy
• Assistant Principal of the Year: Brittany Ward, Helen Herr Elementary School
• Secondary Teacher of the Year: Kim Collum, learning strategist, Frank F. Garside Junior High School

The event, funded by community sponsors, was at the MGM Grand and included a performance of “KÀ” by Cirque du Soleil.

Input on facilities sought

CCSD has scheduled more than 40 community forums in the next several weeks to gather input on its new facilities plan.

Forums begin Monday and run through May 19. Feedback from the forums will inform the Building Brighter Futures facility master plan presented to the school board this fall.

The options being discussed as part of Building Brighter Futures are not expected to begin until 2030 or later.

CCSD, with contractor CannonDesign, has already gathered feedback from forums last spring, along with enrollment trends, facility evaluations and other data, to develop possible options that balance current and long-term future needs for the district’s buildings.

The first forum will be at 6 p.m. Monday at Coronado High School, 1001 Coronado Center Drive, in Henderson.

Find all forum dates at fmp.ccsd.net.

School choice fair set Saturday

CCSD’s spring school choice fair is 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at Silverado High School, 1650 Silver Hawk Ave., Las Vegas.

District staff will be available to answer families’ questions about open enrollment and magnet options.

Open enrollment, formerly known as Change of School Assignment, allows families to apply for seats in district schools with open spaces outside their assigned attendance zones. Seats are still available at more than 30 CCSD open enrollment schools.

Some magnet schools, which have specialized programs and are not restricted to the closest neighborhoods, also have room. The late application period opened this week.

For a full list of participating schools and additional details, visit itsyourchoice.ccsd.net/springfair.

 

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