Meetings to be held to discuss independent school district efforts

An ad-hoc committee which has been working to pave the way for an independent school district for the eight schools in northeastern Clark County will be holding two community meetings this week, one in each valley.

On Tuesday evening, May 16, the first of these meetings will be held in the Old Logandale School beginning at 6:30 pm.
Then on Wednesday, May 17, a meeting will be held at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center at 15 W Mesquite Blvd. This meeting will also start at 6:30 pm.

All of the public is invited to come and learn about the ongoing effort to bring more autonomy to local schools.

Working with state legislators, this committee was successful in helping to draft Assembly Bill 420 which was introduced earlier in the session. The bill eventually timed out without being heard by the Assembly Education Committee. But committee members say that the battle is far from over.

Committee member Cathy Davis, former principal of Virgin Valley Elementary School, said that she, and other committee members, had a booth at Mesquite Days earlier this month and gathered 350 signatures of support for the independent school district idea.
“We have had a lot of people ask us where we are now with this effort,” Davis said. “So we are holding this latest round of community meetings to discuss that.”

Davis said that, even though AB 420 did not move forward, the committee is still working with state legislators on alternatives where the principles of AB 420 can move still forward in this session of the legislature.
“We still have options that we are working through,” she said. “But if all else fails, we will start again in anticipation of the 2025 session. Either way, we can use all of the community involvement that we can get.”

The committee is open to input and involvement from all members of the public, Davis added. They have already held three public meetings in each community that were open to the public; and the committee has gained membership and support throughout that time. They have also held focus group meetings with school teachers and support staff in both valleys.

Committee members made a presentation to the Mesquite City Council which approved a resolution in full support of their effort. They have also presented at Town Advisory Boards in Moapa and Moapa Valley and received expressions of support from the individual members. They plan to approach the Bunkerville Town Advisory Board at its next scheduled meeting.