Those who attended the Clark County School District’s listening sessions on April 16 in Moapa Valley or on April 22 in Virgin Valley may have left with doubts about their own learning abilities. It certainly is an educational challenge to absorb and understand the huge amount of information proffered at those meetings and in the draft report released last month. Not only is the scope and content of a huge proposed future facilities master plan for the entire school district difficult to fully grasp, but even just comprehending exactly what is proposed for our rural community schools is a challenge. Of course, understanding the potential impacts of the plan for our local schools and students is our highest priority.

MV Progress reporter Kelly Robison in the April 20 issue of the MV Progress accurately reported that Moapa Valley community participation at the April 16 meeting was “generally civil,” even as the participants expressed their strong feelings and opinions.  The parents, grandparents, teachers and others among the 100 or so community members who attended that meeting didn’t hide their concerns and criticisms of the facility options, which included the possibility of closing Mack Lyon Middle School and relocating those students to one or more of the other community schools.

Now it seems we are invited to participate in Community Survey #2. Then, after this online survey becomes available the week of April 27, another meeting is scheduled for interested community members on May 5 at 6 p.m. at the Moapa Valley High School library. According to the CannonDesign representatives, the purpose of this second meeting is to further explore implementation features associated with revised options A, B and C. However, CannonDesign representatives don’t expect comments at this meeting to result in major changes to the options, just some potential guidance for implementation strategies. Are you confused yet?

It would be great if some of the smart students from our local schools could be motivated to come to the May 5 meeting to help sort through the confusing information and seemingly obscure process that is frustrating the older members of the community. We would just like some certainty, preferably in writing, that none of the options currently shown in CannonDesign’s preliminary draft report will lead to the adverse impacts to our families and community that we currently anticipate if the board of trustees adopts option C.

– Marc Jensen