Running head: CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Clark County School District Regular Board Meeting: September 8, 2016

Jennifer McNutt
College of Southern Nevada
10/23/2016

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Abstract
The following school board meeting took place on September 8, 2016. During this meeting,
many agenda items were discussed. The Mercury incident that took place at Johnson Middle
school was better explained to the public. Furthermore, great discussion took place over the optin/opt-out policy for sexual education classes. A summary of much of the information coved in
this nights meeting follows.

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

School Board Meeting

Introduction
The Clark County School District Board Meeting that I will be summarizing took place
on September 8, 2016. I was not able to attend this meeting in person. However, I did watch the
meeting via video feed from their website (Board Meeting, n.d). The meeting lasted two hours
and fifty-one minute meeting, I was personally able to watch about two hours of the meeting.
Present for the meeting were President Linda Young, Vice President Chris Garvey, Clerk Patrice
Tew, Board Member Kevin Child, Board Member Erin Cranor, Board Member Carolyn Edwards,
Board Member Deanna Wright (via phone), and Superintendent of Schools Pat Skorkowsky as
well as many concerned members of the public. The following will detail the portion of the
school board meeting I was able to watch.
Beginning of the meeting
The CCSD Board meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. The color guard was
there to present the flag during this time. A prayer of invitation shortly followed. Prayer was lead
be Pastor Treaho. The pastor directed his prayer in such a way to give wisdom to do well in the
lives of students, and to be aware that everyone from janitor, parent, teacher, administrator to
board member has the power to build the future leaders of our community. (Board Meeting, n.d).
President Young began the meeting agenda at this point. The Adoption of the Agenda
(item 1.03) was the first item covered. It is here that board member voted to revise various kinds
of reference materials. Following this the Board moved to the next issue at hand. At this
particular meet that was the Mercury exposure at Johnson Middle School.
Mercury at Johnson Middle School

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Superintendent of Schools Pat Skorkowsky spoke to the board along with fellow meeting
attendees about the previous days incident at Johnson Middle School. He started out by thanking
everyone involved from teachers and staff to firemen, police officers, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and Clark County Health Department. Superintendent Skorkowsky
went on to explain just what had happened at Johnson Middle School prompting the incident.
During the school day there was mercury found to be present within the school.
Decisions were made to call the fire department. The fire department, under further investigation,
decided that the EPA should be notified (Board Meeting, n.d). The school did go on lockdown at
that point and the EPA set up screening for students. It was their goal to make sure the students
remained safe. The last student left the school at 5:00am.
Superintendent Schakowsky pointed out that staff remain with students all night, and did
their best to keep the students entertained. Local businesses brought refreshments for students to
eat. While it is understandable that parents were frustrated, they did remain understanding. The
school tried to insure that parents were updated regularly. Superintendent Schakowsky stated that
parent links went out all night long (Board Meeting, n.d).
The mercury incident at Johnson Middle school goes in line with chapter six that details
negligence and defamation with in the school system (Underwood, pages 99-117, 2006). When
the actions that took place at Johnson Middle school are reviewed, it is easy to see just how the
school itself took every effort to make sure it do not neglect any of the students with in their care.
The four elements of negligence, which are duty, breach, causation, and injury do not seem to
have been broken on part of the school system in this case (Underwood, pages 100-101, 2006).
Furthermore, the school took great effort in seeing that the students health was never put in
danger.

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Public Comment
Following the discussion Of Johnson Middle School, the board went to the next item on
the agenda. At this time members of the public were able to bring items up to the attention of
board members. Instructions were given that board members could not vote on any particular
item, nor could they comment or deliberate (Board Meeting, n.d).
The first person to speak was Mr. Michael Hollas. Mr. Hollas was a teacher at a school
within the district. He went on to voice concerns he had about an investigatory interview that he
had underwent. Mr. Hollas said that the states that made were false. Furthermore, he called for
the investigation of then Deputy Superintendent Kim Wooden (Board Meeting, n.d). From our
reading we are able to see the procedural due process requirements for the dismissal of a teacher
(Underwood, pages 64-66, 2006). If Mr. Hollas is a non-tenured teachers, his rights may be
different from a tenured teacher (Underwood, pages 73, 2006).
A second person to speak during this time was Mr. David Gomez. He stated that he was
once the President of Nevada Piece Alliance. Mr. Gomez went on to speak his opinion on the
occurrences at Johnson Middle School during the mercury incident. Mr. Gomez felt it needed to
be known that he saw no one other than police there that night. Moreover, there was no
communication taking place between school officials and parents. He said that you could see
fear in most parents eyes (Board Meeting, n.d). He also made the statement to the board that
your house will fall, only because you built it on sand (Board Meeting, n.d).
The final person to speak during this time was Mr. Jason Lambert. He felt that something
more needed to be done about bullying and teen suicide. He had lost his own daughter due to

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

suicide. He ended his comments asking for a moment of silence for 13 year old Maria Cougar
who died from bullying that lead to her suicide.
Consent Agenda
President Young opened this portion of the agenda with instruction that items could be
voted on in one motion unless items were asked to be taken separately. Members of the public
were also permitted to speak before a vote took place.
Item 4.01 is titled opt in/ opt out Of Legislation Position on Sexual Education. It would
be this item that would direct how the Board went to the 2017 legislative session in regards to
this issue (Board Meeting, n.d). An opt-in vote would mean that sexual education classes would
carry on as is for the most part. When it came to sex education, parents would be required to sign
a permission slip before their child could attend the class. An opt-out vote would then mean that
parents would only have to sign a refusal for their child not to take the class. If no notice is given
the child would take the class. A neutral vote would mean that the board would let the
Legislation make the final decision.
In the end a total of 22 parents, teachers, concerned citizens, and students spoke out in the
matter. About fifteen wanted the opt-in option to remain. Another four wanted the opt-out. An
additional 4 were neutral. Many voiced their opinions that they felt an opt-out vote would
interfere with their rights of freedom of speech (Board Meeting, n.d). This relates to our text in
that comments instructional methods and curriculum can directly affect free speech (Underwood,
pages 73, 2006). Others believed that freedom of religion right were being affected. The new
curriculum would teach students concepts that their religious beliefs did not follow (Underwood,
pages 219, 2006). Those that thought Opt-out was the best decision, seemed to think the class

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

would reach families that were less involved with their children (Board Meeting, n.d).
Meaning those that didnt return a slip at all, however probably would still be allowed to attend
the sexual education class.
The Board did officially make a vote on this item during this particular meeting.
Trustee #2 made the initial motion to opt-in. Trustee Childs seconded the motion. In the end the
vote was passed 6-1. Trustee Edwards was the only member to vote no.
In Summary
There is a great deal that can be learned from attending or watching school board
meetings. One is able to get a better understanding at just how important decisions are made
involving the education of our children and schools themselves. Moreover, one is able to learn
that their opinions do matter. You have a right to be heard. It seems as though the board members
take great pride in making sure that their decisions reflect those of the public. It is these
decisions that will help to shape our world one day.

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

References
Board Meeting - 9/8/16. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://tv.ccsd.net/watch?
v=DE0k1aPhE8dI
Underwood, J., & Webb, L. D. (2006). School law for teachers: Concepts and applications.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.