CCSD interim superintendent cites progress on staffing, attendance, budgets and career programs at 2025 State of Schools

Brenda Larson Mitchell, interim superintendent of the Clark County School District, delivered the district's 2025 State of Schools address, saying the district is "making progress" while noting ‘‘we are not where we need to be’’ on student outcomes. She reported key operational and academic metrics, discussed investments in teaching and learning systems, and highlighted partnerships and awards.

The speech laid out why the district considers the measures important. Larson Mitchell said the district serves about 296,000 students across 374 schools in nearly 8,000 square miles and called the workforce "our single most important school-based variable," noting a 96% classroom fill rate and a 94% licensed-employee retention rate. "We are making progress in the Clark County School District because people are working really, really hard," she said.

Larson Mitchell described instructional priorities around a multi-tiered system of supports and districtwide instructional materials, and said those systems are producing measurable results: 200 schools increased index points on the Nevada School Performance Framework and elementary through middle-school math showed gains across all student groups. She said chronic absenteeism for the first quarter is 26.6%, three percentage points lower than the first quarter last year, and that suspensions and discretionary expulsions have decreased (11% and 17% respectively compared with the same quarter last year).

On budgets and audits, Larson Mitchell said the district has a roughly $4,000,000,000 annual budget and reported one audit finding for the year. She said the district spent $777,000,000 in COVID relief funds and achieved "100% on time obligation" for that funding. She also said the district received two commendations from the Nevada Department of Education for transparency and community participation in budget work and that spring 2025 school budgets were released "in alignment with NRS on time, January 15th."

Human resources and recruitment were highlighted as ongoing priorities. Roanne Triana, human resources officer, said the district finalized a recruitment and retention plan and expanded its J-1 visa program. "This year, we are hosting teachers from the Philippines, Kenya, Belize, India, Jamaica, Portugal, and Colombia," Triana said. She reported a 13% decrease in classroom vacancies compared with the prior year and that the district has hired 2,430 licensed educators to date for the 2024–25 school year.

Transportation and student services figures also featured. Amber Rideout, assistant superintendent of transportation, said CCSD serves more than 124,000 eligible bus riders, operates about 1,500 routes and 32,000 daily bus stops, and has reduced bus driver vacancies from 79 to 24. She noted the district operates more than 1,900 school buses (the largest district-owned fleet in the United States, as reported in the address) and has four electric buses in service with plans to expand by 25 more, supported by a partnership with Nevada Energy.

Larson Mitchell and other presenters emphasized career, technical and arts programs and partnerships. Justin Mansell, chief academic officer, announced that CCSD magnet programs earned recognition from Magnet Schools of America. Isabelle Sanchez, principal at Southeast Career Technical Academy, described partnerships with business, including MGM International hiring 34 students and paying tuition in one partnership. The district also reported increases in dual-enrollment and Advanced Placement participation; Larson Mitchell said AP enrollment exceeds 20,000 and that AP exam participation rose.

Larson Mitchell closed by reiterating the district's need to continue work to close achievement gaps and asked the community to share the district's progress. "The Clark County School District is our school district. We all have a vested interest in the success of our students," she said.

Ending: The address combined performance metrics, operational updates and community partnership highlights. Several department leaders presented complementary data and program descriptions; no formal board actions or votes were taken during the address portion of the meeting.