Public comments at CCSD oath meeting highlight special-education restraints, superintendent search and teacher recruitment

Public comment at the Clark County School District’s Jan. 6 oath-of-office meeting focused on concerns that speakers said the new board should treat as priorities: a civil and unified superintendent search, special-education practices, legislative accountability and teacher recruitment.

Sheila Moulton, a former CCSD trustee and president of the Better Choice PAC, congratulated incoming trustees and urged civility and cooperation during the district’s superintendent search. "Civility, compromise, and cooperation are mandatory," Moulton said, warning that candidates will review the board's prior meetings and public conduct before deciding whether to apply.

Yesenia Gonzales, who identified herself as a participant in special-education advocacy, told the board the district recorded 3,223 restraints of students in 2023–24 and asked what steps trustees will take to reduce that number. "What are you guys going to do to fix that?" she asked.

Representatives of the Clark County Education Association addressed the board on legislative priorities and accountability ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Jessica Jones, CCEA secretary and a kindergarten teacher at Hickey Elementary, and Kenny Belknap, CCEA vice president, congratulated the trustees and said they hope the board will partner with educators on accountability goals during the Legislature. Belknap noted the prior session’s emphasis on funding and said the next session will focus on accountability; he urged the board to "embrace accountability" as a way to improve student outcomes.

Jordan Hankins, founder and executive director of the Southern Nevada Black Educators Initiative, said roughly 1,300 of the district’s about 18,000 licensed professionals identify as Black and asked the board to support the initiative’s Amplifying Black Voices mentorship program. Hankins said the program is in partnership with UNLV’s College of Education and asked that participants be eligible for continuing-education units; he also noted a related ABC-to-PhD program launching Feb. 1.

Dan Thomas, a former CCSD coach, told the board he was dismissed nearly two years earlier over a video no one else has seen and requested a meeting with trustees to review his case. He said he has retained counsel and seeks a meeting before Feb. 3.

Other public commenters offered congratulations to the newly sworn trustees, urged trustees to listen to each other and asked for continued community engagement; several speakers offered offers of assistance from community groups. A small number of commenters made broader political or social claims; for example, one speaker questioned district policies on mask and vaccine guidance and criticized organizations she said were funded by teacher-union dollars. Those comments were presented at the meeting as claims by the speakers.

Board officials reminded the public that the board is legally restricted from taking action on items not listed on the meeting agenda. Speakers urged trustees to follow through on requests in future public meetings or on the appropriate agenda items.