CLARK COUNTY (KTNV) — During its Thursday night board meeting, the Clark County School District trustees voted against passing a resolution that would send communication home to students regarding safe gun storage, and it voted in favor of a separate agreement that will increase the pay of licensed school psychologists in the district.
FIREARM STORAGE SAFETY
Trustees say the safe gun storage resolution is related to recent suicides reported by the district.
“The recent national media tour about CCSD‘s student suicide rates shook our community and I’m hearing my constituents loud and clear asking us to do something about it," said Trustee Danielle Ford.
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"I feel like it’s our responsibility to do anything within our power to protect our students," she aded.
Trustee Linda Cavazos said during the meeting that the majority of the student suicides within Clark County have been by a gun inside the home the student resides in.
The policy would require parents or guardians to sign a "safe storage of firearms in the home" document to acknowledge they've read it.
“If one vote and one annual piece of paper can prevent even one student death by suicide or even one school shooting then it’s more than worth it to me," added Ford.
#BREAKING motion fails. Cavazos, Ford, Guzman support. Brooks, Cepeda, Williams, Garcia-Morales vote against.@lindacavazos13 now making a statement says policy has been put over children. https://t.co/8J6Oxxs4eC
— Joe Bartels (@Joe_Bartels) January 29, 2021
Cavazos, Danielle Ford, Lisa Guzman all voted in support of the measure. Lola Brooks, Irene Cepeda, Katie Williams, Evelyn Garcia Morales voted against it.
“I agree with your sentiments about gun violence, I don’t think anybody on his board wants gun violence or doesn’t want to take that seriously,“ said Lola Brooks.
Brooks implored the board to go through the proper procedures before acting on the resolution.
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Trustee Garcia Morales asked to move this item to a later date, saying more discussion is needed on this topic.
After a lengthy discussion, the trustees voted to bring the policy back for consideration no later than June 1.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST PAY
Also during the meeting, the trustees approved a Memorandum of Agreement between the district and the union representing teaching professionals, Clark County Education Association, to increase pay for licensed school psychologists.
According to CCSD:
Nationally, there is a shortage of school psychologists. CCSD currently has 159 school psychologists. In Nevada, the recommended ratio is 500 students to 1 school psychologist. This is consistent with recommendations from the National Association of School Psychologists. The District’s student to school psychologist ratio is currently approximately 2000:1.
School psychologists' positions are a designated critical labor shortage area. Improving the base salary for CCSD licensed school psychologists will help with the recruitment and retention of licensed school psychologists on staff with the District to better provide our students with mental and emotional wellbeing services.
To view the document related to this agenda item, click here.
