LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Monday was the first day of school for students in the Clark County School District.
CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara made visits to several schools. He stopped at Sylvestri Junior High to discuss a new program from the University of Arizona. Instead of having 6 or 7 teachers throughout the school day, they only have three.
"Students have two periods of English, but they are having those two periods of English with those three teachers on that team," said Yvette Tippets, principal of Sylvestri. "Then they go to math class with one of those teachers on that team and then science with one of those three teachers on that team."
Tippets says it will help improve the learning environment between students and teachers and help with the substitute teacher shortage by reducing the demand.
The superintendent thinks this could be the future of education.
The school district also started despite the CCEA and CCSD still negotiating a contract. CCSD remains in contract negotiations with the Clark County Education Association, the union representing the district's teachers.
Along with the ongoing contract negotiations, education funding and school safety have been top of mind for local officials going into the 2023-24 school year. Both topics were addressed at a recent State of Schools panel of educators, policymakers and community stakeholders.
In a recent one-on-one interview with Channel 13 anchor Abel Garcia, Jara addressed several topics.
Student achievement is Jara's no. 1 priority going into the new school year, he told Garcia. The district is still working to address its problem with chronic absenteeism.
Jara also addressed recent legislation strengthening punishments for students who repeatedly disrupt class with violent behavior or distribute controlled substances.
