CLARK COUNTY (KTNV) — Leaders with the Clark County School District, along with District Attorney Steve Wolfson, are discussing school safety.
"The uptick in violence we are seeing across the district, across the community and across the nation cannot continue," said Supt. Dr. Jesus Jara during a press conference on Tuesday. "Our schools must be a safe place for our children and for our staff to learn and to teach."
Jara and officials pointed to the pandemic and isolation as part of the reason for the increased violence.
"Student-on-student violence and student-adult violence that has recently made headlines in our community and beyond, the aggressive actions we see mirror the violence in our communities across the county."
During the conference, Jara shared some changes that the district is making in an effort to make schools safer.
He said students and adults who act violent on campus will be removed and held accountable according to the district's code of conduct.
Any physical altercation will be added as a disciplinary infraction. Fighting on campus is considered a major infraction. Fighting that results in "significant campus disruption" will result in a recommended expulsion from school, he said.
Students recommended for expulsion for any major disciplinary infraction will be referred to academic centers, Nevada Learning Academy, Lighthouse Academy and Acceleration Academy.
Jara went on to say "zero tolerance" does not work and the district must find ways to reengage students.
Starting today, the district is reconvening its Expulsion Review Board.
Jara also said guns should never be on campus and should have the most "serious of consequences." Students with guns will face the Expulsion Review Board.
Schools will also soon have a single point of entry. The transition from open campuses to limited-entry points will begin in the coming weeks, he said.
The district is working with elementary school principals on "reset spaces."
CCSD Police Chief Henry Blackeye and principals in the district joined the superintendent and the DA. Blackeye said parents were adding to acts of violence on campuses.
Watch the full presser below.
