LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — James I. Gibson Elementary School in Henderson has canceled all classes on Tuesday due to an "unexpected" shortage of licensed teachers and staff.
In an email to parents, the school's principal, Jill Keith, asked parents to refrain from sending their children to campus.
"There are an unexpected number of licensed staff/teachers absent from school today," the email read. "And we have made the difficult decision not to have school today."
Keith told parents to look out for an additional message later in the day with information regarding classes for Wednesday.
We talked with parents of Gibson students.
Adrienne Babbid told our Anchor Reporter Joe Moeller she had two daughters, one in first grade and another in Pre-K.
"I had to make arrangements to work from home today...they let us know as we were putting the kids in the car."
Markee Bodily, another parent, said, "at 7:35 (a.m.) I got a phone call, we were getting ready to walk out the door...I kind of thought is this real you know like yes or no, I have a kid at the high school and he was already at the school so I thought it was kind of odd."
"What do those parents do at the last minute you know like hey I got to go to work, I have to call out now, what do you do?" Bodily continued.
Another email came from the principal stating the City of Henderson opened the Silver Springs Recreation Center for Gibson Elementary School families who need child care services.
This news comes after Southeast Career Technical Academy sent a similar email to parents on Friday after also experiencing an "unexpected number" of teacher and staff absences. Students in the impacted classes were relocated by administrators in the morning to "larger areas of campus to continue instructional activities," according to the email.
Officials noted that the "majority of teachers" were on campus and that they would work to continue the day "with minimal disruption."
Channel 13 reached out to the Clark County Education Association, which was recently involved in a legal battle with the Clark County School District after the union's leadership commented about a possible "work action."
In response to Channel 13, the Clark County Education Association has denied all involvement with the absences.
PARENTS REACT: Parents, students also watching, waiting as the district's stalemate with CCEA drags on
