Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board Meeting - November 20, 2025
Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board Meeting - November 20, 2025
The Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board (CEAB) met on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Mesquite City Hall. The board received updates from elementary and middle school principals, appointed two new at-large members, elected a chair and vice chair, and heard public comments from the College of Southern Nevada.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes and agenda: The board unanimously approved the August 21, 2025 meeting minutes and the November 20, 2025 agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chantel McAllister (College of Southern Nevada) provided an update: Darlene retired after 25 years at CSN; a class of 18 EMT students is the first in two years; the HVAC program is overenrolled with 15 students (lab capacity 12) and most graduates are hired locally; the program was funded through federal funds; CSN is seeking expansion into other trades but funding is a challenge.
Principals' Reports
- Mr. Bennett (Virgin Valley Elementary): Introduced Wyatt Sessions as the new school representative. Announced PTO pictures with Santa (Dec 2), fifth-graders playing pickleball at the rec center, a holiday sing-along (Dec 19 at 2 PM), and winter MAP testing. Noted staffing shortages: Bernice Morris retired after 28 years and clerk Nicole Enriquez is on maternity leave.
- Mr. Jenkins (Joseph Buller Elementary): Reported on standardized testing and the school's goal to build student stamina. Invited board members to the Liberty Bus event (Dec 4, 8 AM–noon) and a “pie in the face” fundraiser (Nov 25). Described the L.E.A.D. program taught by Officer Drayton. Recognized two students per class for the “Habit 3” character focus. Upcoming events: retake pictures (Dec 8), parent engagement night (Dec 8), holiday concert (Dec 15), quarter assembly (Dec 19). He also noted the late bus program with Mesquite funding serves 138 students, including a newcomer Spanish program.
- Principal Wilson (Hughes Middle School): Absent; a written report was read. Enrollment is 555 (up from 548 in August). Chronic absenteeism is 21.7% (down from last year but above the 18% goal). Athletics: girls cross country won division, boys placed second; girls flag football won division championship and a player was recognized at a Raiders game. Winter concerts: orchestra/guitar (Dec 9) and band (Dec 11). First principal roundtable held with 15 students; will be monthly.
Discussion Items
- Filling at-large positions: Two seats were open (Larry Waite moved to high school rep; member Heather stepping down for cancer treatment). Two applicants: Nikki Meeter (Director of Mesquite Works STEAM Center, extensive education background) and Jeffrey A. Fritz (former mayor and police chief in Illinois, public safety consultant). Both were nominated and unanimously appointed. Mr. Jenkins disclosed that Mr. Fritz's wife is a kindergarten teacher at his school.
- Appointing CEAB Chair: A motion to table was made but not seconded. Ben was nominated and elected chair by voice vote (one nay heard but ruled insufficient).
- Appointing CEAB Vice Chair: Casey was nominated and elected vice chair unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda: Approved unanimously.
- At-large appointees: Nikki Meeter and Jeffrey A. Fritz were appointed to two at-large seats.
- Chair: Ben elected.
- Vice Chair: Casey elected.
- The meeting adjourned at 5:37 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right, we'll go ahead and get started. Thank you, everybody, for coming. If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic, for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we'll move right into agenda item 1.1. Public comments. If there is any, come on up. Seeing none, we'll close that agenda item and move on to agenda item 2.1. Consideration of approval of the Thursday, August 21st, 2025, Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board Meeting Minutes. And the Thursday, November 20th, 2025 Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board Meeting Agenda. Looking for a motion on that. Make a motion to accept that. Okay, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Motion and second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Okay. That motion passes on the extent of what you do. Move on to agenda item three. Principals, comments, and reports. Mr. Bennett online, if you'd like to go first. Do I have to do anything? Yes. Okay. Can you guys see me? I don't know if I can on a screen, but I can you hear me? We can hear you. Okay. Um, so um I just wanted to know if Mr. Wyatt Sessions is in the audience. We do see him here, yes. Okay, if he will if he'll wave because I can't see him. Okay. Okay, there we go. So Mr. Wyatt Sessions was invited by me to become our new Virgin Valley Elementary School representative for the CAB and graciously uh uh accepted the the request. So um I just wanted to make sure he was introduced properly. I had a dental appointment earlier and got a crown on, so uh hopefully I'm speaking clearly after that, but I just wanted to make sure that happened at this meeting. Okay, thank you so much, Mr. Bennett. And I'm glad we got your crown. We know that you were the king. Yes, okay. It's not that kind of crown, but you know, I sitting in the chair today. I wasn't feeling like a king.
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