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.

So uh, but I do want to also put in a uh, you know, just to let you guys know, we do have, I believe it's December 2nd.

Our PTO is doing pictures with Santa.

Uh next week, our fifth graders get to go play um.

Uh I want to say racquetball, but it's not racquetball, forgive me.

Pickleball at the rec center.

And then we do also have um our annual sing along will be on December 19th at two o'clock for our students at the school for our holiday sing along.

So I can't remember anything else off the top of my head that we're doing at the school in the next four weeks.

Okay.

Sounds good.

And then okay, sorry, then I was just moving on my list here.

We do also have map testing going on.

And that will finish up next week.

Um, and then we'll have about four days to do makeup testing.

So we're doing our second round of map testing right now.

The window is open.

They call it our winter benchmark.

And um then we'll move into January and do a lot of switch ups with our reading groups and stuff with that data, um, so that we can more uh efficiently help the students in their reading groups.

So that's kind of the academic side of what's going on right now at the school.

Okay, I was just waiting to make sure it's weirder when it's not in person.

Sorry.

Okay, thank you so much.

Um, one thing, Mr.

Bennett.

I understand you're kind of short staffed in the front office now.

Well, well, yeah, I don't necessarily like always say that, but it since you asked, um, we do want to thank Miss Bernice Morris.

Um, she's actually out of the country right now, enjoying uh a retirement.

Miss Bernice, after 28 years, retired last week.

And um, then we also want to congratulate my clerk.

Um, my elementary clerk, uh, she, Miss Nicole Enriquez had a baby girl last week, so she's out on maternity leave.

So if you walk into the elementary school in the next, I don't know, six weeks, you'll probably see a lot of Miss Vanessa Moreno Salis and Mr.

Bennett, and it's answering phones in the front office.

Um, the fort's being held down by Miss Keeley Watkins, who's our office current office specialist, and our backup and our trained banker uh brinks deposit person, uh check writer.

Uh basically she's trained on everything, so we got to keep her healthy because if she misses a day, the school won't go very far.

So yeah, there's some excitement in our front office right now.

All right, any other questions for Mr.

Bennett.

Okay, thank you, Principal Bennett.

Awesome.

Thank you guys so much for letting me do this electronically or online.

You bet.

Thanks for coming.

Yep.

All right, Mr.

Jenkins, do you want to go next?

I don't know.

On to or not, I will.

Hello, everyone.

Thank you for letting me come tonight.

Um, Chris Jenkins, principal at Joseph Buller Elementary School for the record.

And um we have a lot of the same situations going on that they do over at um Virgin Valley Elementary, as far as standardized testing and making sure we're helping the kids realize that you know, being accountable for what we're learning and that we're doing it is not fun, but a part of life for all of us.

And so they're having that check-in now.

So um it's going really well at our school.

We're we're encouraged with what we're seeing from the kids and by the kids, and um, you know, one of the biggest efforts we make with that is helping the kids set a goal for how they're going to improve and um be cognizant of that during their time.

Um, you know, we we have a lot of kids, and rightfully so.

I I think asking the question of why am I doing this?

And so helping them see that's kind of our mode and our mantra.

Our school's big overarching goal this year is all based on stamina.

Can our kids attend to more than a video game for longer than 20 minutes?

So that's what our kids are working through and learning how to, and it's amazing when they as a class are trying to show and encouraging each other to make it to that benchmark of working through that.

So just so you know, and can help support it.

Hopefully, as you see our kids out and about, how how long they're able to attend to a task.

So um, with that, let's see.

If you want to see the kids um throw pies at me, you can come and see that on the 25th, or if you want to come and learn about growth and development, we're teaching the fifth graders that also on the 25th.

So it's gonna be one extreme to the other.

Um, but it's a good time to reiterate and renew that um personal hygiene is important for that group of kids as we get in and through that.

Um, we're excited that I know Virgin Valley already had it, but there was a hiccup in the Liberty Bus.

If you don't know about that, the daughters of the American Revolution, the chapter here, um has spearheaded that with us, and it's a traveling bus that comes out of Southern Utah that the kids get to go spend time at different stations just learning more about the government, how it works, how we get our voice heard, and those kinds of things.

So that's gonna be on the fourth.

Um, if that interests any of you, just talk to me a little bit about it.

Or we would love some some representatives that want to come and see what is it that Liberty bus it it comes at a little bit of an extra cost to have them come and do that.

It's almost a or it's a traveling um assembly essentially, but they take the kids through it with trained docents um to through the different stations in that.

So I would just invite anybody from this board who might want to come and see what that is and what it entails.

Um again, that'll be December 4th in the morning.

We just have them from eight till noon.

So it um I would invite you if you want to do that.

Of course, we have our Thanksgiving holidays and family holidays before that.

Um for us each month, we focus on a habit from the seven habits.

I call it seven plus one, some people call it eight habits because initially Dr.

Covey talked about the seven essential habits we all need, and then the eighth one was added of find your voice.

Well, this this month we're working on have it three and and helping the kids see how they are applying that.

So we recognize two students from every class who have demonstrated that some way.

Then our standard pictures will be December 8th.

We also have a parent engagement night that night with just crafts that the kids and their parents can come and make for that Monday night with us.

Our holiday concert will be the 15th, and then we have an end of quarter assembly on the 19th, just before we send them off to winter break.

So that's kind of a breakdown of what we're doing.

Sounds good.

Sounds busy.

I have one.

Okay, go ahead, Larry.

Easier for me to talk, Chris.

Yes.

How was the lead program for the first year?

I heard you.

The lead program was amazing, but I have to limit what I can answer for you, Larry, because I didn't see you at my haunted hallways this year.

I was I was there.

I have a good excuse.

We had a we had a we had a four o'clock football game in Wapa.

We know, we know.

Because I because I was there, I was supposed to help uh Drayton Officer Woods.

Yeah, you know, and I had to say I'm sorry.

I says AJ playing football or you know, so no family comes first.

We get it.

I just had to put that plug in.

But um thank you for asking because we were able to um do the lead program this year with Officer Drayton.

We had a ceremony back um third week of October where um they came and honored the kids who went through the nine lessons on um you know, really ties in to me with uh a little bit human growth and development, but how are we treating our bodies?

What are the smart things for us to do?

And that used to be similar to the DARE program, which was taught in the fifth grade.

It's now focused on the fourth grade.

So both um Virgin Valley did it last year and will be doing it the second semester of this year, and um they were able to add us in this year, so we were excited to have them come.

Yeah, thank you for bringing that up.

Awesome.

Any other questions come up?

All right, okay, thank you.

Um principal um Wilson sent in a little um write-up, so I'll read that.

He's not able to make it tonight.

Um, Hughes Middle School enrollment is up at 555, up from 548 on count day in August.

Chronic absenteeism is at 21.7 percent.

This is lower than last year at this time, but above our goal of 18 percent.

We continue to make phone calls and provide incentives to get students to school.

Clubs and activities are running strong at Hughes Middle School this quarter.

We are very grateful for the staff members that share their talents with our students and being advisors for the many clubs.

Boys and girls cross country and had great seasons.

The girls took first place in the division meet with the boys coming in second by a couple of points.

They qualified for the CCSD championship and finished in seventh place.

Girls flag football won the division one championship.

Yay!

Beating schools much larger than Hughes.

They were celebrated at the city council meeting this week, along with one of Hughes Middle School's players being recognized as the player of the year.

She attended the Raiders Cowboys game on Monday night and was able to be on the field during warmups.

Tryouts for basketball were held with the first game to be played on December 2nd.

The Hughes Middle School Performing Arts will have their winter concerts on December 9th, orchestra and guitar, and December 11th band.

We are excited for them to show their hard work from the first semester.

Our first ever principals round table will be held yesterday with 15 Hughes Middle School students meeting with Mr.

Wilson in his office for lunch and a discussion.

Students were sent a Google form to complete to express their interest in participating.

Students shared things that they liked, appreciated about Hughes Middle School, as well as a discussion about what things we can do better to improve our school.

It was a productive meeting and will be held monthly for the remainder of the school year.

So sounds like good things happening at the at the middle school.

And we don't have anybody from the high school online or okay.

Okay.

All right.

Oh, can I just add?

I'm sorry.

Yes, please.

My head's a little off.

But I just wanted to add in there and let you know.

We did start our play practice and tutoring because again, the the mesquite funds help fund our late bus.

Um it concerns us kids going home this late, you know, five o'clock at night and how dark it is, and we'll see the outcome of pushing our school times back half an hour for all of us for next school year.

And we'll see the outcome of pushing our school times back half an hour for all of us for next school year.

Um, but um I just wanted to thank you again for your support on that, and let you know it's up and running.

We have we focused more on second um grade through fifth grade again because of our younger kids right now, and it is dark and late for them to get home, but it's up and running.

We have about 138 kids, I think, right now.

Um what we added this time going around the district offered to us, and we have a newcomer um Spanish program that we're utilizing, and so we have two groups of just second language kids that are focusing on that language development during that time with two of our great experienced teachers, and then we have a group again in second, third, fourth, and fifth of 15 to 20 kids that are all being given an extra opportunity for instruction.

And I think last count was 68 kids are taking advantage of uh practicing and want to be in our play this year.

So thank you for letting me know.

Awesome, thank you, and thank you for we had a little some issues with the grants this time, and thank you for helping out and making everything work awesome for everybody.

So thank you too.

Okay.

We'll close agenda item 3.1 and move on to 4.1 discussion and possible action to fill the at large positions.

So there's actually two at large positions.

Larry Waite is now the high school representative, so we have his at large position open.

And then um mine.

And I will be pulling mine.

I'm gonna have I'll be having some cancer treatments and stuff this year, so I'm gonna take some time off and focus on that.

Um, so we have two applications to consider.

Um, one is Nikki Meeter, right here.

We all know her, and Jeffrey A.

Fritz.

Um I don't know if you if anybody knows him or if you want me to read a little bit about him, or if we feel comfortable going ahead with these two.

What do you feel?

Well, it'd be nice to at least hear their okay.

Do you want me to read?

I don't know, Nikki.

Do you want to say something?

I think we know Nikki.

Do you want me to read yours?

Do you want to just say something?

I think she should get up and give us a speech.

Oh no.

Okay.

Let's see.

I I let's see.

Interested.

Why are you interested in serving on a board?

Okay.

I fill a position on the board, provides a great opportunity to support the Virgin Valley education community in which I work.

I am very passionate about education and have been an educational field for over 23 years.

As I start this new adventure over at the Steam Center, this will give me an opportunity to give back to the community with my knowledge and skills, as well as provide me a better understanding of how the Mesquite Works Steam Center can better serve the educational community within the Virgin Valley area.

Awesome.

Who's that for?

This is Nikki.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, this is Nikki.

Wait, you know, when she said.

I don't even know what that is.

CAD.

Well, I still don't know what that means.

Okay.

Anyway.

Experienced in organizing and running large events, proficient Google Suites and Microsoft Office, experience managing grants and large projects.

Nine-year experience in supporting and training robotics teachers in Nevada.

Ooh, education and certifications, Nevada Teaching License K through eight, science, math, and ELL, Nevada Business and Industry Teaching License in Automation Manufacturing.

SACA Gold Certification, Basic Operator, Basic Electrical, Pneumatics, and Motor Control, Auto Desk Inventor, Professional Certification.

Jeez.

That sounds like a resume for the chair position.

Right, we are young.

Yeah.

BEX robotic certification, one, two, three.

Geez.

Project lead the way PLTW Gateway Courses, Blended and Online Learning.

TESL University of Phoenix.

Bachelor of Art in Elementary Education, Great Basin College, Nevada.

Four years USAF.

Professional organizations, Association for Career and Technical Education, Nevada Association for Career and Technical Education, Science Triad AGI.

She currently works at the Mesquite Works Steam Center.

She's the director.

From 2020 to 17, Middle School Science Robotics Teacher, CCSD from 02 to 06 Elementary Teacher, CCSD from 01 to 02, Middle School Math Algebra Teacher, CCSD.

And she's got some awesome references here.

So that is Nikki.

And yes.

Okay, the success of kids is in all of our hands, and that includes ensuring a safe environment.

They feel confident coming back to every day.

Therefore, my interest for serving on the Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board is not only to contribute to the overall educational landscape, but to enhance the safety of every school and proactively protect students and staff from threats and acts of violence in an effort to foster the best learning environment possible.

My public safety background spanning more than four decades.

Wow, has equipped me with a diverse blend of experience, knowledge, and perspectives to interact effectively with community stakeholders, including school administrators, faculty, and staff, as well as address the safety issues and challenges facing schools today, which would be a beneficial to the SIAB, the CCSD board, school staff, and children.

Wow, let's see what else.

Professional history, founder and owner, principal and chief executive officer of the law enforcement and public safety consulting firm that specializes in serving the needs of small and medium-sized police agencies.

Provided manage the following PREVENT Services, which stands for police oversight assistance, review policies and procedures, emergency planning, validating practices, expert witness testimony, needs assessment studies, and training and curriculum development from 2017 to 2020, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, Executive Institute, Western Illinois University Illinois University.

Program manager, education and training division.

He assessed, evaluated, and updated the ILETSB Executive Institute's core leadership courses and curriculum.

Assisted with reviewing, revising, and developing curriculum for the web-based part-time basic law enforcement academy.

Provided ongoing program delivery on site as course coordinator at ILETSB Executive Institute host locations.

From 2013 to 2017, City of Canton, Illinois.

He was the mayor.

Overqualified.

Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Unit, having a population of 14,700 residents located in West Central Illinois, approximately 30 miles southwest of Peoria.

Managed the day-to-day operations of the city, overseeing staff of over 100 employees and 20 million budget, presiding officer of city council meetings and various ceremonial occasions in the community.

Responsible for carrying out the city council's directives and implementing policies adopted by the council.

Worked closely with the city council on matters of legislation, finances, capital improvements programs, and policies.

Served as liquor control commissioner for the city.

So basically ran the whole place.

From 2006, 2008, Canton Police Department.

He was the chief of the police.

What police department?

Canton, Illinois.

Well, I was saying Canton, Ohio.

Illinois.

Yeah.

From 91 to 06, Bloomington Police Department, Illinois, Bloomington, Illinois.

He was the watch commander.

From 1984 to 91, Bloomington Police Department.

Bloomingdale, excuse me, Bloomingdale, Illinois.

If I said that wrong, he was a sergeant.

And did a bunch of stuff.

78 to 84, Bloomingdale, police officer slash detective.

76 to 78, Elk Grove Village Police Department.

That's in Illinois, too.

Community Service Officer.

School School of Police Staff and Command.

Licenses and Certification.

He's got a driver's license and national certified instructor.

Instructor.

And he's got a whole bunch of affiliations, past and present from Illinois.

Sounds like you can be in trouble with question.

Yes.

So that's quite the resume too.

So that is Jeffrey A.

Fritz and Nikki Meeter.

So those are the two applicants for the two open positions.

So I'll turn it over to you guys.

So we have two open positions, two at-large open positions, and two applications.

We have two at large or three at large.

Two open.

You're the other at large, but you're not up yet.

I thought there were four at large.

Three.

And then four schools.

So seven.

Then we added Nikki as team.

Does that make sense?

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

So do we have so we have to pick two people for two spots.

Two people for two spots.

And two applicants.

And two applicants.

Pretty easy.

What?

Yes, I need a motion.

Looking for a motion.

Yes.

Yes.

Do any public comment on this?

Yes, yes.

I am so sorry.

Come up.

Yes, please.

Pick a oh, he's in a school.

Yes, he's a school.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Come on up.

You don't have to meet anything.

Just bring him on up.

We'll share a mic.

Okay.

I mean pretty on the spot.

You are a voting.

Thank you, Principal.

I'd like to make a motion that we accept the two applications for the position of the two at large.

Okay, we have a motion.

Do we have a second?

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

All right.

Welcome aboard.

You do get to vote next time.

I'm glad.

I love it.

Okay.

Now the at large position.

Can she Nikki also represent the Steam Center?

Of course.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yes.

So she's a double whammy.

Sorry.

I just think you already voted, so it doesn't even matter.

I just wanted to put out there in transparency and whatnot.

Jeff Jeff's wife actually is a kindergarten teacher at my school.

They moved here two years ago from Illinois and she taught last year, and this is her second year with me.

But I just wanted to make sure that everybody knew there is a little connection there, and that his wife works out at Joseph Polar Elementary.

So awesome.

Thank you.

He's got the end.

I love it.

You bet.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

We will move on to agenda item 4.2, discussion and possible action on appointing a CIAB chair.

I recommend we table this.

He's not letting you leave.

Oh I'm not really gone.

You can call me any time I will do anything.

I just don't want to ask you guys to have to be like stepping up for me or something.

So there.

You can't you can't table it.

There's no second.

I hear a second.

There's no table.

So moving on.

Come on, Larry.

Oh, okay.

Well, I would like to nominate Ben as chair.

Yeah, like a argument for that.

I second a motion.

Okay, well, we have a motion and a second.

That's how it works around here, Ben.

Okay.

We have a motion of second for Ben serving as chair.

Um, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

I heard one nay, but too bad.

So I think it passes.

Okay.

Yay, Ben.

You got this.

Okay, we'll move on to 4.3.

Um discussion and possible action on appointing a CA vice chair.

Okay, well, I'll nominate Casey as vice chair.

As long as Ben's always here.

You know how to run a meeting, do all the things.

Don't even I know, but I'm gone probably more than anybody else up here.

So no Brooke should be well, she's not here anymore, though.

Brooke said Brooke did have me be, yeah.

She was never but all right.

We have a motion of a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Did we even have a vice chair before?

Brooke was my vice chair.

Oh, bro.

See, I never even knew that.

I was usually here.

I tried really hard.

You are that's where Brooke always said.

No, Brooke was always late, so she edits it over there.

Anybody opposed?

I heard no opposed.

So it's unanimous.

Okay, that was fun.

Agenda item five, board members' comments and reports.

Anybody?

Okay.

That's his report.

That's your report.

Okay, Jeff doesn't like this meeting.

Okay, see on the record.

Okay.

Oh.

Oh, yeah, go ahead, Nikki.

Okay, just a little bit of update on the Steam Center.

Um, so this year so far we've seen over 5,528 people.

And um we have 11 um hundred and well, 1,156 members now.

Um, from when I started in January of 24 when we had 76.

So that's amazing.

And we're just yeah, we just keep growing.

I have a little trouble with staff turnover though.

Um, but so but we are increasing the number of volunteers, and we're open for field trips on Friday, so bring out your kids.

So there's amazing.

Thank you so much.

Steam center is awesome.

If you don't go there a lot, do it more.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay, seeing no others, I'll close agenda item 5.1, move on to agenda item six, public comment.

There is any, come on up.

You don't want her to leave either, do you?

Okay.

Uh, for the record, Chantel McAllister with uh CSN with a College of Southern Nevada here locally.

Uh, I just wanted to give a short update.

Um Darlene has retired after 25 years at CSN.

So as for now, um standing in while they fly our position.

Um we are really glad to have had Chief Andris uh present our EMT students at the city council.

They're they're doing great.

We have a class of 18.

This is the first time we've been able to bring that program back in a couple years, uh, thanks to the fire and rescue team.

Um, and also our HVAC program is just so successful right now.

We've overenrolled it.

We have another five students graduating this semester, and we can take on five more next semester, and we're in our open enrollment period for for spring semester.

We invite anyone over to come see the college if you haven't been over.

Yeah, that's it.

I want to apologize because I should have asked you to come during principal's comments, like on that agenda item.

Okay, well, I just figured I'd pop in this here.

I should have done that.

I apologize.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Just a second, I have a question if you don't mind.

How many people do you have enrolled in your in your HVAC?

Oh, um, we have 15 students.

Okay.

The the lab only accommodates technically 12, but we got special permission to enroll 15.

And what is your program for uh infusing them into like say the H VAC um union and stuff?

Do you have something going on like that?

Or we're not connecting them directly to the union, but we did have a big round table with a bunch of the HVAC employers in the area uh as we headed into this last uh semester, and so we have a lot of the um businesses coming in and speaking during classes, and so a lot of the students are already hired on, even in their first semester working at local companies, um, and some of those companies are cross-training them and plumbing as well.

that or we're not connecting them directly to the union but we did have a big round table with a bunch of the HVAC employers in the area uh as we headed into this last uh semester and so we have a lot of the um businesses coming in and speaking during classes and so a lot of the students are already hired on even in their first semester working at local companies um and some of those companies are cross training them in plumbing as well the the certificate is just the entry level uh HVAC technician it's a total of two semesters and 18 and a half credits um we even have a couple high school students enrolled this semester you are you do you guys have plans to expand that like the controls and things like that hopefully you know it it takes money unfortunately um this was made possible through federal funding and Congressman Horsford um rearranging somebody that was allocated for a different lab at one of our campuses in Las Vegas and they weren't able to to make use of that funding in time so we use that funding to build out the lab.

We're hoping to be able to expand it because it's been so popular.

We just got a new president in in uh July so we're really you know making those transitions and adjustments before we're really I would think any kind of major craft trade like that would be successful whether it be welding or carpentry or whatever.

Absolutely we've heard some discussion about how maybe plumbing would be beneficial um you know this was a a pretty large investment to make this lab happen but something like plumbing or um welding with would require a a much more extensive lab even than our HVAC.

Sure.

That one they were able to bring in like big units they didn't have to really do any construction to the space to make it happen.

It was more equipment than anything else so that made it more feasible in that regard um but we are always looking for additional short term trainings.

We've found that that's what's most successful locally we also have some medical short term trainings medical assisting phlebotomy nursing assisting and uh just the three C and the three short term programs other than HVAC.

Thank you I think you'll be really successful.

Thank you.

Especially if you guys can expand and absolutely I mean this you could put mosquito on the map for all these trades because it's really hard to to get those thank you thank you.

Any other questions?

Any other questions okay thank you.

Seeing no other public comment we'll close that agenda item and adjourn this meeting at 5 37 thank you.