Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board Meeting - April 16, 2026
Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board Meeting - April 16, 2026
The Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board (CEAB) met on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Mesquite City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved consent items, received school principal reports highlighting academic achievements, testing, and chronic absenteeism rates, and unanimously approved grant proposals for the 2026-2027 school year. Discussion also included school security upgrades and a report from the Mesquite Works Team Center.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes and agenda: The board unanimously approved the January 15, 2026 meeting minutes and the April 16, 2026 meeting agenda. Motion passed with a voice vote; no opposition.
Principals' Comments and Reports
- Hughes Middle School (Principal Jadow Wilson): Reported on robotics teams (two qualified for state; one finished 9th overall), band (received superior rating), orchestra (excellent rating), spring sports (boys' and girls' soccer and volleyball), and SBAC testing incentives (Gatorade, McDonald's gift cards, Fixology truck, and Beach headphones). Chronic absenteeism is approximately 25% (based on 10% of school year). Wilson noted some absences are school-approved for activities.
- Virgin Valley Elementary School (Principal Matt Bennett): Reported on state testing (ELA completed, math upcoming), kindergarten roundup (April 28), summer kindergarten bridge program (May 27–June 18), autism awareness activities, Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8), end-of-year triathlon and field day, and fifth-grade grad walk. Chronic absenteeism is approximately 22%, up from 14.9% two years ago; many absences are medical but may be adjusted by state reporting.
- Note: Principals from Virgin Valley High School and Joseph Bowler Elementary were absent (high school principal out of town; Bowler principal in Idaho).
Discussion Items
- CEAB Grant Proposals for 2026-2027: The board discussed and unanimously approved funding requests from all four schools. Presenting principals highlighted:
- Hughes Middle School: Request to fund sports equipment for emerging sports (volleyball, cross-country), Hope Squad activities, after-school clubs, and student incentives (e.g., monthly awards). Principal Wilson noted transportation and officiating costs (approx. $2,000 for officials, $1,400 for charter buses to date) and that volleyball remains unsanctioned by CCSD.
- Virgin Valley Elementary: Requested $14,336 for kindergarten assessment (three days before school start) and summer bridge program (in partnership with Mesquite Reads). Principal Bennett noted that the remaining $664 of the total grant pool was allocated to the high school.
- Virgin Valley High School: Requested $15,000 plus $667 (from remaining funds) for security enhancements (window coverings) to improve uniform access point security. The split proposal was designed to allow city council flexibility in approval.
- School Security Uniformity: Board member Jeffrey raised concern about inconsistent security measures across valley schools (e.g., Hughes MS has window coverings; VVES has a buzzer system; high school seeks window coverings). He recommended working toward a uniform controlled-buzzer system. The board agreed to place the topic on the next agenda for further discussion.
- Mesquite Works Team Center (Nikki Metter): Reported that the STEAM center has served over 2,000 visitors this year and provided 2,003 educational hours (attendance rate ~ 63%). New classes include coding (bits and bots), soldering, and a girls' safety class. Upcoming events: bowling tournament fundraiser (Rotary Club), teacher training (Books & Bots on April 28), Mesquite Family Days (marshmallow launchers), and a field trip from Coral Academy (101 students on May 20).
Key Outcomes
- CEAB Grant Approval: The board unanimously approved all grant proposals as presented (motion by Larry Waite, second by another member). Details: Hughes MS (amount not specified in transcript), VVES ($14,336), VVHS ($15,000 + $667). The request will be forwarded to the Mesquite City Council for final approval, likely via consent agenda.
- Next Steps: Board chair will meet with Jeffrey to develop a plan for school security uniformity for the next meeting. The city council date for grant consideration will be communicated by staff.
- Meeting Adjourned: The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:55 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I was like, man, I can't hear myself, but okay, so we are here. And I've asked, so as a matter of ceremonial matters, Pledge of Allegiance is all we do in this one. And I've asked Larry Waite to lead us in that. Thank you. That seems a little loud. I'll scoot it back a little bit. Everybody can hear me anyway, so I think we're good. So we'll open up our agenda with uh item number 1.1, which is public comment. Do you have anybody from the public who wants to get up and comment? Seeing none, we will move to the consent agenda. So 2.1 is consideration of approval of the Thursday, January 15th, 2026, Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board meeting minutes. And the Thursday, April 16, 2026, Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board meeting agenda. So this one, do we have any public comment on this item? Seeing none, do we have any discussion or an action on this one? We got a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Motion passes unanimously. We move on to item number three, 3.1, which is principals, comments, and reports. So we want to we'll start with Mari, because I know Mari has to go. Sorry, Mr. Perkins has to go down to Moapa. So if Mr. Wilson is okay with that. I don't really have a report from any of the schools, just uh appreciate being here, and I'm sorry I'm not gonna be here to uh for the remainder of the meeting. Um as you stated, I'm headed down to Moapa Valley for their uh FMP meeting, and and it just reminds us that I think there is an FMP meeting next Wednesday, and I don't know if that's what it's called, that's what I call it. Uh facility master's plan meeting for the schools. Uh uh, and I believe that's next Wednesday evening uh at Virgin Valley High School. So we just invite uh anyone like to give input on the long-term facilities plan for Clark County School District uh as it relates to Virgin Valley uh and also the entire uh school district. They'll do a presentation that uh represents uh some of their thoughts and uh ideas, and also gathering input from the community, so that's what that session is. Um, other than that, I know uh principal wait from the high school. Uh let me know today he is uh out of town and he's not gonna be here tonight, so I apologize. I don't know about the other two principals, but uh I can entertain any questions you might have for a minute, otherwise I'm gonna excuse myself. Yeah, just for clarification, that meeting is Wednesday at 5 15 at the library at the 515. That's what it says on the calendar. So I hope it's not 5.15 down in Moapa. I'll hopefully not. I'll be late. All right, well, thank you. Appreciate uh this uh this board and all you do to support the school. So you have a question for Mr. Wilson. No, just on the flyer, we sent out it says six o'clock, six to eight for New York Rally. Okay, so it might just be the reservation of the library on the calendar, is what it's showing. At the high school library, BBHS library. Okay, yeah. All right, thank you.
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