Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board Summary – October 15, 2026

The Virgin Valley Community Education Advisory Board (CEAB) met on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers in Mesquite, Nevada. The board approved routine consent items, heard reports from school principals, discussed principal goals and the 2027 meeting schedule, reviewed bylaws, and appointed a new board member. No meeting minutes were available; this summary is drawn from the agenda and meeting transcript.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved the July 15, 2026 CEAB meeting minutes and the October 15, 2026 CEAB meeting agenda by motion and second.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were offered during the initial or final public comment periods.
• During item 4.1, Chris Jenkins, principal of Joseph Bowler Elementary, expressed appreciation for CAP grant funding but asked the CEAB to consider asking the City Council to revisit the amount, noting that inflation has made it harder to provide extra student services. He stated his $15,000 share once covered a bus and two neighborhood moms, while now he can barely afford one neighborhood mom.

Principal Comments and Reports

• Jadal Wilson, Hughes Middle School principal, reported enrollment is now 546, up from 541 on count day in late August; chronic absenteeism is 17 percent. Both flag football teams are 7-2, with the girls in second place and the boys in third. Cross-country has consistently finished second. He announced a Family Resource Night at the high school on November 18 for self-contained students, connecting families with vocational rehabilitation, the Rural Regional Center, Special Olympics, and social groups. A middle school career day is scheduled for November 17. Security upgrades are underway, including cameras and buzzer-controlled front safety doors. Wilson said this was his last CEAB meeting because he is retiring in December, and the principal position has been posted.
• Chris Jenkins, Joseph Bowler Elementary principal, described parent-teacher conferences held Monday and Tuesday, the October 7 Bike and Walk to School Day, and an upcoming pumpkin run and carnival. The fall festival is scheduled for October 29 from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. Red Ribbon Week will be October 23-31. He noted the area’s bus driver shortage has caused delays and forced the speed meet in Moapa to end by 12:30 PM. He also discussed LEAD graduation (not DREAM), a career fair planned for November 20, and the school’s leadership handshake program.
• With Virgin Valley Elementary and Virgin Valley High School principals absent, the presiding board member read a message that Principal White could not attend because of senior night for girls’ tennis and volleyball. A participant who identified as the PTO president at Virgin Valley Elementary gave updates: the Halloween carnival is next Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, the pumpkin run is Friday morning, and the Halloween party is October 29. The high school has completed its School Organization Team meeting and has a rivalry week against Moapa Valley in most sports, with football on Friday night.

Discussion Items

• Principal Goals and CEAB Assistance (4.1): The board discussed how to help principals address challenges from the past year and upcoming goals. Members supported sending principals an email to allow more thoughtful responses. Chris Jenkins added his comments on CAP grant funding. The board voted to table the item.
• 2027 Meeting Schedule (4.2): Staff proposed quarterly meetings on the third Thursday: February 18, May 20, August 19, and November 18, 2027. Jadal Wilson cautioned that May 20 falls near graduation. The board decided to approve only February 18, 2027, and to table the remaining dates until absent members can be consulted.
• Bylaws Review (4.3): No changes were proposed. The board moved and seconded a motion to keep the CEAB bylaws as written.
• Appointment of CEAB Members (4.4): Mary Ann Tortorici introduced herself as a retiree, a Mesquite resident of about six years, with about 25 years in Nevada education, mostly in higher education. She stated an interest in serving on the board and asked about orientation for new members; board members offered training and mentoring. The board noted the at-large seat was vacant after Jeff Reynolds left, with the term running until August 31, 2028. She was approved by motion and second.

Board Members Comments and Reports

• The presiding board member said it would have been helpful to receive earlier notice of absences.
• Nikki Metter of Mesquite Works Team Center reported a successful chili cook-off dinner with more than 100 attendees, a haunted house open Friday and Saturday nights in October, a special lights-on event on Friday, October 30 for younger children, and a craft fair on December 12. Chris Jenkins praised the haunted house as the best and top of the line.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent agenda.
• Tabled discussion of principals’ goals for a future meeting.
• Approved February 18, 2027, as the first 2027 CEAB meeting date; deferred the other proposed 2027 dates.
• Retained existing CEAB bylaws without changes.
• Appointed Mary Ann Tortorici to the at-large vacancy, with a term through August 31, 2028.
• Noted Jadal Wilson’s upcoming retirement and the principals’ concerns about busing and CAP grant funding.

The meeting adjourned after the final public comment period.