CCSD superintendent addresses new security measures, funding for student success
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The new Clark County School District superintendent said money is key to boosting student outcomes.
Jhone Ebert had a one-on-one interview with 8 News Now on Thursday where she addressed several things including new security measures, cell phone signal pouches, diversity and equity, and state and federal funding.
The conversation has been edited for clarity.
8NN: One of the things we wanted to talk about was during your interview for superintendent back in February, you shared this very powerful story about growing up in a single-parent household, with your young mother. And so I want you to talk a little bit about that. You're the first woman superintendent. The first, Asian as well, about how your story, how you can use your experience to connect with children who I'm sure here in the school district maybe can relate to your childhood.
Ebert: Thank you. Joshua. Yeah. There are many children in our school district that have a similar setting as I did growing up and I was very thankful. You know, my mom was 18 when I was born. My sister was born 18 months later. And when you think about a 21-year-old with two kids on our own, she leaned in on services that were made available, and she made sure that we went out. I shared during the interview we went to free cultural events, made sure that we went to the museum, the Los Angeles Museum of Art, and that we were exposed to the community. And I think our community right now is not aware of all the opportunities that are available. I would say years ago we didn't have as many opportunities, quite frankly. But now we are growing as a community. And then also to the educators, that's why I'm just so very passionate about education because the teachers didn't look at what I was wearing. They didn't care that I was free and reduced lunch. They said, here is a child that we can ignite her spirit. We can make sure she has the resources and we will challenge her. Sometimes people feel sorry for children that are food insecure. You know, they go to this place of, well, 'they're food insecure, so they might not, you know, have a place to study. They can't learn.' That is that is so opposite of what we know about human nature, that if humans are provided, our children are provided opportunity, they will grow, they will flourish. And if we as the adults believe in them and believe in our families and our entire community, we will grow and we will flourish together.
8NN: So what I'm getting from that is just recognizing the different cultures and the diversity within the school district.
Ebert: We are an extremely diverse school district. When I started, it was not diverse. At that time, probably 70, 80%, white identified and then all the other races. Now we know that's completely flipped. What's happened in our community happened so very fast. And so we're all learning hundreds of thousands of newcomers. And so as a Southern Nevada community, we're learning how to melt together and lift each other up. And our schools are a great place to start with our children and value all of our differences and understand that, we have many different religions, we have beliefs. We have our culture, our food, how we signal to each other. You know, in some cultures, you look people in the eye when you're talking. In other cultures, it's disrespectful to look people in the eye. And, you know, we need to understand those things about each other, so that we can meet each other where we're at.
8NN: Do you think that CCSD is going to be able to get more money or is the budget going to be flat?
Ebert: That's the crystal ball question. I mean, we have the [Republic Governor Joe Lombardo's] proposed budget. Right now, it's $2, more per kid for the pupil-centered funding plan. And then it is it increases the second year. We know the legislature is looking at that. We also have the economic forum coming up, because what is transpiring nationally will affect us locally. So all of those pieces moving right now is, something that we are keeping our eye on. The constant communication with our legislators because money does make a difference. I've said that before. We're going to demonstrate that with our student outcomes. This last year, we're already trending up. We see that happening. Are we there yet? No. But we do see positive trends with those additional funds that are made available. We need to continue that, and we need to continue to monitor. But I also think this is where I need the business community to come in and partner with us, with parents, I think there are efficiencies that can be gained within the school district right now at this moment in time. And we also need to change, which we've been working on at the state level. The Nevada Portrait of a Learner, right? How we are educating our children, making sure that we're involving our parents, and families in the education system, that they're welcoming environments and that again, going back to my own learning, that children know they can become, you know, a news anchor go out and video, you know, whatever they choose. We just need to communicate and help them get their.
8NN: So there's a potential that, that Nevada might lose federal money. But do you think if that's the case, there's enough in the State Education Stabilization account to get through?
Ebert: So we have the State Education Stabilization account, and that's really there for those types of crises that we had during the pandemic, when we had to have special session right to cover those gaps. I think it's a little too early to call whether will receive less funding from the federal government. I know there's a lot of talk about it. And this is where, you know, in my role, making sure our elected officials are aware of the Title funds. Title one, title two, title three. For those fundings, [the Trump Administration] has been talking about block-granting them. And, so which isn't always a bad thing, right? They're actually then providing the funds to the state and then the state making the determination on how they're used. Instead of saying you must use specifically, you know, title one in this way. Title two in this way, they'll group those funds and then the state can make a determination. So there absolutely will be a change. We know that the [Education] Secretary's been very clear. The [President Donald Trump's] been very clear. There will be a change, but I'm not sure, at this moment in time of what that change will look like. And we as Nevadans need to make sure we track, and our having those conversations with the [Trump Administration], that those funds have made a difference as we move forward.
8NN: The district introduced cell phone pouches, what's take thought of them? Have any success? Are you going to continue with it, expand it?
Ebert: Yeah. I love the idea. I've heard great things from teachers, from students even themselves saying they are more focused during class time. What I'd like to do, and I actually had asked the staff earlier, is are we conducting research? You know, have we invited UNLV, UNR, the Nevada System of Higher Education to actually research and look at the outcomes of the pouches? But, you know, through conversations, I've heard nothing but positive. Excuse me. I'll back that up. Some of the students would like to have access to their phone during, you know, English 1. English 2. But they also know that they are more focused when they're not distracted by their phone.
8NN: Your predecessor [Dr. Jesus Jara] had wanted to do all these safety upgrades, like metal detectors. I know some have been introduced. Are you looking to expand that or continue some of the safety measures put in place?
Ebert: Yeah. So the safety measures that have been put in place, the alerts, right? We know every faculty member now does have access to the alert system as well as a single point-of-entry. Those types of things are best practice. And we will continue making sure that we finish out the work at the middle level and continue at the elementary level as well. We've completed all of the high schools. And so yes, that work does need to continue.
8NN: I overheard you talking to another reporter over the phone about it, but the guidance from the Trump Administration with diversity and equity. I know I previously reported CCSD's budget and staff, but, are you looking at maybe eliminating that. Or, I mean, how do you respond to the Trump Administration. They're giving you all this sort of direction.
Ebert: Right. So again, we need to follow the law. Number one, I've been on the ground now for days. So, I'm meeting with the team to evaluate where we are. The administration has not given us, you know, specific 'this is what DEI is, and this is what DEI isn't.' And so within what we've heard and know, we are going to use that framework. Also working again with higher education, we know that they've spent a lot of time researching, and, looking at how to support. I will tell you that, inclusion is, back to the beginning of our conversation, making sure that we're valuing our entire community, that we see each other. That we know what we're doing. That we have a space. I was in the visually impaired classroom, our one classroom. That's inclusion. That's one example that our visually impaired students have access and our integrated into the learning environment. And so I don't think we want that to go away. I think we want that to be expanded. And so, we will continue to support all of our children, moving forward. And we'll look forward to what, the law states is and isn't.
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