Violence in Southern Nevada Schools | Nevada Week

Nevada Week |  Violence in Southern Nevada Schools                  

SEASON 4: EPISODE 39 | Airdate: 4/08/2022

A shooting involving school police at Western High School, a mother accused of trying to run down two girls with her car at Basic High School, and a student at Cheyenne High School caught on camera attacking a teacher – are just some of the examples of violence in Southern Nevada schools that have grabbed headlines.

The problem has gathered so much attention that the Clark County School District called a news conference last week to announce changes to discipline rules to address the problem. 

On Nevada Week, CCSD Police Chief Henry Blackeye said that compared with the last school year when kids were in classrooms there appears to be a little more violence in some areas – but not in all schools.

He said there were more fights this year compared with the 2019-2020 school year. But he noted that year, before schools closed to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, was on pace to be the busiest year for his department.

“I think in that year off. Everybody forgot about what school was like here in this school district,” Chief Blackeye said.

He said in talking to kids he’s found that most fights this year have been related to social media. He said when kids were in online or hybrid learning they still connected over social media and there was a lot of taunting and bullying during that time. So when they came back to in-person school, they saw the students they had already had a problem online with and the fights started – earlier than normal. 

Mike Barton is the district’s chief achievement officer. He said that the district has taken a strong stance against violence at schools 

“Certain infractions we won’t tolerate as a district,” he said, “The ones that we highlighted at the press conference were battery on staff and students that leads to a criminal citation, distribution of a controlled substance, and sexual assault.” 

He said those infractions are automatic expulsion but he noted that didn’t mean kids were kicked out of school. Instead, those kids are given other opportunities to be educated outside comprehensive campuses. 

Barton said that zero tolerance of infractions, where students are expelled from classes, doesn’t work. He said students are removed from that school but are given a chance to re-engage in school with a range of programs to address the root causes of the behavior. Barton said the district offers wraparound services for the whole family - if needed - to get the student back into the school community. 

It is those root causes that really need to be addressed, Barton said. 

Rebecca Garcia is the president of the Nevada PTA. She said that while many parents applauded the district’s efforts they feel that they came too late and the discipline issues should have been dealt with months ago.

“We’re in a situation where we’re right now treating the outcomes. We need to be able to get to a place where we’re treating the root causes and we need to do that earlier in order to make sure kids feel safe every day they show up on campus.” 

In addition, students are telling her that it’s not just physical fights that are making them feel unsafe at school but there is a lot of verbal abuse and bullying. She said there are slurs and discrimination based on race and sexual orientation. 

Janet Nordine is a marriage and family therapist and a registered play therapist, meaning she uses play to help better communicate with younger children. Nordine said that in her sessions with younger children she is seeing a lot more play involving fighting and isolation. 

She said her clients have expressed concern about their family having enough money and enough food. They’re also worried about whether their parents will have a job and whether their parents will have to go to work and leave them alone to go to online school. 

She did an informal survey of her clients and found that out of the 50 children she was working with only two felt safe at school. 

One of the biggest problems, according to Garcia, is the lack of adults whom children and teens can connect with on campus. 

“One of the most important things about school safety is children having a trusting relationship with an adult,” she said.

She said the teacher shortage along with the district having to rely on long-term substitutes or several short-term substitutes has made it difficult for students to find a caring adult.

Barton agrees that is a problem. He said the student-led town halls the district has been conducting have shown the same issue around connectedness. He said the district is working to build back those structures so students can find someone to talk with on a variety of issues.

Dell Schilleci is the program director for Turning Point Nevada, a nonprofit that offers free, weekly counseling for parents and students who are struggling with a number of problems from anger to substance abuse.

She said the parents and students she has talked to are sick of the violence and would like stricter policies to address the problems. 

One of the policies that the district did bring back is the expulsion review board. When a student is recommended for expulsion, he or she goes through the review process to determine if he or she should be expelled. 

But some of these problems go beyond the students, Chief Blackeye said his officers are seeing more incidents involving parents. He said parents are getting involved in fights with staff, other parents and even students.

He advises parents to get involved in their students’ lives by checking their backpacks. So far, 27 firearms have been confiscated on campus. He also said parents should check their children’s social media accounts to see what they are posting and who they are friends with. 

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Guests

• Mike Barton, Chief Student Achievement Officer, Clark County School District
• Henry Blackeye, Chief, Clark County School District Police
• Rebecca Garcia, President, Nevada PTA
• Dell Schilleci, Program Director, Turning Point Nevada
• Janet Nordine, Marriage and Family Therapist

Resources

• School Justice Partnership
• CCSD Safe Voice
• CCSD School Police
• Nevada PTA
• Turning Point Nevada
• Janet Nordine