Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara began his annual State of the Schools speech on Friday by focusing on the toll that the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures have had on the mental health of students and staff.
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The Clark County School Board took two steps toward reopening school buildings, giving principals the ability to bring small groups of students back to campuses on a voluntary basis as well as approving an agreement with its teachers union aimed at a broader future reopening.
The board is expected to decide Thursday whether to allow small groups of students to return to the classroom after 10 months of distance learning.
Clark County School District students received more failing grades during the fall semester of distance learning than in previous school years, according to district data.
Policy requiring schools to maintain effective libraries has the potential to improve lagging literacy rates, but critics say it runs afoul of the 2017 reorganization of the district.