CCSD parents offered math classes to help students

Classes are now being offered to parents of Clark County School District students, teaching them how to help their children with math homework.

“I’m going to show parents some stuff to do in their heads, so they look smart in front of their kids,” said Bill Hanlon, director of Southern Nevada’s Regional Professional Development Program. “The hope is kids will then think, ‘Maybe I can do it, too.’ ”

Hanlon’s program is funded by the state Legislature and provides training for public school educators in Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Mineral and Nye counties.

The Clark County School Board spread the word about the twice-monthly, free-of-charge courses at its Monday meeting.

The first course will be at the Las Vegas Public Broadcasting Service at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 8, according to School Board President Erin Cranor. PBS is located at 3050 E. Flamingo Road.

“We just wanted to make sure the public was aware,” said Cranor, describing the 90-minute courses as “tips and tricks” for parents confronted with math questions they previously didn’t know how to answer.

Courses will be offered in three math levels up to high school algebra, said Hanlon, who has offered similar classes in connection with parent-teacher associations, usually with 10 to 30 parents. But his cellphone has been ringing off the hook since School Board members announced the meetings to parents.

“I had so many missed calls I thought maybe my office burnt down,” he said.

For more information about the course schedule, yet to be finalized, contact Hanlon at billhanlon@me.com.

Contact Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279. Find him on Twitter: @TrevonMilliard.