Faced with the immense burden of leading the nation’s fifth-largest school district, Clark County School District (CCSD) Superintendent Jhone Ebert told attendees at The Nevada Independent’s IndyTalks event that this is the critical moment for change — and that she believes she is the one to lead the turnaround.
Pandemic Legacy: Time Lost Must Be Time Regained
Ebert squarely placed responsibility for student learning setbacks on the prior administration’s decision to keep schools in remote learning for too long during the pandemic.
“I called many, many times and spoke with the former administration and said, ‘You’ve got to get the kids back into school,’” she said.
She argued that this policy is one reason proficiency levels still lag behind pre-pandemic standards.
“We’re seeing that residual effect of not having children in a classroom with their teachers, with other students for learning,” she added.
Her solution is straightforward: extend the school day and the school year.
“That is the only way,” she said. “They lost time. You have to bring the time back.”
Where the Money Comes From: The Tug-of-War Over Funding
Student performance has consistently risen whenever Nevada lawmakers have invested in K-12 education. The 2023 session was no exception, leading to improvements in school star ratings. Yet Ebert acknowledged the numbers remain troubling: only 46 percent of third graders are proficient in literacy, and just 40 percent of eighth graders in math.
She argued that further progress requires Nevadans to back policies that can raise more revenue for schools, including property tax reform.
“If we want things to go up in a positive way, we need to make an investment,” she said. “Our children … make up about 20 percent of the population right now. They are 100 percent of our future.”
Ebert said she has already urged Governor Joe Lombardo and state lawmakers to increase school funding. Lombardo, however, has pledged not to raise taxes and has previously dismissed recommendations from state school funding experts as “advisement, not as a mandate.”
Ebert remained hopeful about changing minds, even as The Indy’s CEO Jon Ralston expressed doubt.
“I can try,” Ebert replied.
In a statement to The Indy, Lombardo reiterated his stance:
“I will continue to prioritize education funding in 2027, but I’ll also continue to insist on accountability. My goal is simple: every dollar we invest must translate into better outcomes for Nevada’s kids.”
A Crisis of Trust Between the District and the Community
When the district announced in July that it had reduced teacher vacancies, skepticism was immediate. Many parents and observers doubted the claim, despite confirmation from education analysts and school principals.
On Monday, Ebert clarified that the decline in vacancies was unrelated to staff “surpluses” tied to the 2024 budget. Instead, she said, the district has actually added positions thanks to the 2023 state funding boost.
Still, she acknowledged the urgent need to rebuild community pride in CCSD. She pledged to spend more time in the community and act as the district’s biggest champion.
“The noise and shooting inward has got to stop,” she said.
Commentary: Education Spending Is Not an Empty Slogan
Ebert’s remarks laid bare the district’s threefold challenge: the lingering shadow of the pandemic, chronic funding shortfalls, and a loss of public trust.
Politically, she faces a governor who refuses to consider new taxes. Academically, she confronts proficiency rates that leave more than half of students below grade level. Socially, she must mend the rift between schools and the community they serve.
Ultimately, this is not just her personal struggle but Nevada’s collective choice:
– If education is treated merely as an expense, the district will remain trapped in cycles of underfunding and stagnant achievement.
– If education is recognized as an investment, then every dollar spent today could shape the state’s competitiveness a decade from now.
By One Voice
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