55°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

Lombardo pushes his safer schools bill over restorative justice

As he discussed a school safety bill at a valley high school Friday, Gov. Joe Lombardo was joined by a former Eldorado High School teacher who was assaulted by a student in April.

The governor spoke at Valley High School in support of Assembly Bill 330 — known as the Safer and Supportive Schools Act — that his office introduced March 17.

Lombardo’s remarks Friday were similar to rhetoric he used as he testified during a hearing before the Assembly Committee on Education the day before.

The former Eldorado teacher, identified as Sade, sat next to the governor. She and a handful of other educators who have been impacted by school violence didn’t speak during the news conference.

It was the first time the teacher has been publicly identified as the victim in the Eldorado assault. A governor’s office spokesperson said after the event that the former teacher asked for her last name not to be disclosed.

Lombardo thanked Sade for her strength and bravery in attending the news conference.

She wasn’t the first victim of school violence, “but we’re fighting to make her one of the last,” Lombardo said.

A 16-year-old student — Jonathan Martinez Garcia — was indicted in August on 10 felony counts in connection with the assault.

What would Lombardo’s bill do?

The bill from the governor’s office would repeal a requirement that was passed in 2019 that public schools create a restorative justice plan before removing a student from a classroom or school in some situations.

Restorative justice can include behavioral interventions and connect students with community resources.

School violence is an issue that’s top of mind for many Nevada families, teachers and students, Lombardo said.

“Over the last two years, we have seen countless instances of school violence across Nevada,” he said.

The prevalence of school violence is shocking, and serious reform and legislative action is needed, the governor said.

He said the Safer and Supportive Schools Act is supported by all 17 Nevada school district superintendents, as well as groups such as the Clark County Education Association.

During Thursday’s legislative hearing, a few committee members expressed concerns about language in the bill that says a principal could limit a teacher’s ability to remove a student from a classroom.

A number of groups, including the Nevada State Education Association, also voiced opposition to the bill.

Every student should be able to stay in school, but there should be zero tolerance for school violence, Lombardo said Friday.

For those who’ve been impacted by school violence, he said, it’s time to get involved in the legislative process and support the Assembly bill.

Following Lombardo’s remarks, Troy Martinez, a representative from Dads In Schools, spoke about his program, where volunteers spend time on school campuses to help with safety efforts.

The Clark County School District and other school districts across the state saw an uptick in violent instances after students returned to in-person classes following the COVID-19 pandemic.

State legislators are also considering other restorative justice-related bills this session.

Contact Julie Wootton-Greener at jgreener@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2921. Follow @julieswootton on Twitter.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Council candidate slate set

A total of seven candidates for city council and three candidates for justice of the peace of Boulder Township will face off in the primary election scheduled for June 11.

Ultrarunner to push himself to the limit

It’s not uncommon for friends or even family members to try and best one another whether that be athletics, academics or relationships.

Vets home hit with 18 citations

In a recent unannounced inspection, the Southern Nevada State Veterans’ Home was cited 18 times for issues ranging from verbal abuse of a patient to failing to provide meals at an appropriate temperature, to employees not having keys to locked gates, which would be needed in the case of an emergency evacuation.

BDCU looks back on past year at annual meeting

For more than eight decades, the Boulder Dam Credit Union has been the most popular place for Boulder City residents to do their banking, not to mention see friends and neighbors.

Top o’ the evening to ya

Photos by Ron Eland/Boulder City Review

BC repaint: Countdown is on

It’s almost time to don that old pair of jeans, the ratty tennis shoes in the back of your closet and a shirt you’re not worried about ruining.

Management of veterans’ home sparks controversy

Documents provided to the Boulder City Review by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) appear to back up many of the accusations leveled at the Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) and leadership of the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home which is located in Boulder City by current and former employees over the past year. Many of the same issues were also noted by CMS surveyors in an inspection of the home that occurred in January.

Spending for proposed pool to be on Nov. ballot

During Tuesday’s Boulder City Council meeting, City Manager Taylour Tedder may have summed things up best.

Historic preservation event set for May

It’s a couple of months away, but scheduling for events tied to Historic Preservation Day — slated for May 11 —are pretty set and revolve around the theme of Trains, Planes and Automobiles.