Lyon County School District Student Focus Group and Equitable Initiatives

Lyon County School District Student Focus Group and Equitable Initiatives

LCSD Hosts Student Focus Group to Hone in on the Student Experience and Welcomes Educational Equity Professionals to the LCSD

Silver Springs, NV, September 19, 2019– Equity in education aims to address what is necessary and appropriate for each individual student to succeed, knowing that what is necessary and appropriate for one student may not be the same for all. Equity is often times compared to equality, a system where all students receive the same tools and access regardless of their individual needs. LCSD aims to address the needs of all students so that it may fulfill its vision of graduating all students to be successful in college and career. To kick off the 2019-20 academic school year, LCSD District administration brought together students from all middle and high schools throughout the district, including Dayton, Fernley, Silver Springs, Smith and Yerington. The students gathered in a focus group where they were able to discuss the student experience at their individual school, in collaboration with the middle/high school students to discuss the student experience in their communities and as a large group to discuss the student experience in the LCSD.

The day began with an analysis of the student culture and climate survey, which is administered every year by the Nevada Department of Education. The students were able to analyze the positives and challenges that their student body reported on the survey and offer up any positives and challenges that may have been overlooked by the survey. The discussion opened the floor for students to express what it is they experience every day as a LCSD student and for LCSD administration to gain better insight into what it is its students experience every day and how they can continually improve to support every student’s educational needs.

In addition, students were able to offer their thoughts a draft Student Bill of Rights. LCSD Superintendent Wayne Workman states,

“As citizens of our country and state, we have rights outlined in law that protect and promote our right to be our best selves. As employees of LCSD, we have our contracts, rights, negotiated agreements, etc. that advocate for our success as employees and push us to be our best selves. As students in LCSD, we have educators and a school community that cares for and nurtures the student’s educational self, but nowhere in writing, can those students turn to see what it is that we, as LCSD, aim to provide for them. Our goal with the LCSD Student Bill of Rights, is to make it clear to every student of every background and situation in LCSD that they have the right to the best we have to offer each day and the potential to be as successful as they aim to be.”

The draft LCSD Student Bill of Rights will go forth to the LCSD Board of Trustees at a future Board Meeting for approval as part of another initiative on behalf of the LCSD District administration, the creation and adoption of Policy AD: Equity and Diversity. Policy AD aims to serve as a guiding principle to ensure that all students in LCSD have access to equitable and diverse educational opportunities. The draft LCSD Student Bill of Rights is outlined below:

All Lyon County School District students have the right to:

· A positive, safe and respectful learning environment.

· Highly qualified staff who offer their best every day.

· Our patience and nonjudgmental guidance as they learn to navigate this confusing world.

· Make mistakes, understand why it was a mistake and the opportunity to learn from those mistakes.

· Motivating adults who believe in their individual dreams and are committed to helping them fulfill those dreams.

· Caring adults who support and respect them for who they are individually.

· An equitable and diverse education with the appropriate resources to be successful.

· Engage as inclusive members of their school and community.

· Be heard and have a voice in all aspects of their education.

· Understand existing rules, the purpose of those rules and the opportunity to express concerns with perceived inequities.

· Be open, honest and express themselves in a respectful manner.

· Authentic, real world learning opportunities that will prepare them for their future.

LCSD has also welcomed the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) a group funded by the United States (US) Department of Education. WEEAC is based out of Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado but serves thirteen US states and three territories. WEEAC provides training to educational staff and acts as a partner in promoting equity and high quality education for all students. LCSD District and School administration has received a three trainings from WEEAC since spring 2019 with more forthcoming.

# # #

Our vision… Graduate all students to be successful in college and career.

Our Mission… Provide relevant learning opportunities that develop adaptable, persistent and self-directed learners capable of creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking necessary to overcome complex challenges.

Every Student… Every Classroom… Every Day…