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MEDIA CONTACT: JACE RADKE | 702.229.2205 | 702.249.3514 | jradke@lasvegasnevada.gov
City Council Approved Resolution To Grant Funding To New Strong Start Academy Elementary School
Resolution Authorizes A Grant Of Up To $1 Million To New Nonprofit Charter School
The Las Vegas City Council approved a resolution to fund a new nonprofit charter school with a grant of up to $1 million. The new school, known as the Strong Start Academy Elementary School, is set to open in August offering kindergarten through second grade. The nonprofit was recently granted a charter by the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority.
“The city of Las Vegas is known for providing innovative educational opportunities through its Strong Start preschool programming, and this new school will expand those opportunities to elementary students,” Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman said. “We are focused on creating an exceptional learning environment that will impact this community in the years to come.”
The school will be overseen by a nonprofit board designated by the City Council. The board, which currently has one vacancy, will designate an executive director. The board members include:
- Linda Verbon, a licensed teacher and literacy tutor;
- Sylvia Lazos, a professor at the William S. Boyd School of Law;
- Alain Bengochea, a professor at the UNLV College of Education;
- Nicole Thompson, a licensed teacher;
- Jaime Gonzales, human resources subject matter expert; and
- Lorna James Cervantes, a licensed administrator.
The school will plan to add one grade level each year until it offers kindergarten through fifth grade. The student-to-teacher ratio will be 20:1 for all grade levels throughout the charter term (six years). Year 1 of the school will have 180 students enrolled, and at capacity the school will have 360 students.
The educational model of the school is a dual-language immersion, bilingual education in English and Spanish.
The Strong Start Academy Elementary School will offer an equitable, high-quality and innovative educational school model to support the communities of Wards 1, 3 and 5. The communities that the school aims to serve are traditionally and significantly underserved populations with students attending one-star and two-star schools.
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