Kids, parents ask for more school choice

Gov. Joe Lombardo, shakes hands with students at Mountain View Christian School and their moms and dads before a roundtable conversation, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing recently for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school choice supporters fill overflow rooms in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeGov. Joe Lombardo, left, gestures towards Valeria Gurr, Nevada School Choice Coalition, as Raymond LeBoeuf, right, principal at Mountain View Christian School, searches during a roundtable conversation, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing recently for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school option supporters fill overflow rooms in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeTrainees at Mountain View Christian School and their moms and dads listen as Gov. Joe Lombardo speaks during a roundtable discussion with the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing last week for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school option supporters fill overflow spaces in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeEden Johnson, a third-grade student at Mountain View Christian School, delivers her testament during a roundtable conversation with Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing recently for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school option supporters fill overflow rooms in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeKristyn Ramos, a senior at Mountain View Christian School, provides her testimony during a roundtable conversation with Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing recently for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school choice supporters fill overflow rooms in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeStudents at Mountain View Christian School and their parents listen as Gov. Joe Lombardo speaks throughout a roundtable conversation with the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing last week for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school option advocates fill overflow spaces in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeTrainees at Mountain View Christian School and their moms and dads listen as Gov. Joe Lombardo speaks during a roundtable conversation with the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing last week for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school choice advocates fill overflow rooms in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeGov. Joe Lombardo, right, chats with Raymond LeBoeuf, left, principal at Mountain View Christian School, as Valeria Gurr, Nevada School Choice Coalition, looks on before a roundtable discussion, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing last week for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school choice advocates fill overflow spaces in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeStudents at Mountain View Christian School and their moms and dads listen as Gov. Joe Lombardo speaks throughout a roundtable discussion with the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing last week for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school choice supporters fill overflow spaces in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeGov. Joe Lombardo, 2nd right, Raymond LeBoeuf, left, principal at Mountain View Christian School, Valeria Gurr, second left, Nevada School Choice Coalition, and Kristyn Ramos, right, a senior, listen as Ezra Ramos, a six-grade trainee, provides his testimony during a roundtable discussion, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing last week for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school option advocates fill overflow rooms in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeRoman Lomeli, a second-grade student at Mountain View Christian School, reads his testament as his mother Claudia looks on during a roundtable discussion with Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing recently for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school choice supporters fill overflow spaces in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeGov. Joe Lombardo, comes to Mountain View Christian School, to host a roundtable discussion with the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing last week for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school choice supporters fill overflow rooms in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeGov. Joe Lombardo speaks during a roundtable conversation with the Nevada School Choice Coalition at Mountain View Christian School, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing last week for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school option advocates fill overflow spaces in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfayeGov. Joe Lombardo talks with Kristyn Ramos, right, a senior at Mountain View Christian School, before a roundtable conversation with the Nevada School Choice Coalition, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The roundtable follows the hearing recently for Governor Lombardo's Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act (AB 400), which saw pro-school choice supporters fill overflow spaces in Las Vegas and Carson City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfaye
Gov. Joe Lombardo spoke with students and parents at a personal Christian school Monday who informed him how much the Opportunity Scholarship Program had actually helped their education.

The occasion - - held at Mountain View Christian School - - was meant to highlight Assembly Bill 400, which would expand the program from its existing $6.6 million per to 0.5 percent of the state Education Fund.

" Today, we're attempting to attain momentum," Lombardo stated. "We desire legislators who are making the decisions to hear your voice."

Kristyn Ramos, a senior at Mountain View and the student body president, stated she had a hard time initially at the school, however is now an AP student. "All this would not be possible without Opportunity Scholarships," she stated.

Ezra Ramos, a 6th grade trainee, stated he was homeschooled prior to he pertained to Mountain View, and did not have social abilities. But now he's on the honor roll, he stated. "I could not be more grateful for the Opportunity Scholarship," he included.

A number of trainees talked about being bullied in public schools before coming to Mountain View. Liberty Lockwood, an 11th grader, recalled being bullied however finding a various atmosphere at Mountain View with the aid of an Opportunity Scholarship.

" No one has actually ever given up on me as soon as," she stated.

There are presently 190 students at the school on Maryland Parkway near Bridger Avenue, stated Principal Raymond LeBoeuf.

Tuition at the campus varies from $7,200 per year for kindergarten through 6th grade, $8,000 for junior high and $9,000 for high school. The Opportunity Scholarship does not cover all of the costs, and the school has scholarships and tuition discounts, LeBoeuf stated.

" The people in this community certify (for the scholarship)," he stated. "The individuals in this neighborhood want that."

Lombardo said he didn't know how far apart Democrats and Republicans may be on the scholarship‘‘ s cost tag, since he hadn't talked about specifics with legal leaders. "Hopefully we're going to achieve that this week, since we're lacking time, as you understand."

There are 4 weeks left in the session prior to its scheduled end on June 5.

This is an establishing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Steve Sebelius at SSebelius@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0253. Follow @SteveSebelius on Twitter.