ContestsEvents

Person At Local Las Vegas Elementary School Diagnosed With Tuberculosis

Clark County School District has announced that a person at a local Las Vegas elementary school has been diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). According to Fox 5, Helen Jydstrup…

Las Vegas Elementary School
stockdevil via Getty Images

Clark County School District has announced that a person at a local Las Vegas elementary school has been diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

According to Fox 5, Helen Jydstrup Elementary School informed its students' families of the diagnosed individual through a letter sent Tuesday, January 24th from principal, Christina M. Miani. According to said letter, “the Southern Nevada Health District is working with the school to discuss any possible student health concerns and create a testing plan” for any students, parents, or staff that may have come in close contact with the person diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

This diagnosis and the potential spread of the disease could be a massive issue. Fortunately, tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that cannot be spread through surfaces and touching. While students and staff who might've touched the same objects the diagnosed individual might've touched prior were not necessarily susceptible to catching the disease. Those who came into close, consistent contact with the person are most at risk. If the person was in a classroom around other individuals for long periods of time, breathing the same air, those individuals are most likely to have caught the disease.

SNHD is in the process of coordinating tuberculin testing for students and staff in "identified classes." Free tuberculin testing will begin on Thursday, January 26th for Helen Jydstrup Elementary School staff. Parents will also have the option to take their students to Quest Diagnostics for free testing as well. Following the initial testing period, follow-up testing will be encouraged, beginning the week of March 20th.

If you have concerns regarding the reported tuberculosis diagnosis, contact the Southern Nevada Health District.


Let’s be friends! 👍 Follow us on our socials:

Follow Sammi Reeves on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

Follow the station on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok!

Listen to Sammi Reeves weekday afternoons from 3-7 on 102.7 VGS


More Content You'll Love

Governor Lombardo Wants To Increase Nevada Education Budget

Any parent in Nevada knows the state seems not to make the grade. Year after year, Nevada ranks at or near the bottom when it comes to education. Also near the bottom of the list is how much Nevada spends per student. Governor Lombardo said in Monday's State Of The State that he wants to increase Nevada education spending.

The proposed number he has thrown out is two billion dollars to prop up the amount spent per student from the current $10,290 to $12,406 - which would make Nevada go from near the bottom to towards the national average.

That money could mean paying teachers a better wage, which would help school systems like the Clark County School District help retain great talent. It could mean more resources and technology available to kids to help them make the grade. While the budget is proposed, it's up to Carson City to pass it starting next month when the next legislative session gets underway.

Does more money mean Nevada education will improve?

Depending on who you ask, more money means better results in the classroom - or doesn't make a lick of difference. The National Education Association says plainly more money means better results. An OpEd in The Hill says it doesn't always mean better results. The Brookings Institute says "it's not nothing," putting the emphasis on long-term funding, as short term infusions of cash don't see results.

Whatever the case is, Governor Lombardo makes it clear while he wants to increase investment, if it doesn't move the needle the next step is a change in the education structure in the state.

Is money the answer? Or is something else at play?

We painstakingly went through the ratings and have come up with a list of the states and their funding, from least funded to most. We've also found the education ranking in each state. Now you can decide if there is a correlation or not.

There are some outlier states like Utah and Colorado that are dead last in spending but significantly better in education rating. Meanwhile other states that spend through the roof, like Wyoming and Alaska, severely underperform against their spending. The average difference between ranking and spending is 11.3 positions. 17 states were within 5 positions of spending and ranking.

A closer correlation can be made when it comes to the state's poverty rate compared to it's education ranking. The average difference between the state's education ranking and poverty rate is only 9.12 spots... with again 17 states being within 5 positions comparing poverty rate and education ranking. The higher the poverty rate, the higher the likelihood of less parental oversight and less access to resources. That can obviously lead to worse results. Utah has the lowest spending per student, but the 2nd best poverty rate. They find themselves at number 21 in school rating. Meanwhile Louisiana has the 22nd highest spending, but is 2nd from the bottom in poverty rate. They rate 46th in education. So while funding the schools is good, having a well funded populace seems to be better.

Whatever the case, we aren't complaining. With as much money that comes into this state, Las Vegas especially, there's no excuse for being at the bottom of the funding list.

50) Utah (significantly outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $7,954

US News & World Report Ranking: 21st (That outperforms spending by 29 spots - an impressive feat.)

Poverty Rate: 8.28% (2nd)

49) Idaho (significantly outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $8,141

US News & World Report Ranking: 23rd (outperforms spending by 26 spots - impressive!)

Poverty Rate: 10.71% (22nd)

48) Tennessee (significantly outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $8,324

US News & World Report Ranking: 31st

Poverty Rate: 13.63% (41st)

47) Arizona (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $8,882

US News & World Report Ranking: 47th

Poverty Rate: 13.42% (40th)

46) Mississippi (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $8,919

US News & World Report Ranking: 43rd

Poverty Rate: 19.07% (50th)

45) Oklahoma (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $9,353

US News & World Report Ranking: 44th

Poverty Rate: 14.56% (43rd)

44) Alabama (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $9,636

US News & World Report Ranking: 45th

Poverty Rate: 14.96% (44th)

43) South Dakota (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $9,913

US News & World Report Ranking: 29th

Poverty Rate: 11.98% (29th)

42) Arkansas (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $9,976

US News & World Report Ranking: 38th

Poverty Rate: 15.47% (45th)

41) Kentucky (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,010

US News & World Report Ranking: 33rd

Poverty Rate: 15.76% (46th)

40) Florida (significantly outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,098

US News & World Report Ranking: 16th

Poverty Rate: 12.40% (32nd)

39) Colorado (significantly outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,171

US News & World Report Ranking: 7th

Poverty Rate: 9.07% (7th)

38) Nevada (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,305

US News & World Report Ranking: 48th

Poverty Rate: 11.83% (27th)

37) Texas (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,314

US News & World Report Ranking: 35th

Poverty Rate: 13.13% (36th)

36) Missouri (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,457

US News & World Report Ranking: 26th

Poverty Rate: 12.46% (33rd)

35) North Carolina (significantly outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,613

US News & World Report Ranking: 15th

Poverty Rate: 13.18% (37th)

34) South Carolina (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,719

US News & World Report Ranking: 42nd

Poverty Rate: 13.79% (42nd)

33) Oregon (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,862

US News & World Report Ranking: 37th

Poverty Rate: 11.62% (25th)

32) Georgia (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,893

US News & World Report Ranking: 30th

Poverty Rate: 13.26% (39th)

31) West Virginia (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $10,984

US News & World Report Ranking: 41st

Poverty Rate: 16.90% (47th)

30) Montana (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,266

US News & World Report Ranking: 36th

Poverty Rate: 11.91% (28th)

29) New Mexico (significantly underperforms spending

Funding Per Pupil: $11,266

US News & World Report Ranking: 50th

Poverty Rate: 17.85% (48th)

28) Iowa (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,266

US News & World Report Ranking: 24th

Poverty Rate: 10.49% (17th)

27) Washington (significantly outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,510

US News & World Report Ranking: 11th

Poverty Rate: 9.39% (11th)

26) California (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,588

US News & World Report Ranking: 40th

Poverty Rate: 12.07% (30th)

25) North Dakota (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,664

US News & World Report Ranking: 34th

Poverty Rate: 9.55% (10th)

24) Nebraska (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,796

US News & World Report Ranking: 13th

Poverty Rate: 9.68% (13th)

23) Kansas (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,939

US News & World Report Ranking: 27th

Poverty Rate: 10.92% (23th)

22) Louisiana (significantly underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,967

US News & World Report Ranking: 46th

Poverty Rate: 18.00% (49th)

21) Michigan (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,987

US News & World Report Ranking: 32nd

Poverty Rate: 13.19% (38th)

20) Virginia (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $11,967

US News & World Report Ranking: 10th

Poverty Rate: 9.37% (9th)

19) Indiana (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $12,360

US News & World Report Ranking: 9th

Poverty Rate: 12.19% (31st)

18) Wisconsin (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $12,435

US News & World Report Ranking: 8th

Poverty Rate: 10.43% (16th)

17) Illinois (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $12,457

US News & World Rep0rt Ranking: 6th

Poverty Rate: 11.62% (26th)

16) Minnesota (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $12,664

US News & World Report Ranking: 18th

Poverty Rate: 8.77% (5th)

15) Ohio (underperforming spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $12,811

US News & World Report Ranking: 20th

Poverty Rate: 13.02% (35th)

14) Maine (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $13,666

US News & World Report Ranking: 12th

Poverty Rate: 10.52% (19th)

13) New Hampshire (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $13,725

US News & World Report Ranking: 4th

Poverty Rate: 6.98% (1st)

12) Delaware (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $14,335

US News & World Report Ranking: 22nd

Poverty Rate: 10.58% (20th)

11) Hawaii (significantly underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $14,987

US News & World Report Ranking: 28th

Poverty Rate: 8.62% (4th)

10) Pennsylvania (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $15,023

US News & World Report Ranking: 17th

Poverty Rate: 11.31% (24th)

9) Rhode Island (significantly underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $15,023

US News & World Report Ranking: 17th

Poverty Rate: 10.60% (21st)

8) Maryland (underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $15,574

US News & World Report Ranking: 14th

Poverty Rate: 8.44% (3rd)

7) Massachusetts (outperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $16,270

US News & World Report Ranking: 2nd

Poverty Rate: 9.11% (9th)

6) Alaska (SIGNIFICANTLY underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $16,576

US News & World Report Ranking: 49th

Poverty Rate: 10.05% (15th)

5) Vermont (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $17,108

US News & World Report Ranking: 5th

Poverty Rate: 9.98% (14th)

4) Connecticut (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $17,373

US News & World Report Ranking: 3rd

Poverty Rate: 9.38% (10th)

3) New Jersey (on pace with spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $18,874

US News & World Report Ranking: 1st

Poverty Rate: 8.93% (6th)

2) Wyoming (SIGNIFICANTLY underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $19,238

US News & World Report Ranking: 39th

Poverty Rate: 10.50% (18th)

1) New York (significantly underperforms spending)

Funding Per Pupil: $20,645

US News & World Report Ranking: 19th

Poverty Rate: 12.62% (34th)

Sammi Reeves is the afternoon show host on 102.7 VGS. Before her radio career, she worked several jobs in the media industry, specifically involving social media and media buying. As a content creator for 102.7 VGS, Sammi writes Las Vegas content centered around local restaurants, events, and need-to-know news.