Well, the Clark County School District Board of Trustees has two new members.

Ali Lakatos from Southwest Career and Technical Academy recently sat down with the new trustee in her very own district to learn more about what district f trustee Irene Bustamante Adams hopes to accomplish during her term.

Thank you, Ms.. Bustamante Adams, for joining us.

And I would like to start with my first question.

What is the focus or biggest change you are hoping to make while in office?

Ali, thank you for having me.

The biggest focus that I want to concentrate on is restoring the confidence back into the Clark County School District Board.

During my campaign, realize that parents, teachers, students, community stakeholders have lost confidence in the ability to focus on student outcomes.

And I think that my experience in my leadership roles, I know that the leadership roles that I've had in the past will be able to add value to that.

And what would you highlight as the issue you are hoping to address in your term?

The where I can add value is really in building community partnerships.

In my last two and a half months, being a school board trustee, I realize that addressing our student issues is a community challenge and that we need all stakeholders, especially the business community, to focus on the biggest challenge.

And one of those is student outcomes.

And what was your inspiration behind becoming a school board trustee, and how would you say this affects your term?

It's twofold.

It was a personal tragedy, the loss of a brother in law on his day of his retirement date and hearing of all the things that he did for youth and how he served the community.

And so it made me look at what can I still do while I'm still here on this earth?

What other gifts can I bring forth in order to serve others?

And then the other one is my grandson.

He was two at the time when I entered the race.

And I want to be part of the solution instead of being on the sideline to be complaining.

I want to add value and be part of the solution.

Well, that is indeed very motivational.

And my next question will be how are you planning to use this new position to benefit the community and specifically district?

Well, District F is amazing.

I have all the way from Spring Valley to Sandy Valley, which is like an hour away outside of Las Vegas.

So the whole plethora of amazing things that are happening in that area just inspires me.

And what I see the biggest need is that connection between the amazing things that you and other students are doing in the Clark County School District.

Make that connection.

Like today, the people that you got to meet.

Connecting them with mentors, employers that want you keeping kids here in southern Nevada.

So it's connecting that education, the workforce and economic development.

Well, I am indeed grateful for the opportunity.

I agree.

And I would also like to add, why do you believe that 60 trustees are crucial to the community?

Well, they are one of the community stakeholders in this to make this region work.

So it's just not the educators, it's just not the economic development, the employers that we're bringing to this region, these amazing companies.

But it's the connection of education, workforce and economic development.

And that's why trustees are so critical, because we are addressing the policy and the finances of where to invest our money for the students, and then also where the student voice in this collective region of where we want to draw the talent and for what they want to become.

Oh, thank you, Ms.. Bustamante Adams, for joining us today.

That was a wonderful interview.

Thank you so much, Ellie.

And Trustee Bustamante Adams.

You can learn more about all of this.

See CSC Board of Trustees on 60 dot net.