Culture war issues centered in the Clark County School Board’s races will likely be a source of tension next year as two former members of a conservative parents group join the 11-member board.

But some school district leaders see signs that they can work with the new members on more practical matters. 

Lydia Dominguez and Lorena Biassotti’s victories were part of the mini red wave in Nevada that secured the Silver State for President-elect Donald Trump. 

During their campaigns, Biassotti (also known as Lorena Cardenas), who will represent District E, and Dominguez, who will represent District B, played up concerns around library books that mention sex, sexuality or gender identities and a district policy that supports students of diverse gender identities. It follows a 2017 bill, SB225, that was signed into law by Republican then-Gov. Brian Sandoval and requires all public schools, including charter schools, to address “the rights and needs of people with diverse gender identities or expressions.”

Their messages were reinforced by the local Moms for Liberty chapter that launched in Clark County last year and has been pushing for these books to be removed from school libraries, accusing district officials and school staff of attempting to “groom” students. 

While the incoming trustees left the Moms for Liberty Clark County chapter earlier this year, they have both said they still support the group’s agenda. 

This platform is likely to be blocked by Trustees Linda Cavazos, Brenda Zamora and Ramona Esparza-Stoffregan, who had endorsed Dominguez and Biassotti’s opponents. 

The incoming trustee for District C, Tameka Henry, said in an Oct. 16 interview that she believes the school board should be focusing on improving students’ literacy rates rather than banning books. 

The incoming trustee for District A, Emily Stevens, said prior to the election that she had rejected an endorsement from the chapter. 

“I said … I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't want to be aligned with you,” Stevens said in a Sept. 24 interview. “You guys don't have a good reputation and I don't know everything that you stand for.”

Cavazos has previously referred to the national organization as a “cancer” that should not be allowed to spread. But, in a written statement Monday, Cavazos said she’s personally not concerned about Biassotti’s and Dominguez’s addition to the board as long as everyone works collaboratively to benefit Clark County School District’s (CCSD) students. 

“Finding the commonalities among all members will allow us to prioritize goals, set and review policies that help implement and reach such goals as raising student achievement, improving the learning environment for both students and educators, and ensuring that all kids and staff are safe at school,” Cavazos said.

Biassotti, who previously served as the chapter’s vice chair, did not respond to interview requests. 

Dominguez said in an interview last week that her priority won’t be pushing forward the group’s agenda and is instead focused on addressing the CCSD’s budget issues, calling for more transparency to restore the public’s trust in the school district and moving forward with the board’s upcoming superintendent’s search. 

A mother of two and Air Force veteran, Dominguez also plans to push for the school board to reconsider its decision earlier this year to not repair a Mount Charleston elementary school in her district that serves about 10 students and has been closed since August 2023 after it was damaged during a tropical storm.  

“This is definitely a community issue, and it's a nonpartisan issue, and it's in the best interest of the kids,” Dominguez said. 

Children’s best interests

But culture war issues have not totally left Dominguez’s mind. 

While she said she plans to work with district parents, staff, students and taxpayers of all backgrounds and affiliations, she won’t compromise on what she believes is best for children. 

Dominguez said she doesn’t believe in its children’s best interest when parents support changing their child’s gender identity or playing on a sports team that doesn’t align with their sex assigned at birth. 

“I truly believe that we need to protect girls in their spaces and their bathrooms and sports,” Dominguez said. “This isn't an attack on anyone on how they want to look or how they want to dress, but I just believe that we need to protect those spaces for girls.” 

Dominguez calls for an audit of all CCSD library books to identify any materials containing sexually explicit content.

“This is about protecting children and ensuring our libraries remain appropriate spaces for students of all ages,” Dominguez said in a Wednesday written statement. She added that she has not discussed this with anyone from Moms for Liberty nor does she have a list of specific books in question. 

Last Thursday, the school tentatively approved a change to its regulation on instructional materials, which includes the process for challenging school library books. The revised version, which requires a second approval by the board before its implementation, states that supplemental textbooks and library books will remain available for use while they are under the review process, unless a committee decides otherwise. 

If a school’s library committee opts to remove a book or if a decision is appealed, a central committee would conduct a final review. 

CCSD librarian Glenda Alberti told the school board last week that the changes would shore up weaknesses in the challenge process that could be exploited by individuals submitting challenges.  

Cavazos elaborated on the policy’s goals in a written statement.

“We need to rely on our professional educators (librarians and central staff), to guide us through any concerns that parents or community members may have, and to do our best to listen to all voices in an attempt to reach a resolution,” she said. 

Moms for Liberty Clark County chapter Chair Yadusha Jones questioned the timing of the proposed revision, which is scheduled for a second hearing, and possible vote, Dec. 12, in a Nov. 15 social media post. 

“It’s hard not to see this as a way to silence the new trustees and push out a last hooray,” she wrote. “Parents should have a say in what their children are exposed to.” 

Dominguez said she also is looking forward to seeing what the new Trump administration will mean for K-12 education. 

While on the campaign trail, Trump said that on his first day he would cut funding to “any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content on our children.” 

It's unclear how such a policy would play out in CCSD if enacted. Asked about Trump's comments, Cavazos said she was worried about anything that might affect students' ability to obtain the best education possible and to feel safe at school. Dominguez said the comments underscore a push for schools to refocus on academics rather than "divisive or inappropriate sexual content.”

Dominguez added that she is particularly excited for the changes expected from Trump’s pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has vowed to remove processed food from schools, citing health concerns about additives and dyes.

Finding common ground 

One area where Dominguez and Cavazos meet eye to eye is on the future of Earl B. Lundy Elementary School. 

In June, the board took no action on the district’s recommendation to close the school on Mount Charleston, leaving Lundy students in limbo. 

The board revisited the issue in August and voted 4-3 against a proposed $6.6 million repair for the school, and instead voted 4-3 in favor of asking the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District to allow the school district to build out classrooms at its Mount Charleston library branch. That’s expected to cost the district about $1.4 million, and wouldn’t be open until spring 2026. 

Dominguez’s predecessor, Katie Williams, who had appointed Dominguez to the district’s Attendance Zone Advisory Commission, was among the four trustees who voted against the school’s repair plan, citing cost concerns. 

The decision was made amidst speculation that Williams no longer resided in Nevada, which was eventually confirmed by the law enforcement officials before Williams resigned in September.  

“I was very disappointed that Katie voted against it,” Dominguez said.

After the election, Dominguez joined Lundy families, District B appointee Nakia Jackson-Hale and Chris Giunchigliani —  a former Democratic state lawmaker and Clark County commissioner who has been an advocate for Lundy families — to see the elementary school. 

While they didn’t go inside the building, Dominguez said she didn’t see any water damage inside the classroom, but did see some damage to the school’s exterior. 

“However, I still believe that that school needs to be reopened,” Dominguez said. “I would like to bring that back to the board.”

Giunchigliani said Dominguez’s willingness to take an initiative on the Lundy issue signals to her that Dominguez will be willing to reach across the political aisle to work with other trustees on issues that matter to her. 

“She's smart, she cares, and she'll read,” Giunchigliani said. “I like people that like to read and do their homework, so I think she will be one of those people.” 

Cavazos, who voted against Lundy’s closing and supports repairing it instead, is in favor of revisiting the matter. 

“It is very unfortunate that the [Mount] Charleston community did not have a trustee actively representing them during the timeframe that decisions were being made on this issue,” Cavazos said in a written statement. “Thankfully, that has now changed.”