Local NewsCoronavirus

Actions

'We are alone': Student talks about death of classmate during CCSD board meeting

Posted at 12:09 AM, Feb 26, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-26 03:09:29-05

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — One of the standout moments of Thursday's Clark County School District Board of Trustees meeting was a speech from a Centennial High School student.

Caden McKnight says he lost a classmate he's known since he was 11 years old.

RELATED: Parents, students vent frustrations over Clark County classroom return

"The next morning preceding her death I did not have the luxury to go into an environment filled with counselors, teachers and my friends to grieve the loss of our friend," he said during a public comment portion of the meeting.

"Instead, I opened my laptop," he continued. "I wake up in an empty room and I'm all by myself -- day after day -- like it's been since last March."

WATCH FULL | Clark County school board meeting Thursday, Feb. 26

"We are kids living through a global pandemic, trying to pass our AP exams and watching our friends die, and we are alone."

Caden urged the board to act fast to bring all students back full-time in-person learning. He says the longer they stay isolated, the harder it will be to recover.