Voters in Clark County’s District F will choose between two candidates for the School Board this November. Irene Bustamante Adams, the current vice president, is seeking a second term. Rob Hutchinson, a longtime district facilities director and father of three CCSD students, is running for the first time. The district covers Spring Valley, Mountain’s Edge, Southern Highlands, and Sandy Valley.
Their Reasons for Running
Bustamante Adams, a first-generation college graduate and former state assembly member, says she wants to keep improving literacy and math results, manage finances carefully, and strengthen public trust through clearer communication.
Hutchinson, who began as a temporary custodian and later became the district’s Administrator of the Year, describes himself as a career educator rather than a career politician. He says the board should put student success ahead of administrative convenience and direct more resources into classrooms.
Enrollment and Keeping Families
The district expects to lose roughly 5,000 students this year, continuing a decline that started in 2017. Bustamante Adams believes families stay when schools offer strong teaching, safe environments, and clear paths to college or careers. Hutchinson argues that beefing up career and technical education programs would give more students a solid reason to stick around, whether they’re headed for college or planning to go into a trade.
Staffing and School Safety
Both candidates recognize the persistent problems with open positions, hiring freezes, and low staff morale. Bustamante Adams would expand leadership development, mentoring, and data-driven placement of staff where students need them most. Hutchinson, who experienced the 2008 reductions in force, wants to stabilize the workforce by reducing administrative layers and investing in the people who work directly with students.
On safety, Bustamante Adams supports expanding multidisciplinary threat assessment and behavioral intervention teams. Hutchinson favors layered security measures and would fund them by reallocating existing resources.
Mental Health Support
Families continue to call for more mental health help in schools, yet shortages of psychologists, counselors, and social workers persist. Bustamante Adams would strengthen partnerships with Nevada colleges, grow internship pipelines, and pursue grant funding while continuing to work with community providers. Hutchinson points to recent reductions that affected social workers and counselors and says mental health support should be treated as essential rather than optional. He supports integrating licensed counselors more fully into school life.
Why This Matters for Autism Families
Conversations about counselors, behavioral support, and safe schools matter to families raising autistic children. When those supports are stretched thin, students who need consistent help often feel the impact first.
At Nevada Autism, we work every day with families who want their children to succeed in school and beyond. Through individualized ABA therapy, we help autistic children build communication, emotional regulation, and practical skills so they can participate more fully in classroom and community life.
A Simple Next Step
If your family is navigating autism and you would like practical, respectful support, Nevada Autism is here. Reach out when you are ready. We would be glad to talk with you about your child.
