Clark County School District receives disparity study results

NV News - Published May 30, 2023

Clark County School District (CCSD) is currently considering the results of a disparity study into CCSD public contracts during the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. The study made findings of statistically significant underutilization of minority- and woman-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) relative to their availability in the area, as well as recommendations for remedying the disparity.

During the period the study covered, MWBEs were awarded 19.7 percent of the dollar value of all CCSD contracts, despite that the expected figure, if MWBEs were utilized in proportion to their availability, would have been 27.1 percent. MBEs were particularly underutilized in construction and A&E contracts, with an 0.04 percent utilization rate relative to a 5.04 percent availability rate.

Recommendations made by the study for remedying MWBE underutilization include etablishing overall aspirational goals for MWBE participation, authorizing an MWBE program, improve tracking and reporting of MWBE participation, expand outreach and assistance efforts, and other potential steps.

 "We will [...] discuss ways we can improve equity among the contracts awarded by the District as well as subcontractors hired to improve our outreach to potential contractors," said CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jesus F. Jara in a statement.

Read the press release from CCSD at https://newsroom.ccsd.net/ccsd-receives-results-of-equity-in-contracts-study/.

The summary and full document of the disparity may be accessed at https://www.ccsd.net/trustees/meeting-agendas/, by clicking through to "View BoardDocs" for the Regular Board Meeting of May 18, 2023 and viewing the documents as linked from there.