Karen Gray
Former CCSD school board members try to conceal district's lack of progress
Apparently former CCSD school board members Ruth Johnson and Mary Beth Scow don't want the district's progress or lack of it judged on the basis of the nation's report card, the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Instead, they prefer the No Child Left Behind act's adequate yearly progress (AYP) scoring, which can be—and regularly is—"gamed."
The name game
More shenanigans from the Clark County school board
The Clark County school board has a reputation of filling its regular board meetings with a lot of pomp and circumstance. But on January 8, 2009, pomp and ceremony was entirely appropriate as the board took a break from its recent aversion to anything military.
Evaluating ‘Policy Governance'
It hasn't improved education in Clark County.
Oh, what a difference 12 years makes. Or does it? Term-limited out after a dozen years on the Clark County School Board, trustees Mary-Beth Scow, Ruth Johnson and Shirley Barber have cast their last votes. When taking office in 1997, each committed to improving student achievement and conquering CCSD's overcrowding problems.
Heads in the sand
CCSD is once again ignoring a good idea.
Can the Clark County School District cut $63 million from its budget without touching classroom programs? Even if possible, would CCSD actually do it? It doesn't appear the district would even consider it.
Snubbing Nevada's veterans
Why the hostility from the Clark County Board of School Trustees?
Is the Clark County Board of School Trustees hostile to everything military? Or is the board just averse to veterans? The board recently cold-shouldered an offer of the unique privilege of having the nation's second Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps academy in Clark County.
Mutually assured donations
Back-scratching abounds in Clark County education.
Why is the Clark County School District issuing checks for millions of dollars to Southern Nevada's powerful teacher union? According to purchase and change orders reviewed by the Nevada Policy Research Institute, within the last two years a total of $4.9 million has been approved by CCSD trustees for payment directly to the Clark County Education Association, or to a foundation controlled by the union.
On the CCSD money trail
How school spending often gets determined
Local school board races often go unnoticed and under-researched by voters. Nevertheless, these campaigns have a truly critical impact on K-12 education. In many respects, this is education's true front line, the place where the very foundation of most students' education is laid down – or not.
The devil dances a jig
His partner: The Interim Legislative Committee on Education
Why does Nevada education always seem to end up at the bottom of the barrel? Two bill draft requests coming out of the Interim Legislative Committee on Education show why.
Nothing doing
The Clark County School Board misses a great opportunity.
The Clark County School Board often speaks of scenarios of "if only" or "in a perfect world." Parents, too, have long desired certain scenarios...
The Superintendent Shuffle
Carson City School District ignores open meetings laws
Since when is it legal for a school board president to unilaterally modify district contracts and spend district money? That's one question growing out of recent actions by Carson City School District President James LeMaire.
