On School Board, Why Not Try Competent Management for a Change?

(Ken Small) – Are you satisfied with our Clark County School District (CCSD) educational system? I am not.

In January of this year Nevada was ranked 50th state in the nation by education week. Over 70% of Nevada’s students are attending CCSD. CCSD has failed no child left behind and is failing to make adequate yearly progress. Have you heard the propaganda from the School Board Trustees, that this is the result of the economy? Nope.

This is the second year we were ranked so low. We received this sad ranking in January 2009 based upon 2008 data also. Maybe you feel that your taxes are too low and we should pour more money into education because the School Board Trustees have told you that they only get (take your pick) $3,500 to $7,500 per student per school year? Well according to NPRI.org it is close to the national average of $10,500.

So I have to ask the question again… in light of the information above: Are you happy with the CCSD educational system?

If not, then let me suggest that it is time to toss out the entrenched system where Trustees leaving the District pick their successors. Time to vote out the old and in with the new! Is that not what democracy is all about? We are now 50th state in the nation. Failure of this magnitude deserves replacement with new blood.

My name is Ken Small and I am a Recognized Educational Facility Planner (REFP). I am neither an insider nor a person favored with the recommendation of the insiders. I am an activist, parent and a local businessman. For the last 3 years I have been trying to help the Trustees make some good decisions. Although I tried my best to explain, they either didn’t “Get it” or didn’t want to get it. I have experience and qualifications to make the kind of decisions that school boards make. The current board does not.

So I decided to try to get your vote and straighten things out.

Why not try competent management at the top for a change? A Bad school system has become one more reason to leave here and one more reason not to move here.

I have the only web site in this race that is full of positions and ideas about what to do: www.KenSmallBigChange.com That is because my background gives me knowledge of many options.

It is our solemn responsibility to show that government can have both a head and a heart; that it can be both progressive and solvent; and that it can serve the people without becoming their master.

(Mr. Small is a candidate for the Clark County school board)