A new bill in the Nevada Legislature, Assembly Bill 195 (AB195), would change the way school boards operate in Clark County and other large school districts.
Currently, most school board members are elected by voters, but a few are now appointed in an advisory role without voting rights.
If passed, AB195 would allow those appointed board members the same voting power as elected officials.
Opponents argue that this bill would take away the public’s right to choose who makes critical decisions about their children’s education.
They say it would give more power to political insiders while reducing accountability to parents and taxpayers.
Assemblyman Toby Yurek, the bill’s author, defended AB195 in response to criticism. He wrote…
“Those appointments made are by elected officials (who are accountable to their voters) and are vetted at public meetings with public input. I argue that these appointed trustees increase and amplify the voice of individuals who have gone under-represented in the past.
“I believe the current appointed trustees are examples of the types of individuals we will see get appointed, people with backgrounds and experience in education, which has helped (and will help) bring the board’s focus back to student achievement and outcomes.”
But Yurek’s argument doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
Elections Ensure Accountability
School boards make major decisions about school budgets, curriculum, and policies.
Elected officials must answer directly to voters. If they fail to represent parents and students, voters can remove them in the next election.
Appointed trustees, however, don’t answer to voters. They answer to the politicians who appointed them.
That means they are more likely to serve political interests instead of focusing on what’s best for students and families.
While Yurek claims that appointments by politicians will help underrepresented voices, what about the voices of parents and taxpayers?
This bill actually silences voters by stripping them of their ability to choose who represents them.
Rural Communities Will Suffer the Most
This bill would be especially harmful to rural areas like Mesquite, where residents already feel disconnected from Las Vegas politics.
Currently, Mesquite voters can participate in electing a school board member who understands their needs. But under AB195, politicians in Las Vegas could appoint someone who has no connection to the community.
Assemblyman Yurek represents Mesquite, yet he is backing a bill that would take away his own constituents’ power to elect their local school board members.
That’s a betrayal of rural Nevadans who want local control over their schools.
Appointed Officials Are Not the Answer
Yurek argues that appointed trustees will have backgrounds in education and will refocus the board on student achievement.
But if experience is the issue, why not provide better training for elected trustees instead of stripping away the public’s right to vote?
Another major concern with appointed school board members is the oversized influence of teachers’ unions.
These powerful organizations already exert tremendous control over politicians, and AB195 would give them even more sway.
Since politicians often rely on union endorsements and campaign contributions, they are more likely to appoint trustees who align with union interests rather than those of parents and taxpayers.
This means decisions about curriculum, school policies, and budgeting could be driven by union priorities rather than what’s best for students.
In addition, we’ve all seen what happens when appointed officials make critical decisions without voter input.
Take the Biden administration’s appointment of Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary for Health. Levine was never elected, yet had significant influence over national health policy.
Americans never had a say in that decision.
Now, Assemblyman Yurek is trying to do the same thing with our local school boards. AB195 is just another attempt to consolidate power in the hands of the few while sidelining voters.
Call to Action: What You Can Do
If politicians in the Legislature can take away your right to vote for school board members, what’s next? Will they start appointing city council members? County commissioners? Judges?
At what point do voters stop having a say in their government?
Public schools belong to the people, not politicians. The best way to keep them accountable is through elections, not appointments.
Nevadans should stand up and say no. Contact Assemblyman Yurek and tell him you oppose AB195.
His email address is Toby.Yurek@asm.state.nv.us and his office phone number is (775) 684-8857.
Our schools should be run by the people, for the people – not by political appointees.
