A new bill in the Nevada Legislature, Assembly Bill 195 (AB195), would take away part of your right to vote for school board members.
If passed, this bill would give appointed members of school boards the same power as elected ones.
This is a bad idea, and here’s why.
School boards make big decisions. They decide how tax dollars are spent, what students learn, and how schools are run.
Right now, voters in Clark County and other large school districts elect most of their board members. That means if a trustee isn’t doing a good job, voters can replace them.
AB195 changes that. It allows government officials to appoint school board members with full voting power.
These appointed members would no longer just give advice—they could make the final decisions.
This means fewer board members would answer directly to the people. Instead, they would be handpicked by politicians.
Elected school board members have to campaign, meet with parents, and listen to the community. If they don’t, voters can remove them in the next election.
Appointed trustees, on the other hand, don’t have to do any of that. They answer to the people who appointed them, not to the families and taxpayers they are supposed to serve.
This opens the door for political games.
What happens if an official appoints someone who pushes a certain agenda instead of focusing on what’s best for students?
What if an appointed trustee refuses to listen to parents?
The public would have no power to vote them out.
Rural Communities Like Mesquite Will Suffer the Most
AB195 would especially hurt rural communities in Clark County, like Mesquite.
Mesquite residents, who already feel disconnected from decisions made in Las Vegas, would have even less say in their children’s education.
Right now, Mesquite voters can elect someone who understands their unique challenges. But if politicians in Las Vegas appoint school board members, Mesquite families could be stuck with decisions made by people who don’t understand their needs.
Assemblyman Toby Yurek (R), who represents Mesquite, should know that rural communities need more local control, not less.
AB195 would strip that control away, giving more power to political insiders instead of parents and voters.
School boards should be simple: local people making decisions for local schools. AB195 makes it more complicated.
Right now, only elected members can vote on key issues. But this bill would give appointed members the same power, making it harder for voters to hold anyone accountable.
Think about it: If your child’s school isn’t doing well, you can currently vote for change. But under AB195, you might be stuck with trustees you never voted for and can’t remove.
Supporters of AB195 argue that appointed members bring new perspectives and expertise. But that doesn’t mean they should have the same power as elected officials.
If expertise is the issue, why not provide better training for elected members instead of taking power away from voters?
Nevadans deserve a say in who runs their schools.
If we let politicians take that power away, what’s next? Will they start appointing city council members or county commissioners too?
Public schools belong to the people, not politicians. The best way to keep them accountable is through elections, not appointments.
If AB195 passes, it will take away your voice in one of the most important areas of government—our children’s education.
Nevadans should stand up and say no.
Contact your state representatives and tell them to vote against AB195. Our schools should be run by the people, for the people—not by political appointees.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
