Incumbent, challenger debate over growth

Teresa Hinds

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Clark County School Board candidate Mark Hutchison is laying blame for classroom overcrowding at the feet of the board.

Hutchison, challenging incumbent Lois Tarkanian for the northwest-area District E seat, said there was a "serious lack of vision and leadership in the School Board in recognizing the growth to make sure we have enough money to secure our children's education.

"There was a complete failure by the School Board to plan for the growth of Las Vegas," he charged. "These overcrowded conditions are the result of the last five or six years, not just six months ago. Present circumstances speak volumes.

"I think we did as well as we could in meeting the influx," Tarkanian countered. "None of the demographers predicted we would grow as quickly as we did."

Both candidates advocate turning to the Legislature for construction funding.

"We have to go to the Legislature," Tarkanian said. "This would be an absolute immediate emergency. We would have to work with the Legislature to work out some means to get the funding to build the buildings we need."

The 61-year-old speech, language and hearing therapist said there will also have to be a "very hard look at other sources of funding" for school construction. "That might include impact fees. I've talked with some developers who would be willing to pay impact fees. I'm not saying that's the best way to go, but it has to be strongly considered."

Hutchison's approach would be to "act as the point person to lobby the Legislature and work with local officials to ensure we can handle and anticipate the growth."

His plan includes lobbying for property taxes to be returned to the school district. "The state has that earmarked for retirement of state debts. That's local property taxes that traditionally go to public schools.

"The time is right and the opportunity is present to go to the state and say, 'You go find other sources for that. Property taxes should go to local causes and local issues. State, you have scores of ways to gain revenue; you go find other sources of revenues.' "

Although their methods differ, the candidates support making changes in classroom curriculum.

Tarkanian said the key is higher expectations within the classroom.

"I think we water down, sometimes," she said. "It's amazing to me when you have teachers in schools where you expect a higher level, they achieve it. I think they need to concentrate on that."

Recent reports on the inadequate quality of teacher training across the nation trouble Tarkanian.

"Until the teacher training institutes reach a level they should be at, we as a district need to in service our teachers" on a regular basis to keep up with the techniques and technology, she said.

Hutchison, a 33-year-old attorney and father of four, three of whom attend Clark County schools, said getting "back to the basics" in education is a must.

"For hundreds of years we have taught our children well in the basics and fundamentals in education," he said. "It's only been in the last 20 years -- all the mentality of the '60s and the feel-good-at-all-costs approach -- where there's been a de-emphasis on that."

Hutchison said the educational system has "woefully neglected the basis," and proposes the Clark County School District place "more of a fundamental emphasis on education. Let's teach these kids some core education values and knowledge."

Tarkanian, who is seeking her third term on the School Board, received a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in speech and hearing from Fresno State University. She earned a doctorate in leadership and human behavior from U.S. International University in San Diego.

She is the wife of former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, who now coaches at Fresno State.

Hutchison received a bachelor's degree in business administration from UNLV and a law degree from Brigham Young University.

District E covers an area that extends from northwest Las Vegas to Indian Springs and Mount Charleston.