Panel faces election under shadow of change

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000 | 9:15 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The elective state Board of Education, whose power has declined in recent years, will have a new look after this election.

At least four of the 11 members will be freshmen. And three will be from Clark County.

Incumbents have either resigned, decided not to run or were prohibited because of term limits from seeking re-election. And these new faces will find some new challenges.

There have been rumblings in educational circles that an effort may be made to have the board appointive rather than elective. Rumors are circulating through the state Department of Education, which answers to the board, that it would lose its independence and be placed under the state Department of Human Resources. There is speculation that the board's authority to appoint the state superintendent of public instruction might transfer to the governor.

So far none of this is confirmed. The board, at one time, was the focal point for deciding public school issues. But things are changing.

There were efforts in the Legislature to abolish it. That failed. But the board has watched as educational tasks are assigned elsewhere.

A new committee was created by the Legislature to set the standards on what public school students should know at a particular grade. The Legislature formed its own committee to oversee educational reforms and is now deciding how money is spent in certain programs.

In this primary election, one Clark County candidate -- Merv Iverson -- will be automatically elected because he did not draw opposition. Iverson was appointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn to succeed Bill Hanlon, who resigned in District 2, Subdistrict F.

John Gwatney, former president of the Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, is running unopposed to represent Washoe County on the state board and will be elected to his first term.

There is only one primary election contest in Southern Nevada for the education board. This is the race to replace Doris Femenella, who did not run for re-election in District 2, Subdistrict D. The candidates are Edward Goldman, John Hawk and John E. Scott II in the nonpartisan race.

Hawk, an honors mathematics teacher at Green Valley High School in Henderson, says he will "deal with overpopulation of schools and attempt to expand new and existing programs that take advantage of growth issues." On school safety, he said, "I have chosen to pursue lawful means to keep guns, other weapons and alcohol off school grounds." And he said he will try to maintain "fairness and consistency when measuring student performance" in testing.

Scott, who has 30 years experience in civilian and military public service, says he will "work to build a climate of mutual trust and respect among citizenry and forge a consensus of opinion among our community leaders and decision makers." He is former director of the Small Business Administration in Las Vegas. While people argue about the price of education, Scott says restricting educational opportunities results in populated jails and prisons. "The uneducated and the undereducated will become a growing burden upon our society and will be the least adaptable to the technological transformation of our society in the 21st century."

Goldman, who has a doctorate in education, is secretary of the Jewish Community Day School and a former member of the board of Jewish Family Services. His platform is to "improve the quality of Nevada graduates."

The only other primary election race for the state board of education pits incumbent Dave Cook of Carson City against challengers Michelle Trusty-Murphy of Minden and Barbara J. Myers of Carson City. The top two vote-getters will go into the general election.

In the general election in Clark County, Marcia Washington will face Tracey Lewis in District 2, Subdistrict A, to succeed Liliam Hickey, who was barred from running for a fourth term. And Theresa Malone goes against Patricia Smith in District 2, Subdistrict G, to replace Frank Mathews, who is running for the state Senate.