School expenditure questioned

Terry Webster

Friday, July 14, 2000 | 11:23 a.m.

The creation of a new $109,331-a-year position for an executive director of government and community relations for the school district has residents raising eyebrows -- and questions.

School officials answered those questions at Thursday night's School Board meeting by saying the position will actually result in a savings for the district. And they pledged to conduct an extensive search for the right candidate.

The board deleted a $99,148 position for director of government relations and replaced it with the new one, which has more duties.

Some of the responsibilities for the new position include reviewing the board's legislative program, providing and coordinating legislative contacts and representing the district before state officials. Additional duties are supervising the School and Community Partnership program, the Department of Accountability and Compliance and a new Parent and Guardian Services office.

The board's agenda stated the deletion of the old position and creation of the new position will result in a net cost of $10,184. The comparison includes the benefit costs for both positions.

During the meeting, school officials touted the actual net cost as $500, but didn't detail their computations.

Sue Strand, president of the Clark County Education Association, the teachers union, questioned whether the position will be publicly advertised and interviewed in a fashion similar to the superintendent selection process.

School Board members debated whether the search should be conducted nationally or contained to Nevada. Concerns were raised regarding whether a candidate from outside the state would fully understand the dynamics of the Legislature.

Superintendent Carlos Garcia also had reservations about an outsider taking the position.

"One of the reasons I need this is because I'm from out of state," he said. "We need a person who has a good Rolodex in Nevada and knows people here."

Garcia, formerly the superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District in California, arrived last week as the replacement for retiring superintendent Brian Cram.

A frequent School Board critic ascribed an ulterior motive to the creation of the new position.

"It's no secret that this position is wired for Joyce Haldeman to come back to the district after resigning and going over to Community College of Southern Nevada," Louis Overstreet said. "Now that auditors are hot on the trail of some former administrators, she is looking for another job. One way to change the perception that the district has persons already selected for positions that it advertises is to change the composition of the screening and interview committees."

Haldeman previously served as director of community outreach and government relations for the district.

But school officials said a candidate has not yet been chosen. If a national search is conducted, it could take up to six weeks.

Board members suggested the process be expedited so that the new person would have time to prepare an agenda for the 2001 Legislature, which begins its session Feb. 1.

In other action, the board agreed to allow staff to apply for $4.2 million in funding for 76 new teachers, along with an alternative licensure measure, as part of a federal class-size reduction program.

School officials are applying for $4,243,374, which would provide salaries for teachers in schools with high populations of at-risk students.

The funding would come through the Nevada Department of Education, as part of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994, Title VI, Class Size Reduction Program.

Costs for the program were broken down as follows: Regular teachers (76 full time), $3,054,951; mentor teachers, $20,500; fringe benefits, $914,130; tuition reimbursement, $130,200; and indirect costs, $123,593.

Also included is an alternative licensure program that would allow the district to seek community members who have a bachelor's degree in areas outside of education.

Candidates would undergo an extensive background check, be observed in their interaction with primary-age children and would receive an alternative license contract valid for three years. Over the three years, the teachers will be required to enroll in and pass with a B grade or higher, at least 36 college credits in education.

No discussion was held regarding testing allegations raised by former Robert E. Lake Elementary School teacher Ramona Johnson. In a story the Sun broke June 26, Johnson alleged that the Curriculum Based Assessment Program test scores were inflated and copies of the fourth-grade TerraNova test booklet were distributed at the school.

Johnson said she resigned after pressure from school administrators. They deny trying to get rid of her, despite memos to Johnson that detail investigatory conferences, verbal warnings and other reprimands.

Thursday's School Board agenda listed her reason for departure as "other employment."