Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

School Board widening focus on district matters

In what some are calling a giant leap of faith, the Clark County School Board has adopted a new way of governing itself and the district's affairs.

The model called Policy Governance is intended to allow the board to focus on broad goals for the district and then let school district staff determine how to meet them.

Superintendent Carlos Garcia called the move pioneering.

"Not many boards are going there," he said during a retreat Wednesday at the Lake Las Vegas resort in Henderson.

By going there, the School Board will relinquish its control over negotiations with bargaining units, personnel actions or reorganizations, legal claims and settlements and the approval of consultants, according to Bill Hoffman, the district's lead attorney.

"The most striking element is there would be no involvement in collective bargaining," said Hoffman.

Exactly how much control will be given up, however, still remains to be seen, Hoffman said.

School Board President Mary Beth Scow said the board plans to begin implementing Policy Governance by October with a transition period continuing through June 2001.

Hoffman said the district has not heard from teachers unions about the plan, but he expects that will be forthcoming.

Other areas discussed by the board included the superintendent's role and a 10-year vision plan.

Garcia also questioned the need for multiple School Board committees.

"If these committees are so good, why are they still in existence?" he said.

Garcia said the function of committees is usually to complete a task and then dissolve.

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