Letter: Dividing school district would bring results

Friday, May 12, 2000 | 9:47 a.m.

The "sky is falling," laments outgoing school Superintendent Brian Cram. He's against the school initiative that gives voters of Clark County the right to break up the school district. No wonder. It was Cram himself who created the bureaucratic nightmare.

Cram's bureaucracy is packed with 22 assistant and area superintendents, many earning almost six-figure salaries. Most of the money provided by taxpayers to his school district never reaches the classroom, but is eaten up by Cram's bureaucracy and support staff. And this is what he wants the voters of Clark County to continue supporting.

The beauty of the Community Schools Initiative is that voters get the option to create smaller city-based school districts that will eliminate Cram's payroll-padded minions. This will save taxpayer funds. Smaller districts will also achieve better educational results because they will be more responsive to parents and communities.

Under Cram's "leadership" our students have some of the lowest reading and math scores in the country. Under Cram, some of our schools have been declared "inadequate" because they do not reach minimal standards. Under Cram, the schools in our poorer neighborhoods are the worst performers. His "concern" that a breakup of the district will create "haves" and "have-nots," is ludicrous. Cram has already created "haves" and "have-nots."

Let's take matters out of the hands of the bureaucrats and improve our failing educational system.

SCOTT GRIESMAN