Garcia wants say in plan to break up school district

Valerie Miller

Monday, May 22, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

Incoming Clark County School Superintendent Carlos Garcia would like an opportunity to work out some solutions to the school district's problems before a breakup of the district is considered.

"I would like a chance to address the concerns of the people and work on the issues," Garcia said. "Allow me to come in as superintendent and join the debate about what can be done differently to improve the existing district before we throw everything out."

One of the first political battles for Garcia, who takes over the job from Brian Cram July 5, will be the petition drive by Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, that could pave the way for the deconsolidation of the district.

Cram has been a strong opponent of Tiffany's initiative to allow cities to create their own school districts, arguing that a breakup of the nation's eighth largest school district would lead to higher taxes and increase racial and economic disparities among students.

Garcia said Cram could be right.

"I think we need to work for all kids, and while I haven't seen exactly how the lines (for the separate school districts) would be drawn, it doesn't seem to be equal," Garcia said.

Tiffany's petition aims to change a state statute requiring one school district for one county. Cities with a population of 125,000 or more could petition to break away from the Clark County School District to form their own school districts with smaller adjacent cities.

While Garcia said he still would like to learn more details about the plan to break up the school district, he said separating children economically and ethnically is not healthy for students.

"I don't think that it is good for kids to go to school in that kind of environment," Garcia said. "We have to work for all kids, and I think it is good for kids to grow up in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment.

"I would never support a segregated school district."

The cost is another issue.

"I've looked at other school districts that have deconsolidated, and it wasn't very cost effective," Garcia said.

A breakup of the school district would require money to duplicate administration services and to pay higher salaries to attract teachers to the competing districts, Garcia said.

Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson are all large enough populations to have their own school districts under the plan.

Tiffany needs 44,000 signatures for her petition from 13 of 17 Nevada counties by November. She said she now has 33,000 signatures, but plans on getting a total of 60,000 signatures as added insurance.

If the petition drive is successful, the 2001 Legislature can change the statute. If they don't, the proposal would go before the voters in 2002.

Tiffany and other supporters of deconsolidation have long held that the Clark County School District has become too large -- with a current enrollment close to 220,000 -- and unresponsive to the concerns of parents and the community.

"This (petition) will give the people a chance to decide," Tiffany said. "We want community schools with our own policies and our own priorities."

She denied that deconsolidation would cause ethnic and economic disparities, citing a state plan that allows equitable funding for all districts.

Garcia said he would like to meet with Tiffany to discuss her concerns, and appealed for time to work out a compromise and try to fix what may be wrong in the school district.

"I would look at ways we could increase parent involvement in the school district and increase the responsiveness of the district," he said. "I believe we are stronger unified, but if I am proven wrong after a few years, I would look at deconsolidation again."

School Board member Lois Tarkanian said she would like to see proponents of deconsolidation work with the new superintendent.

"I would like to see them give Dr. Garcia a chance," Tarkanian said. "He is just coming into this, but he would be a good person to work with the parents and other groups on their concerns." Tiffany said it's too late to stop her petition.

"We've listened for eight years," Tiffany said.

Valerie Miller is a reporter for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2319 or by e-mail at valerie@lasvegassun.com.