Letter: Education board must answer to the voters

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 10:09 a.m.

I wish to challenge Erquiaga's statements on several grounds. Erquiaga has never, to my knowledge, attended a state Board of Education meeting or requested materials for a meeting. Had he done so, he would know that these elected officials meet every six weeks to carefully consider policy issues that affect K-12 education in this state.

Because they are elected, board members are held accountable by all constituents of the education community -- students, parents, teachers, administrators, local school boards, business and community leaders. They regularly hear conflicting testimony from these various constituencies and must craft policy that reflects compromise and accomplishes the greatest good for the students of Nevada.

As elected officials, they faithfully perform their duties by listening to input from all sectors and promptly responding to constituent inquiries.

I do agree with the need to review education oversight. With the proliferation of various boards, commissions, councils, panels, etc., the governance of K-12 education has become extremely fragmented over the last 14 years.

The public does not know who is in charge of what. Final responsibility must be made clear and it must rest with an elected board that is ultimately accountable to the voters.

DAVID SHEFFIELD

President, state Board of Education