Incumbents hoping to keep three school board seats

Terry Webster

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000 | 11:39 a.m.

Increasing student performance is the top priority for the eight Clark County School Board candidates.

The best way to do that is where the candidates differ. Yet most agree that it all begins with hiring and keeping highly qualified teachers and staff.

The School Board race is now narrowed to eight hopefuls, among them three incumbents.

District A incumbent Mary Beth Scow, District B incumbent Ruth Johnson and District C incumbent Shirley Barber are being challenged by newcomers Isaac Farrell, Troy Bulloch and Beatrice Turner, respectively.

Two District E newcomers, Jacqueline Jones and Denise Brodsky, are competing for the seat being vacated by Lois Tarkanian, who opted to run for the County Commission instead of seeking re-election to the School Board.

The candidates say student achievement must be the primary concern of the board and Superintendent Carlos Garcia.

"We need to attract and keep the best teachers and administrators," said Scow. She also feels the district's current curriculum review will benefit students.

Farrell agrees with Scow, adding that teacher salaries should be increased.

He maintains that teachers are among the lowest paid employees in the district, and that according to the budget, there are mailroom clerks earning more than teachers.

"I know I can find the money to pay teachers what they are worth, even if it means camping out at the governor's doorstep," Farrell said.

Johnson said student achievement has to be the basis for everything the board does. But boosting student performance will require more money from the state Legislature, she says.

"It's our job to go up there and work with them," Johnson said.

Barber also said it's the district's utmost concern.

"Our whole focus has to be on student achievement," Barber said. "And we need to look closer into dropout prevention."

Her competitor, Turner, could not be reached for comment.

Bulloch pointed out that creating a good learning environment is crucial, and one way to do that is to reduce overcrowding in schools and class sizes.

Brodsky touched on another point for productive learning, noting that the needs of all students must be met.

Meanwhile, Jones says the district needs to make sure students are being given the necessary tools to be academically prepared for the new global and technological society.