Big field fights for Tarkanian’s School Board seat

Terry Webster and Ed Koch

Friday, Sept. 1, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

With popular longtime Clark County School Board member Lois Tarkanian taking a shot at the County Commission, the race for her District E seat is up for grabs, with eight candidates vying for the job.

Meanwhile, School District A, B and C incumbents Mary Beth Scow, Ruth Johnson and Shirley Barber each face three opponents in Tuesday's primary, bringing to 20 the number of people competing for the four four-year posts.

The key issues facing the candidates are a high dropout rate, school construction, transportation, a teacher shortage and a proposal to break the district into smaller districts.

The two candidates in each district who receive the most votes will advance to the general election in November.

Tarkanian, a Democrat, is leaving her post after 12 years in hopes of defeating in November the winner of Tuesday's County Commission Republican primary between incumbent Lance Malone and Chip Maxfield.

That has left the door wide open for a variety of candidates in District E, from a housewife to a real estate broker to a former Strip hotel president, wanting to serve on the board that oversees the interests of the nation's sixth-largest school district.

They are Dr. LeRoy Bernstein, 62, a pediatrician; Denise Brodsky, 41, past president of a local and regional PTA; Phillip Flaherty, now owner of Sage Lobo Consulting but who once served as president of the Desert Inn; Jacqueline Jones, 33, the executive director of the Nevada Association of Female Executives and Entrepreneurs; Kenneth Kukuda; Keith Lynam, 37; David Meckley; and Tonie Sison, 58, owner and broker of Full Service Realty Co.

"I have extensive knowledge of the needs of children on all levels," Bernstein said, adding that school safety, children's health needs, better communication between parents and teachers and more responsible spending are needed.

Brodsky, who holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, says she has been involved in education since her first child entered school in 1981.

A wife and mother of three, she has served as president of the Nevada PTA Rainbow Council and is past president of the William Lummis Elementary School PTA. Her key issues are stressing academic achievement, easing overcrowded schools and reducing the high school dropout rate.

Flaherty, a UNLV graduate, said some people's attitudes about schools have changed, and not for the better.

"Somehow things have changed over the years, and now we see residents arguing against the placement of schools in their neighborhoods for fear of crime and or decreasing property values as a result of the proximity of a school," Flaherty said.

To improve the image of schools and better emphasize their need in the community, Flaherty stresses tougher discipline standards, increased funding, improved academic standards and more efficient fiscal management.

Jones wants better transportation for students and the recruitment of good teachers.

Lynam, a graduate of the University of Montana who serves on the board of directors for the Foundation for the Future, feels an educational system reform would best benefit students' preparation for their futures.

Sison, who holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, is emphasizing school safety and spending accountability.

Kukuda and Meckley did not respond to inquiries from the Sun.

District A

In District A, Scow, 47, who holds a degree in community health education, is the current School Board president. She also has served on the State School Board Association of Board Managers and is past president of the Sunset Council PTA.

Scow, who has lived in Clark County 23 years -- 18 of them in Henderson -- has had five children graduate from local schools and four who are enrolled in the district.

She stresses increasing student achievement along with the number of teachers being recruited.

Scow faces opposition from Isaac Farrell, 52, who has served as president of Scion Computers for 14 years; Angela Palomo, 49, coordinator of the cardiovascular service for University Medical Center, and Tiger Todd, 26, chief executive officer of Tiger Technologies, Inc.

Farrell, who has a post-graduate degree in computer science, says his work as a coach in Little League and soccer and his sponsorship of various children's sports teams have given him an understanding of their needs. He also was the founding chairman of the Solomon Schecter Jewish Day School.

Farrell's key issues are accountability and accessibility.

"I believe the Clark County School District is in dire need of an operational audit," Farrell said. "I refuse to believe that a $34.5 million cut needs to be taken from our classrooms next year, especially for enlarging classroom size. The money that is spent on consultants, studies and staff really needs to be re-evaluated."

Palomo, who has a master's degree in nursing and is a mother of three, who recently got a firsthand look at the Pupil Personnel Services and School Board during an appeals process involving one of her children.

Palomo says better school discipline and increased teacher training are among her main concerns.

"Kids who make mistakes can remain in a supportive academic environment while learning their lesson," she said. "Court (and Opportunity School) should be reserved for students who commit criminal offenses and exhibit recalcitrant behavior."

Las Vegas-born Todd, who was a student in the Clark County School District and attended elementary schools in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson, says his technological skills would bring a needed element to the board.

Todd, who is founder of the Las Vegas Faith Center, has been active with the school district's PAYBAC (Professionals And Youth Building A Commitment) program, that has worked to reduce the dropout rate by bringing professional men and women into the classrooms to express the importance of education.

Todd stresses better child and teacher safety and better management of the district's construction and technology departments.

District B

In District B, Johnson, 41, has worked with special education students and was a program manager for United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Nevada. She holds an associates degree in textiles and a bachelor's degree in psychology and has completed post-baccalaureate work in elementary education.

Johnson, who is active in the PTA and has taught at community-based preschools, has four daughters in district schools. She stresses community involvement, the need for more funding from the state Legislature and setting clear education goals.

Her opponents are Troy Bulloch, 29, a 10-year business and financial management professional; Gil Castillo, 49, a baccarat supervisor at Caesars Palace, and Jim Dreitzler.

Native Southern Nevadan Bulloch, a graduate of Community College of Southern Nevada with an associates degree in business management, was educated in the local district. He has two children in the school system.

Bulloch says his top concerns are accountability on school spending, making the district more user friendly and a safer learning environment.

Castillo, who was educated at Long Beach State and UNLV, is married to Juareen Castillo, who has spent 21 years in the district as a teacher and one year as an administrator.

He served three years as finance committee member and building committee member at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School and has coached Little League.

Castillo wants to increase communication between students, parents, teachers and administrators and increase awareness and prevention of the sale of drugs in schools.

Dreitzler did not respond to inquiries by the Sun.

District C

In District C, Barber, 65, a retired school administrator with 28 years experience in elementary education, is a mother of four and a grandmother of four. She is a Clark County School District Hall of Fame Award recipient.

Barber holds a master's in elementary education and is a member of the Clark County Elementary School Principals Association and the State PTA. Barber feels that increasing student achievement is the most important task. Eliminating wasteful spending is another top priority.

Her opponents are Donald Fondriasopolous; Ruth J. Spear, 52, and Beatrice Turner, 40.

Spear, a housewife and mother of four, believes the role of parents in education is the most important issue for the district.

Turner says upgrading older schools and ensuring smaller class sizes are among the key issues facing the district. She also believes teachers should receive higher pay.

Fondriasopolous did not respond to inquiries by the Sun.

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