Protesters complain about Edison at School Board

Terry Webster

Friday, Aug. 24, 2001 | 10:12 a.m.

A protest over Edison Schools' arrival in the Clark County School District ended Thursday night with police escorting a group of community activists from the Education Center board room.

The country's largest for-profit school management firm, Edison will oversee seven schools in the district, starting this school year.

Edison has moved equipment and supplies into the schools and is holding training sessions for staff.

The protest began during the public-comment portion of Thursday's School Board meeting.

Led by the Rev. Jesse Leo Wesley, pastor of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, West Las Vegas protesters, dressed in black, carried a small white satin coffin filled with African American dolls into the board room. Upon the coffin's arrival, School Board president Mary Beth Scow called for a five-minute recess.

"We are in mourning because you kidnapped our schools," community activist Lucille Bryant said.

Others said they felt the district was shirking its duties in allowing Edison to manage the schools.

"The board members were elected to oversee the schools, not Edison," said Wesley.

Community activist Marzette Lewis said Edison was forced on West Las Vegas without any input from the community.

Speakers also pointed to reports throughout the country that criticize Edison's performance.

School officials have said Edison Schools in the district were chosen based on the level of interest by school principals.

Las Vegas Councilman Lawrence Weekly addressed the board about the district's magnet school program.

During his comments, he also noted that neighbors around Charles I. West Middle School, one of the Edison Schools, are upset about the firm coming into the district.

As Superintendent Carlos Garcia began responding, some of the protesters interrupted Garcia as he spoke.

The School Board and Garcia have maintained that Edison can provide a curriculum, teacher training and technology that the district can't afford.

Garcia said the schools' performance has been low, and it's time action was taken.

Scow warned speakers they would be removed if they continued talking. When the comments kept coming, she called for school police to escort the protesters out of meeting.

"You're pushing my baby,"one of them shouted as two officers shuffled the group from the meeting.

An officer threatened to use pepper spray as protesters continued talking on their way out the door.

In April, the School Board unanimously approved a five-year contract for Edison to manage West Middle School and Cahlan, Crestwood, Lincoln, Lynch, Park and Ronnow Elementary Schools.