Editorial: Goodbye to breakup of schools

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 10 a.m.

It was welcome news to learn this week that state Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany will withdraw her initiative petition to break up the Clark County School District. The Henderson Republican had contended that the Clark County School District, the sixth-largest in the nation, was too big to be run efficiently. This was a case, however, where smaller wasn't necessarily better. While Tiffany maintained that the state's per-pupil funding formula wouldn't change, there was a genuine concern that a breakup could lead to children from affluent parts of the valley receiving a better education than students from economically disadvantaged areas.

So why did Tiffany give up now, especially since she collected the signatures of 48,980 Nevadans? Tiffany said that her goal was essentially achieved now that Superintendent Carlos Garcia plans to divide the district organizationally into regions, with each having a semi-autonomous superintendent. It also should be mentioned that Tiffany's withdrawal may have more to do with a decision to declare victory now -- and get out before the secretary of state found her petition was deficient.

Tiffany had been unable so far to demonstrate that she had met an arduous condition to get this matter before the Legislature and, ultimately, before Clark County voters themselves. Tiffany had to collect the signatures of 10 percent of the registered voters in 13 counties. She met this requirement in 12 counties, but Mineral County officials said she came up short there. Later this week the Nevada secretary of state's office was going to take a second look to see if Tiffany had met the 10 percent requirement in Mineral County as she claimed, but there had been no indication that she would get final approval.

Whatever the motive was behind Tiffany's decision to end the petition drive, this potentially divisive issue should be put behind us, allowing the school district to focus on what is most important -- working to bring a quality education to all the students of Clark County.