Letter: School problems must be tackled

Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001 | 8:48 a.m.

An endless list of issues troubles our Clark County School District and threatens the integrity of our children's education. Meanwhile, the school district drifts aimlessly, as though it is without direction and purpose.

Many concerned parents, educators and other community interests, trying to make a positive difference have attempted to provide input, only to repeatedly have ideas fall on deaf ears and business go on as usual. As a teacher in the Clark County School District, I know that very little change, resulting from this input, has occurred.

What should be an educational flagship for Nevada and the country has instead become a bureaucratic monster, plagued with scandal, entwined in closed-door agendas and appearing to have forgotten it's purpose ... our children's education!

Perhaps tough questions need to be asked by concerned families and community/state leaders with careful scrutiny of the school district responses.

Perhaps our school district leaders, responsible for improvement, should create an unbiased instrument to gather concerns from parents, educators and community/state leaders. Then, share the input they gather with all concerned bodies at an open public forum.

Perhaps our school district should work collaboratively with all concerned bodies to improve one of the nation's largest school districts and restore the integrity of Clark County's public education.

This may not be the entire answer to this problem, but it's a big step in the right direction.

BART BOULTON