Lawmakers urge school named for Perkins

Kirsten Searer

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 | 9:29 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Legislature approved a resolution Monday urging the Clark County School District to name a school after controversial former Superintendent Claude Perkins.

Perkins was superintendent for three years but resigned after making remarks about teacher compensation that he has since said he regrets.

Legislators remembered him Monday as an administrator who helped desegregate the school district, beef up the dress code and strengthen academic requirements. He also pushed for vocational schools.

"He was the first and only African-American (superintendent of Clark County schools)," said Sen. Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, one of several black members of the Assembly who spoke in favor of the resolution.

Horsford said he hopes the district will name a vocational school planned for North Las Vegas after Perkins.

Perkins often clashed with Clark County trustees and teachers' unions during his short tenure, once reportedly saying that his only responsibility to teachers "is to pay them and provide them with a place to work. Providing them with a daily massage and a whorehouse is not my job."

Perkins is now the associate vice president for academic affairs at Albany State University in Georgia.

He traveled to Carson City on Monday to accept a copy of the resolution, saying he was stronger at ensuring all students have access to education than he was at politics.

Perkins pointed out that, during his tenure, he increased the number of minority and female administrators and won a 32 percent salary increase for teachers.

Students attending a school named after him might learn the lessons of his career, he said.

"It's important for students to know that access and opportunity should be available for all persons in the state," Perkins said.

Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, said that naming a school after Perkins will remind the students there about the importance that everyone has an integrated and fair education.

Assemblyman Harvey Munford, D-Las Vegas, said, "Naming a school after him is long overdue."

Gov. Kenny Guinn, a former Clark County superintendent who originally brought Perkins to Nevada to help desegregate schools, already has spoken in favor of naming a school after Perkins. The Caucus of African-American Nevadans and other community groups also have been lobbying in his favor.