Question raised over School Board criteria

By Emily Richmond

Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005 | 8:40 a.m.

Clark County School Board members spent several meetings devising the process for filling the District E seat vacated by Denise Brodsky, including how the interviews would be conducted and what types of questions would be asked.

But there was no discussion of what qualities and characteristics might carry more weight over others or if finding someone similar to Brodsky was the primary goal.

Community advocate Terri Janison was one of 15 applicants considered by the board. Energy engineer James Blink and architecture professor Arnold Stalk, along with Janison, were named finalists and were interviewed individually by the board during a public meeting.

State statute requires School Board members to live within the district they are elected to represent, and they must be registered voters. But there are no other requirements as far as personal or professional experience.

Craig Walton, Nevada Center for Public Ethics president, called the School Board's selection process fair and open. However the School Board could have gone further in making its selection criteria known, Walton said.

"They could have said, 'We're looking for a replacement bulb for Denise Brodsky' or 'We have people with strengths in A, B and C -- let's look for someone with strengths in X, Y and Z,' " Walton said. "Then the public would know exactly on what grounds the decision was made."

School Board President Larry Mason said he believed his fellow School Board members expressed their opinions at the appropriate time -- prior to the vote in a public meeting, after applicants had been evaluated and interviewed.

"I don't think you could have gotten all six of us to agree to some kind of general statement of what we wanted (in an applicant)," Mason said. "We are all individuals with diverse opinions. We kept our minds open, and I think that brought us more applicants."

In nominating Janison, School Board Vice President Ruth Johnson called her the applicant most likely to represent the interests of District E voters in the manner they wanted when they re-elected Brodsky in 2004. The appointment runs through the general election in November 2006. Janison said she plans to run at that time to serve the remaining two years of Brodsky's original term.

Brodsky identified Janison as her preferred successor in a July interview with the Sun, and Janison said Monday that having the early support of Brodsky likely worked in her favor. But so did her own activism on nutrition and wellness issues, lobbying efforts for school funding at the Legislature and regular participation in district activities and committees, Janison said.

While president of the District E parent action committee, Janison usually agreed with Brodsky's positions and votes on district regulations.

But Janison said people should not expect her to be a clone of her predecessor.

"I'm definitely a team player but I have strong convictions," said Janison. "I certainly won't roll over."

Janison was elected on a 4-1 vote with member Shirley Barber opposed. Member Sheila Moulton abstained.

Moulton said Monday she was looking for an individual who could be "a workable team player" on the board as well represent the interests of District E.

Stalk's experience in construction design, bond programs and fund raising was particularly impressive and would have been a unique addition, Moulton said.

"I was really torn," Moulton said Monday of her decision to abstain. "I felt Terri would be excellent, but I also believed it would have added to the diversity (of knowledge and experience) on the board if we chose Mr. Stalk."

Barber said her vote wasn't really in opposition to Janison but rather a statement of support for Blink, who she has known professionally since 1994. At that time Barber was principal of Fitzgerald Elementary School and Blink was one of a handful of Energy Department employees who volunteered to work with the school's at-risk students. He later went on to develop hands-on projects that have been used by science teachers throughout the state.

"He's extremely bright and has quite a reputation as far as being able to work with kids," Barber said.

But Janison, who is married to KLAS Channel 8 chief meteorologist Kevin Janison, also had a good reputation, Barber acknowledged.

"She was the one (applicant) everybody knew, and Denise mentioned her as someone she thought would do a good job -- I'm sure that carried a lot of weight," Barber said. "From what I've seen so far Mrs. Janison is a very fine choice and I'm looking forward to working with her."

Emily Richmond can be reached at 259-8829 or at [email protected].