Editorial: Don’t settle for status quo

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006 | 7:53 a.m.

The overwhelming majority of this community has long wanted a genuine change in how our schools are run. It appeared this week that educational reformer Eric Nadelstern, chief academic officer for new schools in New York City, had an excellent chance of being named the new superintendent of public schools in Clark County. Nadelstern would have provided that change.

Even though it seemed likely that he would be approved on a 4-3 vote by the Clark County School Board when it met this Friday, Nadelstern dropped out of the race on Wednesday. He didn't believe that, if he won by a split vote, there would be enough of a mandate for him to accomplish the serious changes he would have sought.

Nadelstern's withdrawal is a shame. That leaves only the other finalist, Walt Rulffes, interim co-superintendent of schools in Clark County. We have nothing bad to say about Rulffes, but we have no enthusiasm for him. He has done an acceptable job for the School District, but he certainly isn't the visionary and reformer that is desperately needed now.

As we noted last week, our schools should be doing better -- much better -- than they are now. Too many students drop out and, for those who do get a degree, there is a question as to how much a significant portion of them are learning. For instance, last year 37 percent of Clark County high school graduates entering Nevada's colleges and universities required remedial courses before they could do college-level work. Even more telling is that one out of three Millennium Scholarship recipients had to complete at least one remedial course.

Does the School Board truly think this is acceptable -- and something to be proud of? This is an embarrassment.

Now that Nadelstern has removed himself as a candidate, we are sure that some members of the School Board will want to rush forward and make Rulffes the next superintendent. But the School Board should not coronate Rulffes on Friday. Second best isn't good enough -- not by a long shot, especially when we are talking about our children's future. Indeed, sometimes the best hire is the one you never made.

The search should start over. This community wants the best and shouldn't settle for anything less. Rulffes would be more of the same, while Nadelstern promised an exciting new direction, one where principals and teachers had more freedom to do their jobs -- and less interference from district headquarters. His fresh ideas included getting greater involvement from parents, a key to student achievement.

The real impediments to reform are the members of the School Board who don't want to shake up our educational system and try something new. Taking the easy way out, and hiring someone who is a nice guy and a comfortable fit, isn't good enough. Rather than seeking out the best candidate, the sad fact is that some members of the School Board were looking for reasons why not to choose a reformer such as Nadelstern.

The children of this valley deserve to have a superintendent of schools who will seek no less than excellence -- from every student. That means expecting the best from students, and making sure that they are engaged in an education that is both rigorous and intellectually stimulating. And in turn that means giving teachers and principals more flexibility -- with accountability, too, so that we get results.

There is still time to make the changes needed, but in order to do so that will require the School Board to do the right thing and start the search over for a new superintendent of schools.