Making the grade: Jim Rogers

By Emily Richmond

Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006 | 9:18 a.m.

Rogers has been far from silent on the search for a new Clark County schools superintendent. Early in the process, he offered to supplement the district's salary offer of $290,000 in order to attract a "superstar."

The Council for a Better Nevada then launched its own parallel search for candidates. One of the group's recruits, New York City educator Eric Nadelstern, was one of two finalists selected. But after hosting five of the seven School Board members in New York City, Nadelstern withdrew from consideration.

In an interview with the Sun, Rogers talked about why he has become so deeply vested in the success of the district's K-12 education system, the fallout from Nadelstern's withdrawal and what he views as the council's future role in Clark County.

The Council for a Better Nevada took an active -- and some say uninvited -- role in the superintendent search. The council also sent community representatives to tag along on the School Board's visit to New York City. Following Nadelstern's withdrawal, the council's executive director sent the group's members an e-mail that sharply criticized the School Board. Rogers, though, said he has no regrets about the group's level of involvement in the search process.

"You have two choices. If you do nothing, nothing gets done. If you do anything, you get criticized for invading somebody else's territory. Between the two, I'd rather take the criticism. The reason I'm involved in this is this is my town, too. I've lived here 52 years. The council shouldn't be distressed by the criticism that's been laid on it. It was to be expected."

Rogers said he spoke with Walt Rulffes Thursday prior to the School Board's selection of him as the new superintendent to offer his assurances that he would continue to work closely with him on K-16 education issues.

"This isn't about a war between Walt Rulffes and the Council for a Better Nevada. This is a debate over how things should be developed to best serve kids. I like Walt, I respect Walt and we get along very well. Thought the other guy (Nadelstern) would be a better superintendent and (had) a viable, long-range plan for reforms and improvements."

According to the district's most recent accountability report, the graduation rate for the class of 2004 was 62.7 percent and the total dropout rate was 6.7 percent. Rogers said he believes the numbers are even worse today.

"The results of all of the district's testing indicate they have serious problems. They have 25,000 students start as freshmen in high school and only 10,000 graduate four years later. Those who do go on to college need remediation.

"There is something terribly wrong in their methodology for educating kids. I understand we have problems that are different from other places in the United States. Maybe we do have a higher non-English speaking student population. But there must be a better way than the course this district is on. There are people who say 'Oh, we're better than we were,' but that is no excuse. We have been too satisfied with improving on mediocrity. That is not a standard."

Nadelstern would have brought radical change and reform to what has become a stagnant enterprise, Rogers said. But the New York City educator did not believe he would have the support he needed from the School Board, Rogers said.

"I'm very disappointed. We went through this whole search process, spent a lot of time and it fell to pieces. Eric Nadelstern is a superstar and this School Board didn't recognize it.

"I can understand his concerns because even if he had a majority vote, the minority on a 4-3 decision can kill you. Here's a parallel. I have 13 regents. If everything I brought to them that I thought was substantive, if I didn't get at least an 11-2 vote, I had serious issues down the road. If I started to get 7-6 decisions I would have a real problem. The six regents who are not satisfied are going to keep me from moving forward.

"In the presidential elections people talk about a mandate from the public. A simple majority is not a mandate and you never really get things done."

Rogers admits that he is not impressed with the Clark County School Board, noting that what he saw of its search for a new superintendent did nothing to improve his opinion of its members:

"The group is very unsophisticated. If you have a sophisticated board, in a business, the six understand that the fact that they lost the vote is not as important as the company moving forward. Professionals can handle minority votes.

"With Eric, his ideas were so different, it wasn't like changing speed from 60 to 65. It was 60 to 135 and making sharp left and right turns at the same time. He realized, 'No matter what I do, they'll be throwing the anchor out of the ship every time.' "

Rogers suggested School Board members would pay for their lack of outright support of reform at the ballot box later this year.

"The public has got to make two decisions. Does it want to keep this very ordinary, unsuccessful way of doing things, where mediocrity seems to be accepted, or look at this board and say we need new members who have better qualities? My guess is it's going to be a rebuilt board."

When Brian Cram retired as Clark County's superintendent in 1999, Rogers volunteered to serve as an interim replacement. He recalled the response he received after making his offer to School Board members Mary Beth Scow and current President Ruth Johnson.

"There were icicles hanging from the ceiling. These people are not risk-takers in any sense of the word. They are scared and they are conservative. For someobody like me or Nadelstern talking to them, it's like a foreign language. I don't want to run their damn schools but I want to get someone who can."

For the second consecutive year, more than 40 percent of Nevada high school graduates entering state colleges and universities needed extra help to perform college-level work, according to a report released earlier this month by the Nevada System of Higher Education. Clark County students fared only slightly better than the statewide average, with about 37 percent of local students needing remedial classes.

"We're taking their students who are not adequately prepared. It's a terrible burden on the whole state, on the whole economy. Education is about building a culture, so students become good citizens prepared to contribute to society. That's what it has to be all about."

As for the next legislative session, Rogers said if the Clark County School District expects a funding increase, it must be prepared to show both proof of progress and a long-term plan for reforms and improved performance.

"I think they probably do need more money, but they can always become more efficient. Central management is very expensive. The Legislature is like the rest of us when it comes to getting value for the dollar. When you pay for a $10 steak, you want a $10 steak.

"If the School District can show what its potential is for giving the public its money's worth, the lawmakers will come through. I've told Walt that I would be more than glad to help him when it comes time to pitch the big ideas and our lobbyist would help, too. We all want the same thing, what's best for students. And that's always going to be my bottom line."

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