LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Monday, Oct. 16, 2006 | 7:25 a.m.

At Thursday's School Board meeting, members put off voting on a proposal that would award flags to schools that score well on standardized tests or show significant improvement. The proposal, which would hand out flags to more than 180 campuses, would cost between $7,000 and $40,000, depending on the materials used.

The proposal drew criticism as the district faces what many consider a more pressing issue - a shortage of as many as 24 School Police officers.

Even though the agenda item was pulled, some audience members were still prepared to express their opinions.

And how best to illustrate their argument?

By holding up flags, of course.

"Police, not flags," read the hand-painted white banners.

Some observers may hate it, but auditors hired by the Legislature had high praise for the School Board's management style.

Auditors singled out the "policy governance" model for praise, saying it "clearly focuses on providing leadership in promoting high student achievement and supporting administration, teaching and learning in a manner consistent with this purpose."

Under the trademarked system, created by management expert John Carver, the superintendent functions like the chief executive of a corporation. The School Board sets objectives for the superintendent but doesn't become involved in the day-to-day means of reaching those goals.

Of the nation's largest school districts, 15 have a chief of staff to assist the superintendent with day-to-day operations.

"I'm going to be the 16th," Clark County Schools Superintendent Walt Rulffes said.

A new audit, commissioned by the Legislature, recommended the district add a chief-of-staff position. That would free Rulffes from some of the more mundane tasks of running his office.

"It's a very common function in larger organizations," Rulffes said.

The recommendation could be followed without hiring a new administrator. Rulffes said plans to rearrange job responsibilities among staff already on the payroll and choose one person as his chief.

Clark County is the nation's fifth-largest school district. The top four - New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami-Dade County - all have chiefs of staff.

It looks like Carlos Garcia, former Clark County schools superintendent, isn't leaving town just yet. On Wednesday the Los Angeles Board of Education chose David Brewer, a recently retired Navy vice admiral, as its new superintendent.

Garcia, who resigned from his Clark County post in 2005 to become a vice president with textbook giant McGraw-Hill, was on a short list of candidates for the L.A. job. He spent the bulk of his 30-plus years in public education working in California schools.

When it comes to thriftiness on the School Board campaign trail, District E candidate Steve Greco has everyone beat.

He has spent nary a nickel since deciding to run against incumbent Terri Janison.

Greco says by not accepting contributions, he's guaranteed not to be in the pocket of people who might seek to curry favor with the School Board. But his lack of advertising may mean he's not in the minds of voters when they head to the polls.