Editorial: How does this make sense?

Friday, Jan. 26, 2007 | 8:45 a.m.

S o now we know: Gov. Jim Gibbons is making it up as he goes along.

After dropping a bombshell on state educators in his State of the State address on Monday by calling for $60 million for 100 "empowerment" schools, he and his staff inexcusably could not provide specifics to questions about his plan.

Why? Apparently because there are no details to show.

That was clear Wednesday at a session held for lawmakers and education leaders led by Michael Strembitsky, the architect of the Canadian empowerment plan that Gibbons wants to adopt.

"I'm actually here to learn like the rest of us," Gibbons told the audience, as reported in Thursday's Las Vegas Sun. "I have a peripheral knowledge of the program. As we fill out the details I'm going to be a big cheerleader for the program."

The governor failed to do his homework on a plan that would cost the taxpayers $60 million? Real plans have specific details. "Peripheral knowledge" is not a plan, nor should it become public policy.

The concept of giving school principals and their staffs more control sounds good, but overhauling the education system needs to be planned and tested so it can be tailored to Nevada and so lawmakers can be assured it is worth funding. The Clark County School District, which consulted with Strembitsky, among others, rolled out a pilot empowerment program last fall and should have some results soon.

The Legislature approved a pilot plan for all-day kindergarten two years ago, which has proved a success. Gibbons shot down a proposal to expand all-day kindergarten, saying the "fiscally responsible approach" would be to continue studying it. Now he wants to spend $60 million on a plan of which he only has a "peripheral knowledge."

In his speech, the governor said education needs "bold and decisive leadership." We have yet to see him come close.