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Published Monday, March 15, 2010 | 10:50 a.m.
Updated Monday, March 15, 2010 | 1:55 p.m.
Sun Coverage
Gov. Jim Gibbons formed an education task force today to help guide the state's application for federal Race to the Top education grants and make recommendations for broader reforms to be enacted during the 2011 Legislature.
Las Vegas casino executive and education advocate Elaine Wynn and Nevada higher education Chancellor Dan Klaich will co-chair the task force. Both Wynn and Klaich are well-respected names in Nevada's education community. Their agreement to head the panel gives the committee some credibility and could represent a PR coup for Gibbons.
The makeup of the group suggests an attempt by Gibbons and his staff to reach out to one-time opponents.
Three classroom teachers, Democratic and Republican legislators, business leaders and the president of the teacher's union have agreed to be part of the 29-member committee, which will hold its first meeting Friday.
Some observers have seen a more rejuvenated Gibbons willing to compromise as he faces a June primary.
There are other groups, such as the Legislature's Vision Stakeholders group and legislative committee on education, that have also been looking at education issues.
But, Gibbons said, "This committee is less political."
Klaich, who was at the announcement with Gibbons at a Carson City elementary school, said the goal of the committee was to come up with a consensus. But, he added, "There's a difference between unanimity and consensus."
Gibbons says the goal is to prepare Nevada students to be the "intellectual infrastructure" for the future.
Their first challenge will be to coordinate Nevada's application for federal "Race to the Top" grants. The state faces a June 1 application deadline. Gibbons handed the pen used to sign the executive order forming the blue ribbon task force to the interim president of Bordewich Bray Elementary School.
"With this pen, you'll know that at your school the future of education in Nevada was begun," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Why not ask teachers to serve on this task force? It just seems that those who have NEVER taught are the first folks that are asked first to work on education problems..... Would you place truck drivers on a task force to look at medical problems in this state or would you ask doctors to serve on the task force? How about a task force on laws.... would you exempt lawyers and judges from serving on such a task force? It just seems ludicrous to exempt teachers from such a task force.
Elaine Wynn? Isn't that called pandering.
CCSDTeacher, you would think that teachers would make up a good portion of the "task force", kind of crazy if that isn't the case. I'm glad that the issue is getting attention, and Elaine Wynn seems to have good intentions and she's been involved with that After School All-Stars program, so I'm assuming/hoping she's qualified.
At the end of the day, I just want them to come up with some solutions and actually implement a successful strategy, instead of just complaining about poor performance, or begging for more money for the same failed programs.
Good luck, Elaine. We're depending on you to make some major progress.
People with educations have to leave the state half the time, another casino person, just what we don't need.
Task force big deal.
Simply amazing: Our "education governor" discovers the education issue mere months before an election...what a joke!
Elaine Wynn is a poor choice but Jim always makes poor choices with everything
I guess these endless announcements are a substitute for a campaign.
The gov. is trying to look like he is doing something in the days before the primary. Too bad he failed to do anything useful over the past 3 plus years.
I wonder if the Gibber is doing Elaine? Or maybe he is doing Dan and Elaine? Oh wait, he said he has not done anyone since 1995. My bad.
Silly 'ol man.
Three classroom teachers out of a 29-member committee? Some things will never change. No Gibbons, don't ask the people who are in the thick of it everyday on how to fix the problems in the schools. This guy just doesn't get it!