LETTERS: Judge gives Rocha rightful sentence

To the editor:

On July 1, District Judge Susan Johnson sentenced Priscilla Rocha to serve four to 10 years for stealing cash and property from the Clark County School District (“Ex-CCSD official gets prison term,” July 2 Review-Journal). Rocha was a senior official with CCSD. She was convicted of brazen thefts over many years, totaling about $300,000.

Rocha’s problem stemmed from her basic failure to understand the difference between money and equipment belonging to CCSD versus money and other assets belonging solely to her. And Rocha still doesn’t get it. At her sentencing hearing, she proclaimed, “Everything I did, I did out of passion for my community and the disadvantaged children. It’s not fair that they’re punishing me for all the years of advocacy. …That hurts me.”

Fortunately for we the taxpayers, Rocha got exactly what she deserved. She was never a philanthropist. She was just a thief. And contrary to what Rocha might think, Judge Johnson didn’t sentence her “for all her years of advocacy.” The judge sentenced her for the theft of $300,000 of taxpayer money, and that’s fair.

HENRY SOLOWAY

LAS VEGAS

ESAs lack accountability

To the editor:

For years, I have read editorials in the Review-Journal proclaiming the importance of school accountability. But with the passing of Education Savings Accounts, it appears that those numerous editorials are quickly forgotten, with private schools now able to receive public funds. If private schools receive public funds, they should be held to the same accountability system as public schools, such as high-stakes state testing, star rankings and the possibility of turnaround designation or being turned into a charter school.

In order for ESAs to have a positive impact on students, parents and state leaders must have data on all schools’ performance, so that they can make an informed decision. Without ratings similar to the Clark County School District’s star system, how are parents supposed to decide which private school to send their child to after they receive ESA funds? Will the state be able to keep students from using ESA funds at low-performing private schools if they are found to be a one-star school?

The R-J’s editorial board and Nevada lawmakers are treating private schools as above accountability and automatically better than public schools, without any evidence. Different and private does not necessarily equate to better, and research has shown that most of the private school advantage has to do with the students’ background, not some magic curriculum or instructional practice.

Without private schools being held to the same standard as public schools, ESAs will have very limited impact, especially for our low-income students with limited private school options.

JONATHAN SYNOLD

HENDERSON

Henderson city manager

To the editor:

I just read an article regarding the six finalists for the position of Henderson’s next city manager (“Six finalists named after search,” July 2 Review-Journal). There was a lot of information given, but one crucial factor seems to have been omitted: which of the six gentlemen is related to Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen?

JANET PETTIT

HENDERSON

Sebelius on Sanders

To the editor:

Kudos to Steve Sebelius for his column on Bernie Sanders (“Sanders is the real deal,” June 21 Review-Journal). Mr. Sebelius favorably compared Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders with Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Sen. Sanders will get my vote. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to again have a government (and a president, either Democrat or Republican) whose creed is “of the people, by the people and for the people”? Instead, our government seems to think it is “of the politicians, by the politicians and for the politicians.”

If the people see fit to elevate Sen. Sanders to president, he should address two more important items. First, pursue an amendment for term limits on all government offices.

Second, introduce a bill prohibiting all lobbyists from setting foot inside government’s hallowed halls. Seriously, it’s time we found that “big stick” that Teddy Roosevelt alluded to a long time ago and put it to good use again.

You cannot use U.S. dollars in an attempt to buy respect. Our government seems to do everything with our tax dollars except help those who paid the taxes.

BILL GOLAS

LAS VEGAS