CCSD board members back superintendent’s breakup plan

A majority of the Clark County School Board on Thursday defended a proposal from Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky to restructure the local school system, a plan that has yet to earn approval from a legislative committee tasked with oversight of the undertaking.

Skorkowsky's proposal, which has drawn criticism from education insiders, would split the country's fifth-largest school system into seven so-called "instructional precincts." It calls for the first of three phases to start this month.

"I think to implement a plan now is going to put schools in harm's way and create a significant disruption only to be repeated again when that committee completes its (plan)," Stephen Augspurger, head of the union representing district administrators, told the board during a meeting Thursday night where trustees considered taking action on the superintendent's plan. "We want to do this one time, and we want to do it right. I'm not clear where we're headed at this point."

While the board chose not to take action, at least five of six trustees backed Skorkowsky, who said his proposal puts school services closer to the communities they serve.

The Clark County School Board would retain most, if not all, of its existing power under the reorganization. Local precincts could lobby for changes, but only within a set of parameters set by the board last year.

"Lest there be any mistake, it's a response as a plan that was offered to begin a discussion, and it's not with the intent to circumvent public input," said Trustee Patrice Tew. "I think that there probably would have been more criticism mounted against a superintendent who sat passively by, waiting for the Legislature six months later to begin."

Contact Ana Ley at aley@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512. Find her on Twitter: @la__ley.