Education panel seeks policy input
Governance of K-12 education in Nevada is a patchwork of independent councils and commissions, each tasked with oversight of areas such as professional standards, parental involvement and technology.
Because the responsibilities are so dispersed, K-12 educational governance has become "mind-boggling," said Charlotte Hill, a Las Vegas representative on the Nevada Board of Education, which met Thursday.
"It's so complicated there's no accountability," added Zhan Okuda-Lim, 16, the student representative to the state Board of Education.
Because the smaller groups have taken over so much responsibility for setting policy, Hill complained that the members of the state Board of Education feel like their function is to implement the decisions of other groups. During the meeting, the state Board of Education devised a recommendation to change that.
A proposal from Nevada Superintendent of Schools Keith Rheault to eliminate many of the commissions and transfer their authority to the state Board of Education was approved and will go to a legislative commission studying educational governance reform. That commission will report to lawmakers in the 2011 session.
Rheault also suggested that the board expand its membership to 11 so Northern Nevada would not lose a seat if the 2010 Census shows more population growth in Southern Nevada.
Board member Dave Cook said the board should increase its membership to 13. Cook, who represents the Carson City area, said the Board of Education districts should be contiguous with the state's Board of Regents, which oversees higher education and has 13 members.
This morning the board will evaluate the performance of Rheault, who will complete six years as state superintendent in March. He is paid $120,000 annually. A new three-year term would extend his tenure to 2013.
