Parent questions spending for school consultant

The Clark County School District's decision to spend $84,000 plus travel expenses for an out-of-state consultant during a time of budget crisis was questioned Monday by a disbelieving parent.

"Couldn't we find somebody local and keep the dollars local?" Kevinn Donovan asked during a brief School Board meeting on the contract.

The Henderson father said he did not understand the purpose of paying a consultant for "strategic organizational development and planning" in the district.

"What does he do?" Donovan asked. "How does this large cost better my child or any child's ... education?"

The four School Board members who participated in the meeting -- Terri Janison, Carolyn Edwards, Mary Beth Scow and Sheila Moulton -- approved the expenditure, which comes at a time when Nevada schools face a reduction in promised state funding. Nevada now faces an unprecedented budget shortfall approaching $1 billion.

Dale Erquiaga of Phoenix-based Get Consensus LLC received a one-year extension on a contract to help execute district-level plans for school improvement and coordinate individual school improvement plans with district goals, officials said.

Erquiaga, who served as chief deputy under former Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller, also was paid $84,000 last year.

His contract helps the district meet state and federal guidelines that require school systems to hire auditors and consultants for outside oversight, said Associate Superintendent for Community Relations Joyce Haldeman.

Without Erquiaga's guidance, school officials said they are afraid the strategic plan would become no more than a book on a shelf, dusty from neglect.

Erquiaga is to meet with central administrators and school principals over the summer.

"We're at a critical stage," Haldeman said.

Trustees voiced concerns about consultant spending but did not question the effectiveness of Erquiaga, who has a long working history with the district and formerly worked for R&R Partners, a local firm, before moving to Phoenix.

Because of his familiarity with Clark County, Erquiaga is often hired to be "our independent eyes," Haldeman said.

"He's uniquely qualified," she said. "He knows Clark County inside and out."

"Consultant services have grown with No Child Left Behind," said Superintendent Walt Rulffes, referring to a 2001 federal act that mandated frequent testing and outside monitoring of school improvement.

Moulton asked if Erquiaga's contract could be cut by 20 percent. Rulffes did not commit to doing that but said school officials would review all consultant contracts.

"Given the crisis we're facing, we expect to get the best deals possible," Rulffes said.

Shortfalls in state revenues also have put cost-of-living increases at risk for teachers.

Erquiaga's contract runs through April 16, 2009. Haldeman said she initially did not think it needed board approval because the superintendent has the discretion to extend it. But officials in the district's purchasing department said the contract should still be brought before the board.

"They have keen eyes," Haldeman said. "I'm all for transparency."

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4686.