SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT A

In Clark County School Board District A, 12-year incumbent and School Board Chairwoman Mary Beth Scow faces three challengers as well as a pending legal challenge to her re-election based on the state's term limits law.

Scow said she is proud of improving the Clark County School District's graduation rate and making the administration more financially efficient by running it according to business standards. Her biggest priority in her next term would be to "retain and recruit quality teachers" by raising pay and improving morale.

She has ideas about protecting the public schools against the next economic downturn. In good years, excess funds from state-designated sources of education revenue should be saved in a special fund for education emergencies. Currently, excess funds for education are diverted to the state's general fund.

Scow has a bachelor's degree in community health education from Brigham Young University.

Edward Goldman, associate superintendent of education services, is an insider with 28 years of experience in the district. He has a doctorate in education administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as two bachelor's degrees and two master's degrees.

Goldman said he has the institutional knowledge to get things done at a time when change is long overdue at the top.

"After 12 years, I believe a new perspective is needed," said Goldman, who would retire as a school employee if elected to the nonpartisan office.

A self-described visionary, Goldman said he has a record of innovation and no shortage of ideas, including staggered start-times for high school students to improve academic performance.

Goldman said he would know how to prioritize budget cuts. "There are things you can learn to live without," he said.

Deanna Wright, a homemaker, believes there's too much middle management and criticized the district for having plush office buildings while many students are going to school in portable classrooms. She said the district has lacked foresight.

Wright, who is a few credits shy of an associate degree in travel and tourism, said the school system also has lost its sense of academic priorities. She was disheartened to see a Halloween activity cut short because her child's teacher had so many other lessons to do.

"I would like the teachers to be more flexible with their week, instead of having to do everything every day," Wright said.

Steve Bergstrom, a tax consultant, said the over-emphasis on standardized tests is taking the fun out of education. He said a child's interest is what is going to spark learning. Bergstrom's son didn't become good at math until he started a taking a class in aviation at a magnet school and then realized "numbers are sexy."

Bergstrom, who has an associate degree in the administration of justice from Santa Rosa Community College in California, said he would use the School Board as a "pulpit" to advocate for alternatives to public school, such as vouchers, so children can attend private schools.

Because the district is so big, Bergstrom said he is open to the idea of making Henderson an independent school system.

He also said the district shares some blame for its financial crisis.

"I think it's naive to think there's not a lot of financial abuse," Bergstrom said.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-799-2922.