SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT E

The race for Clark County School Board District E involves challengers who want revolutionary change versus an incumbent who sees progress but is not satisfied.

Caroline Sanchez-Rangen would start by selling "The Pink Palace," or the school district administration building on West Sahara Avenue near Decatur Boulevard.

"It's too much. We don't need it," she said.

Sanchez-Rangen also said she would make Superintendent Walt Rulffes sit facing the board during meetings, so he would be seen as an accountable employee and not as a peer who sits beside his bosses.

Sanchez-Rangen, who didn't finish college, said she would also change the district's governance policy, saying the protocol now used has compromised the School Board's oversight function.

As a special education assistant for the Clark County School District, Sanchez-Rangen would not quit her job if elected but would recuse herself from voting when conflicts of interest arise.

John W. Schutt Jr. is tired of watching "Nevada fall to the bottom in almost every category" of education. He wants to "make a difference for the students."

Schutt believes school leaders have become "self-serving," saying spending $11 million on administrative offices so the district could get out of leases was "absurd."

As an officer for the Metropolitan Police Department, Schutt said he would he use his professional background to improve security and save money, questioning why the district's school police force is needed when Las Vegas police officers are often called to patrol the schools.

Schutt has a bachelor's degree in government from California State University, Sacramento. He is working on a master's degree in political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Steve Greco said it's time to "clean house" at the district. He said he would fire top administrators in a "heartbeat."

Despite all the promises, nothing ever changes, said Greco, who has lived here for eight years and works as a financial services consultant.

"I feel sorry for the kids" who attend Clark County schools, said Greco, who has a two-year degree in finance from Triton College in River Grove, Ill. His goal would be to reduce class sizes.

Terri Janison, the incumbent, dismissed her opponents' criticism. She disagrees that the district has not been held accountable, noting that she pushed for a "quality assurance" report that spells out "in black and white" whether the administration has met goals.

Janison, who has a bachelor's degree in advertising from Western Kentucky University, said the district has accomplished a lot with very little in resources, such as improving the graduation rate and increasing the number of schools that meet benchmarks established under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Overall, Janison said, "Is there work to be done? Yes. Am I satisfied? No."

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