Task force to tackle education issues

CARSON CITY -- A bipartisan task force that will propose ways to modernize public education and assist in preparing the state application for a $175 million federal education grant was appointed Monday by Gov. Jim Gibbons.

"The task force members have the innovation and determination to modernize Nevada's education system and provide the work force for our future," Gibbons said in signing the executive order creating the group at a Carson City school.

In response to a reporter's question, Gibbons said the task force will not propose tax increases for education but rather new ideas to improve public schools.

He said he will include the panel's recommendations when he prepares the state budget and other initiatives that will be presented to legislators in 2011.

Earlier Gibbons read "Duck For President" to second-graders at Bordewich-Bray Elementary School.

Gibbons' naming of the Education Reform Blue Ribbon Task Force comes just two months after he announced his own eight-point plan to reform public education.

Among his recommendations were ending mandatory requirements for class-size reduction and full-day kindergarten and temporarily suspending collective bargaining rights for school employees.

He also proposed allowing parents to receive state tax dollars to use to send their children to private schools.

Legislators, however, did not review Gibbons' education reform plan during the special legislative session that ended March 1

Named at co-chairs of the education task force were Elaine Wynn of Las Vegas, a director in Wynn Resorts, and Dan Klaich, chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The task force will have its first meeting Friday at Wynn Resorts.

Gibbons wants task force members to start a statewide dialogue on reforming the delivery of education.

The members include some of Gibbons' top critics, including Lynn Warne, president of the Nevada State Education Association.

Gibbons has requested that the task force prepare its recommendations by Nov. 19.

While he could be defeated in his bid for re-election, the outgoing governor traditionally develops at least the framework for the new budget and reform proposals for the incoming governor. Those recommendations also could be ignored by any new governor.

An initial duty of the education task force will be working on the Race to the Top education grant application that must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by June 1.

Under the application scoring system, state superintendent of public instruction Keith Rheault said, the state can pick up as much as 65 extra points if it has groups of individuals to help work on the application.

Each of the 15 states named as finalists for the first round of applications had task forces similar to the one formed by Gibbons, said Rheault, who will be a task force member.

Nevada could receive between $60 million and $175 million for innovative school programs if it receives a grant. Gibbons wants the task force to complete the Race to the Top application by May 21.

Among the 29 task force members are Sonya Horsford, an assistant professor in educational leadership at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who is the spouse of state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas; Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas; Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks; and Cheri Luna, a teacher in Clark County.

Klaich said he was taking the job of co-chair because his first grandchild will start elementary school in the fall.

"This is everything about higher education," added Klaich, noting the pupils in elementary school today will be students at Nevada's colleges and universities in the future.

While his task force won't be discussing "tax policy," Klaich noted other boards will -- namely the Vision Stakeholders Task Force that is assigned to come up with proposals by summer that will create a better state in the future.

Gibbons said he and Klaich attended public schools together in Sparks and later were fraternity brothers at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Nonetheless, Klaich has been a strong critic of Gibbons over his moves in 2009 and earlier this year to reduce state support for higher education.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@
reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.