Another attendance boundary boondoggle
To the editor:
The Clark County School District's Attendance Zone Advisory Commission meets at 9:30 this morning to decide zoning changes for high schools in the southern valley.
What a mess -- the school district has placed three high schools within two miles of each other (Silverado, Coronado and Liberty). Coronado is crowded and Liberty is under-filled.
District administrators did not do their due diligence when locating these schools, but don't worry -- the school district will uproot my kids from the neighborhood school and bus them to the "under-utilized" school, thus saving face, even if still leaves Liberty "under-utilized." Who needs accountability? Is it any wonder taxpayers are hesitant to vote for more school bond money?
This practice has been going on for more than 15 years. The zoning is so messed up in this region, they have kids going to Coronado who are closer to three other high schools, some within walking distance. Wouldn't it make sense to zone the kids to go to their neighborhood schools? How much of the school district's $55 million transportation budget would that save?
If the School Board trustees and district administrators can't take a map and figure out how to get our kids into their neighborhood schools and preserve our sense of community, how can they be trusted with any aspect of a budget? There is no more money to cover up bureaucratic waste and mistakes. They can start by fixing the attendance zone problems. We need accountability from an extremely expensive, top-heavy administration.
It's time to get some business minds running this school district -- people who are used to being accountable for other people's money and capable of running a large organization. I wonder if any retired CEOs, bored with philanthropic work, would take on this challenge?
Gib Dawson
HENDERSON
Four for one
To the editor:
A man starts to work for an American automobile manufacturer at the age of 18. He retires after 20 years and collects almost all his wages and benefits.
Now 38, his 18-year-old son starts working at the same plant.
The son retires at 38 with the same benefits, and his son continues the cycle.
Next, his son continues the tradition.
The original employee is now 78 years old. The manufacturer is now paying four employees to install one fender on a car. How long would any business survive if it had to pay four people to do a job that could be done by one employee?
Bailout? I don't think so.
Ron D'Alessio
HENDERSON
Best and brightest
To the editor:
In response to Benjamin Spillman's Dec. 4 article "Taxpayers give money; LVCVA chief gets award":
What's wrong with a highly regarded and highly overpaid public servant such as Rossi Rollenkotter, president and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, randomly spending some of the lowly regarded taxpayer's money?
He has the support of a group of insiders masquerading as independent board members, who have made him one of the highest paid political appointees in the state. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, chairman of the convention authority's board of directors, attacks the Nevada Policy Research Institute, the messenger which uncovered this latest charade.
It is easy to criticize, so I will offer my solution:
The board should call a special meeting and vote to increase Mr. Rollenkotter's salary, as well as his expense account, as payback for bringing in all these visitors who are now jamming our casinos.
Then we can relax in the comfort of knowing that we are being governed by the best, the brightest and the most ethical.
EDWARD R. DUFFY
LAS VEGAS
Costs of going green
To the editor:
Every day in the newspaper, we read about environmentalists and their endeavors to clean up the world, regardless of how many people they hurt. Just save the bugs and the weeds and the fish -- to hell with the people.
Their latest accomplishment really floored me -- taking away the inexpensive asthma inhalers from the folks who need them.
Would someone please tell me how my using my inhaler, sticking it in my mouth in my bedroom, is destroying the ozone layer?
This wins the prize of the year for beyond ridiculous.
M.D. HILL
LAS VEGAS
Some nerve
To the editor:
Why is NV Energy advertising? It has captive consumers -- it's NV Energy or freeze to death in the dark, and it wants a 17.5 percent rate increase?
That request is kind of like flying into Washington on a private jet and asking for a federal bailout.
ROY WILLIAMS
LAS VEGAS
