Behind closed doors

Nevadans pour billions of tax dollars into hundreds of schools every year, trust that their children will receive the instruction necessary to master core subjects, and provide a living to tens of thousands of teachers and other workers. It goes without saying that the public has a compelling interest in education.

That's why the word "public" is put before "education" and "schools" to describe the institutions and campuses overseen by the state.

So you'd assume the public would be privy to the discussions and deliberations of Gov. Jim Gibbons' Education Reform Blue Ribbon Task Force. The 28-member panel is creating recommendations for the state's application for $175 million in federal Race to the Top grants, as well as broader policy suggestions for improving public education amid declining tax revenues.

But the task force met in secret Friday at Wynn Resorts. Gaming executive Elaine Wynn co-chairs the task force with Dan Klaich, the chancellor of the Nevada Higher Education System. Dan Burns, Gov. Gibbons' spokesman, said the public could be kept out of the meeting because the panel receives no tax money and because its work is advisory in nature. An opinion from the attorney general supports the task force's desire for secrecy.

Why anyone asked to rethink public education would want to do so in private is beyond us. This is the public's business, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada reminded Gov. Gibbons of as much on Monday in asking him to open future task force meetings.

Principle aside, Nevada's open meeting law clearly applies to the task force. The law says any body that "advises or makes recommendations to any entity which expends or disburses or is supported in whole or part by tax revenue" must meet in the open.

It's pretty clear that public and media attention will make some members of the task force uncomfortable. Mr. Burns said "If you let the media and paparazzi in, then you lose control."

Paparazzi? Is Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan on the task force? Anyone who accepted an appointment to the task force should know that public scrutiny is part of making public policy suggestions. If they don't want that scrutiny, they should resign and let someone with a little more courage carry out the task force's mission.

Gov. Gibbons should order the panel's meetings open to the public. Today.