R-J endorsements: Clark County School Board, Nevada Board of Education

Aside from the struggling economy, education is without question the top concern of Nevada taxpayers. To say the state's K-12 public schools have underachieved over the years is being kind. And we know money alone can't make our schools better. Nevada also needs better education policies and better leaders.

In this regard, the state has turned a corner over the past two years. Nevadans elected a governor, Republican Brian Sandoval, who is committed to education reform. Gov. Sandoval has appointed a reformer, James Guthrie, as state superintendent. Reformers have taken the helm of the state's two largest school districts: Dwight Jones in Clark County and Pedro Martinez in Washoe County. These men know higher expectations and accountability will lead to higher achievement.

Candidates for the Clark County School Board and the State Board of Education won't get much attention this election cycle, but their races are critical. They have the ability to keep our school systems on a path toward improvement, in support of Gov. Sandoval and Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Jones and Mr. Martinez, or revert to the status quo of the reform-resistant establishment.

With that in mind, the Review-Journal offers the following endorsements:

In School Board District A, Board Vice President Deanna Wright is seeking re-election against construction administrator Kevinn Donovan. Mr. Donovan is a fine candidate, a "middle-ground guy" who wants the School Board to be more assertive in solving problems. Ms. Wright, on the other hand, came into office in 2008 through the support of the teachers union - yet she stood up to the union in supporting Mr. Jones for superintendent. This state needs more elected officials who have the courage to cross public employee unions and endure their wrath. She supports major collective bargaining reforms to do away with "evergreen" clauses that roll over previous terms during prolonged contract disputes, saying it's the difference between "negotiating versus being held hostage." The Review-Journal endorses Deanna Wright.

Trustee Chris Garvey is seeking re-election in District B against Rose Moore. Ms. Garvey supported the hiring of Mr. Jones and is excited to see the district push for more academic rigor. She says the school district has much better engagement with businesses and parents under Mr. Jones and current trustees. "We have a new leader and a new direction. ... I think he's done an excellent job," she said. Chris Garvey gets the nod.

The voters of School Board District E will choose between retired attorney Patrice Tew and local accountant and business manager Jim Clinton, who vows to avoid running up additional school district debt. Ms. Tew stresses her accessibility, but Mr. Clinton, 44 and with three children in the schools, would bring some much-needed business and financial acumen to a board that oversees a $2 billion budget. He favors Mr. Jones' "growth model" for measuring student achievement and believes outsourcing school district landscaping could save money that would be better spent in classrooms. Jim Clinton is the better choice.

The State Board of Education has changed since the 2010 election. It now has just four elected members, one from each congressional district. The board still establishes the curriculum and governing policies for state public schools, and it will have a say in enacting new teacher evaluation standards.

In District 1, Alexis Gonzales-Black is opposed by Forrest Darby. Ms. Gonzales-Black, a former teacher, is one of the finest candidates we've interviewed for any office. She says the best way to lift student achievement is to "put an excellent teacher in the classroom," but she laments that "we don't use data to fix anything," and that public education is plagued by huge inefficiencies. The charter school supporter envisions using her office to build relationships with lawmakers and champion reforms. The Review-Journal endorses Alexis Gonzales-Black.

In District 3, Allison Serafin faces Ed Klapproth. Voters have the luxury of choosing between two people who are passionate about education. Mr. Klapproth, an instructor at the College of Southern Nevada, has personally witnessed the deterioration in students' basic proficiencies. He believes you build self-esteem in kids by challenging them, and he supports school choice to help accomplish that. Ms. Serafin, meanwhile, has one of the most compelling personal stories in this year's election. She dropped out of high school out of boredom before finding her way to college, a teaching career and a mission to reform schools. She envisions pushing kids harder by "having hard conversations" with teachers about their strengths and weaknesses. She says evaluations are about turning good teachers into great ones, and great teachers can turn around poor-performing schools. "It's going to take a major shift in thinking to get us there. ... I've seen first-hand what it takes to end educational inequity. I know this is possible." The Review-Journal endorses Allison Serafin.