‘YES’ ON QUESTION NO. 2: Children deserve schools that are not falling apart

As a local resident, business professional and nonprofit board member, I'm acutely aware that education is one of the cornerstones of a strong community. Good schools do more than build community pride and enhance our neighborhoods - they are often a factor for companies deciding where to locate. An educated workforce is imperative, as is the ability to attract workers who will seek quality education for their children.

The importance of education to the vibrancy of our local community is one reason that I support Question 2, a temporary 21-cent property tax increase to fund needs at schools in the Clark County School District. I also support it because all children who call Southern Nevada home deserve equitable and operational schools in which to learn.

The school district is on the right path for education reform under the leadership of Superintendent Dwight Jones, and with the support of the Board of Trustees. The community is just beginning to see the results of the efforts taking place in our schools, from improved test scores to higher graduation rates.

Quality education relies on great teachers teaching a challenging curriculum, but it starts with the learning environment - the building, classrooms and infrastructure that provide an educational environment conducive to learning.

The proposed capital projects that would be funded by the passage of Question 2 focus on basic needs, such as reliable air conditioning, sufficient electrical and suitable security systems, at schools built decades ago. Those schools were built long before today's student counts, equipment efficiencies and technological expectations were in the realm of possibilities.

All our schools should support technology for teaching and learning, and the proposed plan includes meeting a portion of those needs. Today's business operations rely on technology, and companies demand tech-savvy employees, so students must learn and apply those skills in school now. Moreover, technology-based educational tools provide access to greater information and learning applications that challenge and engage this generation like never before.

If you think technology in schools should be optional, try taking away your child's smartphone or ask your grandchild to explain an electronic math game to you, and you will quickly see that technology is a necessity for today's classroom.

Some schools have enough age, wear and needed repairs that it makes good business sense to replace them with more efficient and effective structures. While there may be a dozen such sites throughout the valley, the school district included just two in the proposed plan.

Wisely, the Board of Trustees chose a smaller, short-term plan to deal with a fraction of the most pressing identified needs at a time when economic recovery is still gaining momentum. And the use of a pay-as-you-go funding plan means the district won't incur long-term debt, which is why the request for a tax increase is for only six years. It also means that every penny of the funds generated will be spent on school improvement projects - that's a good value for Clark County voters.

Years of record-breaking growth drew families by the thousands to the greater Las Vegas area. Many of us moved here for the lure of a new job or the promise of a new start, and our community enjoys international appeal. The school district built 10 or more schools per year since the 1980s just to have enough seats for the children moving to Clark County.

Yet certain areas of the valley have attracted families with school-age children, resulting in crowded schools. The proposed levy would provide two future schools to relieve pockets of crowded schools.

As the economy and local population growth slowed during the past few years, residents collectively have concentrated on building a sense of community and our quality of life. Education, then, receives renewed attention and a greater expectation, as the school district turns its attention to ensuring that students have equitable learning environments regardless of where they live.

I love this great city and am proud to call it home. I personally have seen the needs in our primary and secondary schools, and I support the Clark County School District's Question 2.

The schools are public assets - our assets - serving students who are our future. Supporting Question 2 is a true investment in the future of our community.

Don Snyder is dean of UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration.