2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT E

The Clark County School Board will change next year because northwest Las Vegas representative John Cole is bowing out.

His decision leaves the race for District E to a financial consultant, a middle school teacher, a retired attorney and a university administrator who all argue their backgrounds are of value to a district confronting challenges on many fronts.

"It's a wide open race," said candidate and University of Nevada, Las Vegas administrator Jose Melendrez, a 2010 finalist in the School Board's replacement process for a District E representative, a position that ultimately went to Cole.

Melendrez recognized the "positive direction" that the district has taken with its wave of recent reforms to increase accountability for student performance. However, parent involvement needs to be stepped up, he said, mentioning that the district's office for parental engagement consists of one person.

Candidate and attorney Patrice Tew also wants to increase parental involvement, suggesting that they need to be more in the loop and receive regular updates on their child's performance.

"Parent involvement is the No. 1 factor for success," said Tew, who has been active with PTA and has led the district's advisory committee on sexual education.

Tew said she realizes the district is trying to improve with reduced resources and needs to "come at this differently."

She said it's difficult to ask teachers take a pay freeze, but it's fiscally responsible to keep as many teachers in the classroom and prevent layoffs. The teachers union successfully opposed a pay freeze this school year, something all other district employees accepted.

Zakeisha Jones, candidate and former Clark County teacher of eight years, understands the financial logic but says the union's resistance was a sign of an underlying problem.

"It's just a cry for help," she said, noting that teachers are already struggling and are pleading, "Don't take anything away."

Money is the root of many district dilemmas, which is why the School Board is going to the voters for a $669 million levy to maintain its 357 schools. Candidate and nonprofit financial consultant James Clinton advocated increased efficiency in "using the money we have," but wasn't against asking voters to raise their property tax rate to fund school maintenance and renovations.

Jones also supported going to voters to support school construction and maintenance needs.

"People think the school system is only their problem if they have kids in school," she said, countering that an educated youth population improves the local economy, attracts businesses and cuts down on crime.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.