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by Scott Austin Jones
Oct 30, 2012
– Viewers of local television or the liberal press would think that Ballot Question 2: “Shall the Clark County School District be authorized to levy an additional property tax…?” is seemingly without opposition. Clark County School District (CCSD) would have you believe that only Scrooge- hearted cheapskates would deny our children repair o...See More– Viewers of local television or the liberal press would think that Ballot Question 2: “Shall the Clark County School District be authorized to levy an additional property tax…?” is seemingly without opposition. Clark County School District (CCSD) would have you believe that only Scrooge- hearted cheapskates would deny our children repair of buildings with leaky roofs. Perhaps even the most fiscally conservative voter would relent if they understood just how frugally our money was spent? The following are some examples of what concerned citizens see as the history of money spent on capital improvements. In 1998 voters were told by CCSD PR that they were voting for a $2.5 billion bond sale to construct enough schools to house 370,000 students. Today after expending over $6 billion enough schools to house over 370,000 students were built. Enrollment is now 307,000. We are, in other words, now “House poor”. Like so many others during the boom the school district hocked everything that it could to buy more schools than we needed. A huge portion of that $6 billion went to repairing every school in the district too. During 2005, flush with cash, the school board bought a lavish office building with marble floors, gold doors, gold fixtures and private bathrooms for the top bureaucrats running the district. Public outcry included a 11/05/2006 expose’ in the Review Journal where 5100 West Sahara was described as “Posh”. The article noted the issue that a $290,000 commission was paid to a company employing a member of the CCSD Bond Oversight Committee for her involvement. After buying the building for $14.5 million the school board remodeled it costing $1.5 million. And then there was money just given away. During late 2010 John Schutt wrote in a Las Vegas Tribune article “I hope that Sandoval decided to hire RINO School Board President Terri Janison to get her out of there so she could do no more harm. I’d like to believe that this is the case. When Janison took a step back and gave away $25 million of the school districts construction bond money to the state’s general fund last year I heard that it was a political deal that she would be repaid for. Many insiders at the district think that this was it. Would you buy a job for $25 million? Maybe if it was somebody else’s money…. Sandoval will soon learn where the nick name “Pea Brain” came from.” Janison was hired to work in Sandoval’s southern Nevada office. Would that $25 million have gone a long way to fix schools? Land acquisition has been a problem too. After the boom, the school board discovered that it had no reasonable explanation for why it owned most of the unused property that it had on hand, including a property purchased near Nellis AFB for elementary school construction. That property was known to be located too close to the base take off area to be used for a school when they bought it. Despite private claims from school board members and facilities staff that the misguided and illegal activities of the past were ended when the two top level facilities staff departed in 2005-6, NPRI has now caught CCSD using public funds to advocate for a yes vote on question 2. This is a violation of NRS 281A.520. Does previous careful spending of the tax payer’s dollars indicate that we can trust the Clark County School Board with more of our money? If you don’t mind a overspending by double, lavish extravagance, illegal activities and giving the money away then Vote Yes on Ballot question 2.
by Teachers net
Nov 6, 2012
Basic public education in Clark County is underfunded and $40 million towards innovation in 63 schools, less than one sixth of all schools in the district, makes no sense when basic educational needs for students are not being met. (The district will claim that because we did not sign on, they lost $40 million and the opportunity to hire 22 teacher...See MoreBasic public education in Clark County is underfunded and $40 million towards innovation in 63 schools, less than one sixth of all schools in the district, makes no sense when basic educational needs for students are not being met. (The district will claim that because we did not sign on, they lost $40 million and the opportunity to hire 22 teachers in 63 schools. The fact is the money can only be used for the targeted innovations described in the grant. Too much of the money flowed to outside vendors and a layer of district level “coaches and trainers.” We know that our members need resources that address the everyday struggles they face of classrooms that are too large and not enough materials for individual students. Had CCEA been involved from the beginning, we would have made sure the majority of the money flowed to the classroom and the students our members serve.) The Race to the Top application directions requires a very high bar of accountability for those who have to implement the described innovations in the classroom. Professionals are willing to accept that when they have input on the front end of the plan, not when they are notified of proposed reforms after the fact. (The district claims they tried to include the Union. In fact, what they did was invite our President and Vice President to attend meetings to review already crafted reform plans. There was no genuine effort to include the Union or our members in the planning. They also claim that they received feedback from 6,000 people – including 1,600 teachers. The teachers in each of the target buildings were invited in September to attend a meeting where they were notified of the plan – no intention for taking input or in collaborating to develop a plan that would best meet the needs of students. A representative organization such as CCEA would have gladly identified a list of its experienced and accomplished leaders to participate in developing a plan on the front end, but we are not interested in having one CCEA leader sign off on the back end. Student needs are at historic high across this district. To meet those needs all teachers need strong, job embedded professional learning that honors their accumulated experience and expertise. One size fits all programs and outside vendors don’t meet the national standards for what makes strong professional learning and they don’t meet the professional needs of our teachers. (The bulk of the grant does not go to hire new teachers. The bulk of the grant goes to outside vendors who will provide PD for an ELL program imported from Denver, CO. Another large chunk is for computers and online instruction software designed to remove professionals from the equation. Another large chunk goes for a one size fits all scripted program. We know that scripted programs do not take into account individual student needs and a professional’s expertise to differentiate for unique learner needs)
by 2grteacher
Nov 18, 2012
Just curious if CCSD pays moving costs at all ? I'm assuming it's no, but thought I'd ask.
I am in the process of getting my file completed and my specialist sent me an email about what is needed for the file. The email didn't include any info that I had to schedule a district interview. Is it because she forgot to inform me or is the district interview not required if I'm a new hire?
by Guthrie and Sandoval must go.
Nov 24, 2012
"His top priority is putting in place a teacher evaluation system that, using student achievement data, identifies instructors' strengths and weaknesses." This guy does not have a clue. How can you do this when half the teachers do not teach, or do not give measurable tests to base their evaluation on. What test are we going to use for band, orches...See More"His top priority is putting in place a teacher evaluation system that, using student achievement data, identifies instructors' strengths and weaknesses." This guy does not have a clue. How can you do this when half the teachers do not teach, or do not give measurable tests to base their evaluation on. What test are we going to use for band, orchestra, chorus, PE, Art teachers, and all the other teachers who drive desks like County Commissioner Chris G. who has not taught in years, but is listed as a teacher. Guthrie needs to be asked that question in front of a camera and see what answer you get. This garbage targets the backbone of the schools, the classroom teachers. They will leave and NONE will come here to work. You think you have a teacher shortage now in math science? Hold on.
by Justin Brecht - Teacher of the Year (at his school)
Nov 24, 2012
[link removed]
Read the comments. Teachers have had enough.
by Teachers.Net Gazette
Dec 2, 2012
You won't believe what some students brought to share during classroom Show & Tell! Click below to read the gems mined from a Teachers.Net Chatboard when teachers were asked to share their most unforgettable Show and Tell experiences.
[link removed]]
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