I-Team: Principals Weigh In on Candidate's Education Plans

LAS VEGAS -- Nearly 60 percent of Clark County schools failed to meet national standards this year. It is just one more reason local educators agree that Nevada needs education reform.

Among the proposals, the men who-would-be-governor advocate greater accountability. But one group of school administrators tell the I-Team that cuts both ways.

The buck stops with school administrators on campus and they expect the same from the next governor. Instead of generalities, they want specifics. Instead of proposals, they want step-by step-plans and instead of revenue neutral reform, they want additional resources.

Reporter Colleen McCarty: "Can reform occur without funding, without additional funding?"

Retired Principal Mark Coleman: "Sometimes the first place you look is redirecting existing funds. So I'm spending money over here, is that the best bang for my buck? But at some point when you're done getting the best bang for your buck, you come down to do I need more bucks?

Colleen McCarty: "And do you think we need them?

Mark Coleman: "I think the state is going to need them.

Retired principal Mark Coleman gets nods of agreement from high school principal Amel Wozniak, elementary school principal Beverly Mathis, middle school principal Elisa Primas and charter school Chancellor Marsha Irvin.

Veteran administrators are increasingly frustrated by an all too familiar four letter word -- cuts

"We just went through 6.9% reductions in terms of funding. Where will we be in the state of Nevada as we look next year and the following year with additional budget reductions and how is that going to impact the children in preparing them for the 21st century. I would love to have a candidate that can really address that question?" said Marsha Irvin, Agassi College Preparatory Academy.

The looming budget shortfall is conspicuously absent from education plans drafted by gubernatorial candidates Rory Reid and Brian Sandoval. Instead, the two focus on revenue neutral reforms like increased accountability, privatization of some school support services and more local control.

Reid advocates the empowerment school model which is campus autonomy over budgets, staffing and curriculum to all Nevada schools within five years.

"I like the idea of blending empowerment with accountability. Accountability in my opinion should be linked to accreditation which is a broader view of how a school functions. It can include the use of budget, it can include the use of staff development, of graduation rates. How do we get kids prepared for college?" said Emil Wozniak, Desert Oasis High School.

"Empowerment is not a panacea, it's not a cure all. It's a way of thinking. It is a philosophy and you're going to have to have principals and teachers that accept it. Because even with empowerment you have to build a model. What is the model, does the principal fit the model, and do the teachers fit the model? said Lisa Primas, Bailey Middle School.

Teachers say the administrators are the key to a successful education system. Yet neither plan addresses teacher salaries. Instead the candidates propose ending existing longevity pay in favor of pay for performance incentives.

"Longevity is just such a plus. That consistency of being right there so that our children will know in the morning when they walk into the building, Mrs. Jones will be in that building. And the thought of just saying cut longevity pay, that should not even be heard of," said Beverly Mathis, Booker Elementary School.

Neither should school vouchers says Mathis who fears they may increase disparities between the haves and the have nots.

Sandoval proposes vouchers for private schools and the expansion of charter schools in Nevada to increase educational choice.

"I'd love to see more charter schools but it's very challenging in terms of the funding within our state. I get phone calls all the time about people wanting to start charter schools in Nevada and how they can go about doing that, but then when they start looking at the funding, it becomes really challenging for them," said Irvin.

School choice is a hot button issue for the administrators. While some support the idea others suggest it creates a logistical nightmare such as under-enrollment at some schools and overpopulation at others.