Carson City School Board to elect president

The president elected at tonight's school board meeting may face some tough issues during his or her year at the helm of the Carson City School District board of trustees.

Those issues are labor negotiations for the 2005-06 school year and school achievement to satisfy No Child Left Behind legislation requirements, said Mary Pierczynski, district superintendent.

"Those are going to continue to be challenges next year for the board president and the board," she said.

Trustees will make nominations and vote on who will fill outgoing president Joanna Wilson's spot. Pierczynski will also address the board about the district's handling of the schools during the recent snows.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. tonight in the Sierra Room of the community center at 851 E. William St., and is open to the public.

"I don't know who they are going to select," Pierczynski said. "Traditionally, the board chooses a new person each year."

Trustees Norm Scoggin, Bob Crowell and John McKenna have served as president in the past. James Lemaire is new to the board, replacing Doug Ponn, and will be at his first meeting tonight. Trustees James Hukari and Sheila Ward have not served as president.

"I think Joanna did an excellent job as board president," Pierczynski said. "She really cares about the kids and about the school district. She was a president who was very involved in running the meetings and very involved in listening to people."

Crowell, who was president two years ago prior to terms held by McKenna and Wilson, said being president is difficult for anyone. He had no hesitation revealing who he plans to nominate.

"We do try and rotate (the job) around," he said. "And Hukari has expressed an interest to me in serving."

Pierczynski said she expects this year's president to have an easier time with labor negotiations compared with years past due to a new process called interest-based bargaining.

"It's more of a collaborative approach to reaching agreements on labor contracts," she said. "The board is very positive about it, and so our are labor groups."

Crowell also hopes this year's negotiations will have less friction.

"Hopefully, we're going to go down a different track with labor negotiations," he said. "We need to keep communication open. I think Hukari can do that."

Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

IF YOU GO

What: Carson City School Board meeting

When: 7 p.m. tonight

Where: Sierra Room of the Community Center, 851 E. William St.

Information: 283-2100.