Campaign newcomer challenges longtime school trustee

This year's campaign for Carson City School District's seat 4 pits an eight-year veteran against a new opponent who's not shy about being seen and heard at school board meetings.

Bob Crowell, 60, a resident of Carson City for the past 52 years and an attorney in government relations, faces Ann Bednarski, 60, a resident of Carson City for the past 10 years, and a part-time tutor and former teacher.

Crowell ran unopposed in the past two elections. If he wins this year's election, the term will be his last due to a three-term limit. Each term is four years.

Crowell's top concern is making sure two groups of students in the school district are not left behind.

"There are things that need particular attention," he said. "First, is compliance with No Child Left Behind and in particular the academic performance of special-education and (English-as-a-second-language) students. We need to maintain the emphasis on these populations of students because that's where we're falling behind on No Child Left Behind."

Bednarski says if she were elected she would work toward improved communication between the district and parents.

"I think we need to expect more of our kids, and we will get more," she said. "We have to be more open to parents. The one thing I hear over and over and over again is the parents are afraid to go into their kids' schools. We need to communicate better that we're friendly and that we're here to serve you."

Crowell attended Carson City schools from 1954-1963, was student body president of Carson High and graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in economics. He served three years in the Navy, and upon return from Vietnam attended and graduated from Hastings College of Law in California.

"The focus (for the school district for upcoming years) is going to be how to continue to offer existing services in light of declining enrollment," he said. "When enrollment goes down, the financing goes down. The issue is how to continue with the funding that you've got. The other thing we need to do in the Carson City School District is review the need for a stand-alone vocational school."

Crowell has four children, all of whom went to Carson City schools or attended St. Teresa of Avila. He said notable achievements he's been a part of include: passing a $21.7 million school bond for infrastructure improvements over six years without raising taxes; saving nearly $75,000 in utility costs through conservation; having a balanced budget for the first time in the 2006-07 year, and hiring the district's first female superintendent, Mary Pierczynski.

Bednarski first taught in an inner-city school in Cleveland, and then taught in Boston followed by California. She taught remedial reading to adults at an Air Force base in California, and also worked with teenage felons in Arizona at VisionQuest.

"I do want to promote excellence," she said. "I feel that if elected I will represent the working people of this community - the ones who are afraid to go to school to talk to the teachers, the ones who are single parents and struggling and pulling themselves along."

Bednarksi has a bachelor's degree in psychology and English, and a master's degree in mass communications with an emphasis in journalism. She says she is a strong advocate for the public-education system and wants to see teachers have more independence in the classroom.

"I describe myself as a zealot for education," she said. "I have experience in all kinds of settings - prison, charter schools, private schools and public schools. I'm not a wealthy person, but I come with a wealth of experience, and I see time after time when you expect more you get more.

"I feel our current school board is stagnant."

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