Our Opinion: Advisory council would be welcome addition

The Carson City School Board today will start the process of considering whether to create a Community Advisory Council.

After the recent contentious discussions around proposed school budget cuts, having a formalized body to give additional input would be a good thing.

Associate Superintendent Sue Keema will present the idea to board members, and if adopted, they will set a meeting to discuss the details.

Creating an advisory board, with representatives from the public, could help assure members of the community that their concerns would be taken into account in board decisions. That hopefully would alleviate some of the out-of-control anger that erupted at recent board meetings, at one point requiring calling in the police.

One of the most common complaints voiced throughout the public comment period was that the school board and district officials were not responsive enough to the public. By taking this step, the board would show it respected those opinions.

The key would be to create a board whose membership reflected the diversity of the district's makeup, and also representatives who would be open and receptive to a variety of opinions and ideas.

The budget crisis is far from over, and many more heated discussions may be in the offing as a clearer picture of the cuts comes into view. Even without an advisory board, it's imperative that the board listen to the public and the public make their opinions known in a productive way - without the need for police reinforcement.

The school board meets at 7 p.m. today in the Sierra Room, Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.