School board trustee chosen

By a narrow vote, Randy Carlson was selected Tuesday to the District 6 seat of the Carson City School Board.

Carlson, 60, received votes from Jim Lemaire, Norm Scoggin and Stacie Wilke over Deonne Contine's two votes from Steve Reynolds and Lynnette Conrad. Joanna Wilson was absent.

Carlson told board members that he raised his daughter, Amanda, in the Carson City School District, and had a positive experience. She attended Fremont Elementary School then graduated from Carson High school in 2004.

"Carson City School District, in my opinion, has been very good at providing a range of opportunities for students with a range of interests," he said.

His involvement in his daughter's education, he said, makes him qualified to serve on the board.

"I have been an active, involved, engaged parent for a student who has gone through the system."

His professional background as a consultant in the aerospace industry will also give him insight into the responsibilities of the board.

He said he is often called upon to "organize teams to deal with complicated, interdisciplinary problems."

As the board prepares to make future budget cuts to compensate for decreasing enrollment and shrinking funds, Carlson said priorities should first be established.

"In order to make cuts, the board has to come to a clear, well thought out understanding of the basic mission you'd like to promote," he said.

Carlson will replace Barbara Howe, who left in October to take a job in California.

Board President Norm Scoggin encouraged Contine, who applied in January for the seat left vacant when Bob Crowell left to take over as mayor of Carson City, to run for the seat when it opens next year.

Also at Tuesday's school board meeting:

• The board approved a program to incorporate online educational services. It will begin as a pilot program in January at Pioneer High School.

"I'm a big fan of this," said trustee Steve Reynolds.

• Board members postponed a decision on a lease agreement that would allow a community greenhouse to be built at Carson High School as a project through the Carson City Cultural Commission.