Carson school board postpones schedule change

An audible groan was collectively released Tuesday as Carson City School Board vice president Norm Scoggin cast the final vote against maintaining the schedule for the district's only year-round school.

"Thanks for nothing," one man shouted, and another asked, "Excuse me, what just happened here?"

Rather than make a decision whether to change Fremont Elementary School's calendar to the traditional schedule, board members opted to approve both calendars, then make a decision later.

Public comment turned heated, and at one point a Carson City Sheriff's deputy waited in the foyer.

Fremont Elementary School custodian Michael Davis told the board he's been angered watching previous meetings on television.

"I'm hot," he said. "I'm mad."

A shouting match between Davis and Scoggin ended with the district's attorney, Mike Pavlakis, asking Davis to step down or the police would be called.

"I don't mean to embarrass any of you," Davis shouted to other employees in the audience. "There's disgraceful people up there, and I'm sick of them putting us down."

Erin Lehman, volunteer coordinator at Fremont, followed Davis in addressing the board and said fellow employees supported his sentiment.

"He's talking from raw emotion," she said. "It feels like Fremont has a target on its back. We feel attacked. We're angry."

The proposal to change Fremont Elementary School's calendar was introduced in January as part of a plan to cut an anticipated $7.2 million from the school district's two-year budget.

The board was confused Tuesday as to whether the agenda item called for a vote on changing Fremont's schedule or whether to accept two hypothetical calendars then make the decision later.

An initial motion, made by trustee Joe Enge, was to adopt the year-round schedule for the upcoming year at Fremont. The motion received support from trustees Lynnette Conrad and James Lemaire. However, trustees Scoggin, Joanna Wilson and Steve Reynolds voted against it, failing to give it the majority needed to pass.

Board president Barbara Howe was absent.

After that, the board decided to adopt two calendars then make the final decision later. A date was not determined, and the crowd voiced its disappointment.

Officials have said the schedule change would save the district $23,000, with the bulk of the benefit coming in efficiencies throughout the district. Associate Superintendent Sue Keema said the savings add up to more like $75,000 along with other savings to be had in aligning schedules.

"The point of this is not so much one calendar over the other, but having everyone on the same team," Keema said. "If we're all on the same page, we can build a schedule that works for everyone."

Several parents, teachers and community members have spoken out against the idea in a series of meetings in testimony that has often become emotional.

Marilee Swirczek, a teacher at Western Nevada College and former school board member, said she hasn't returned to a board meeting in 23 years.

She came Tuesday, she said, to "scold the board."

"I'm ashamed of your behavior," she said. "I have never seen such rude public officials in my life."

She chastised them for not taking notes during public comments to take home to do individual research. She said committees should have been formed to look into the issues, specifically the proposed schedule change.

"I don't think you guys care about kids," she said. "Except Joe Enge, who's the only one who's asked the right questions."

Fremont teachers Jennifer Locke and Marlo Corletto made a joint presentation to urge the board to retain the school's schedule.

They cited the school district in Las Vegas that balances five tracks, including traditional schedules, while maintaining districtwide professional development days.

One way Clark County is able to achieve this, they said, was starting all schools on the same day.

They provided two schedules on clear, plastic sheets. When they overlaid them, it showed the common days that could be used for teacher training.

"One-size-fits-all school districts don't seem to be the answer," Corletto said.

Brian Wallace, president of the Ormsby County Education Association, said the board should issue a decision promptly.

"It feels like there's some wiffle-waffling taking place," he said. "This is highly unfair to the employees. Make the ethically and morally correct decision."