RANDY CARLSON
Incumbent
Mailing Address: 4081 Kings Canyon Road, Carson City, NV. 89703
Telephone: 775-250-8130
E-mail: candidate@CarlsonForSchools.com
Website: http://CarlsonForSchools.com
Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.
I have lived in Carson City 26 years. My daughter was born here and graduated from Carson High. I have served on the school board since December 2009. Quality education is important to our community, to parents, and most of all, to our students. I understand this as a long time Carson City resident, as a member of the school board and as a parent.
Carson City isn't Washoe County, or Douglas, or Lyon, or Storey. We aren't Las Vegas. And, we certainly aren't California. Our expectations are higher and our schools perform better (Our graduation rate is higher than all of these!). Low standards and expectations from other school systems or other states have no place in Carson City. I am committed to maintaining high standards, expectations and performance for our schools and our students.
For 30 years I have worked in the spacecraft and alternative energy industries, organizing and leading teams of people tackling complicated, demanding problems. I know how to help people get things done.
What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?
We live in an increasingly technical, increasingly competitive world. More and more good, high paying jobs require advanced education. We need to raise the bar.
Carson City schools offer exceptional education opportunities for some students. Honors and AP classes, WNC classes, CTE, and advanced online courses are all available to students with the prerequisite skills. Unfortunately, too many students don't achieve advanced subject mastery in elementary and middle school and aren't prepared for more advanced work in high school. We need to fix this so more of our students can receive the best education we offer.
Raising student expectations and increasing parent involvement are key. These are also the toughest issues facing our schools. I will continue to advocate and support our PBS program, school uniforms and similar efforts aimed at raising student expectations and increasing parent involvement because our students need the best education we can deliver today, so they can succeed tomorrow.
Why should voters choose you over the other candidate?
I currently serve on the Carson City School Board. The Board sets direction, policy and objectives for our schools. We don't run our schools. We don't teach our students. To get things done, we must get our administrators, our teachers and our staff to carry out the mission. Bureaucratic experience and education ideology won't meet our challenges or address our issues. It takes vision for where our schools need to go and the leadership to take us there.
Our educators, our students, and our parents are the ones who will make Carson City schools successful. I understand that all a school board member can do is lead. I understand that better than my opponent does. That's why I'm the right choice for District 6 School Board trustee.
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BARBARA MYERS
Mailing Address: 4552 Hillview Dr. Carson City 89701
Telephone: 775-882-8817
E-mail: bjmyers49@aol.com
Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.
I have served on local and state-elected school boards for 20 of the past 30 years. I was elected three terms (12 consecutive years) on a local board of education while my own children were growing up. In Nevada, I was elected to the Nevada State Board of Education for two terms (eight consecutive years).
I have a wealth of experience. I understand the Nevada legislative process and the Nevada Plan for educational funding. This experience will be critical in 2011 as the Legislature faces the bleakest budget picture in Nevada history.
My commitment to public education (including public charter schools) is unwavering. I served as the State Board of Education liaison to the Nevada Homeschool Organization, believing in a parent's right to choose homeschooling as a parent-option. I served as the State Board liaison to the state Special Education Advisory Committee for eight years and I currently am a school speech pathologist for Lyon County School District.
My knowledge base is broad. I listen then make decisions based upon solid input from staff and constituents. I have never taken a campaign donation and I will not spend any funds campaigning. I am able to make tough decision in tough times. I am able to say, "I was wrong" if a change in course is needed.
What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?
• Making the most of the state funding received by the district while understanding there will be constraints to the budget.
• Working as a team with district staff and administration while listening to stakeholders' input identifying the most pressing issues.
• Addressing the need and requirements for students to have Personalized Education Plans to better target the individual student's needs and create opportunities for real, measured growth.
• Holding the superintendent responsible for all actions of the district. The Board of Education's primary job is to select a superintendent and create policies that govern the district. The superintendent is the person who is accountable to the Board of Education.
• Continuing the momentum Carson schools have, related to bond passage and subsequent capital improvement projects with constituent support.
• Beginning the planning and implementation of the Core National Standards the State Board of Education has adopted for Nevada beginning in 2014.
Why should voters choose you over the other candidate?
I believe that I have the experience that is needed at this time on the Carson City Board of Education. My "learning curve" will not be a steep one given my background.
I am not an "idea" person. That should be left to the district staff. While I have some great ideas about education, and 38 years teaching at the K-12, community college, and adult education levels, I know that my "job" as a local board member is not to toss out grand ideas. My job is to evaluate the superintendent and address policy issues. My expectation is that any superintendent needs to be proactive and not reactive. There needs to be policy in place that addresses needs/problems before they occur. A good superintendent can, and will be able to do just that based upon good, sound input from all stakeholders.
I will always listen to constituent input and take that input into consideration when making any decisions as a board member. I expect to be approachable by the community and district staff at any time and with no restraints. I do not support a governance model for a board of education that limits, in any way, access to individual board members by staff and constituents.