Eugene T. Paslov: Reinvent, not fix public schools

From the beginning of statehood, Nevada has sought to minimize taxes on key industries. It also has looked to shift the cost of paying for government services to those who reside outside the state. The result has been a serious lack of sufficient infrastructure for public services. Public schools have suffered.

Nevada also has developed an attitude of "cultural exploitation," which compels citizens to view government as minimalist, wasteful. For some, government is seen as the problem, not a solution.

Now is the time to set aside anti-government/anti-tax rhetoric and look for public/private partnerships to solve problems. Only then will we be able to overcome our current economic problems. And effective education is the key to the future. We need to unlock the door.

I recently published an article in The Nevada Review titled, "A Culture of Exploitation: An Interpretative Review of the Political History of Nevada's Public Schools," to help Nevada's public policymakers understand why Nevada's public schools are failing. The article also suggests workable solutions to rethink public school governance, bring schools closer to the parents and students they serve, and operate our public schools with technological efficiency. The imperatives noted in the article may help policymakers think about methods of reinventing our schools.

Nevada has many innovative political, business and educational leaders who can come together to rethink our system of public education. But, as I suggest, it has been virtually impossible for the state to make significant progress on productive economic development and education. Anti-tax/anti-government and exclusive "cut strategy" political rhetoric impede positive economic growth. Cuts may be required, but all ideas must be considered.

The following are, in various forms, imperatives:

• Develop a stable and comprehensive tax base. It is currently too narrow and inefficient to support needed services. The Price Waterhouse study in the '80s noted problems. The PW study should be revisited and updated.

• Mount a major public campaign to support the need for economic development and public education change. We must connect and reinvent Nevada and its public education as vital economic drivers. It will require a positive public/private partnership.

• Remodel the current public school governance system. Create school buildings as independent entities, governed by locally appointed boards of teachers, parents and business leaders. The schools would operate under state charters - accountable but independent.

• Create a research institute to help individual schools improve academic student achievement based on international core standards and on demonstrated international, national, state and local research findings. Put research into practice.

Reinvent more effective schools. Our future is at stake.

• Eugene Paslov is a board member of the Davidson Academy at the University of Nevada, Reno and the former Nevada state superintendent of schools.