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May. 06, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Challengers seek School Board seats

One incumbent to run, another to step down

By LISA KIM BACH
REVIEW-JOURNAL
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The first wave of challengers for Clark County School Board seats is coming from within.

Edward Goldman, associate superintendent of education services, filed his candidacy for District A on Monday, pitting himself against three-term incumbent Mary Beth Scow for the southeast seat.

Scow also filed with the Clark County election office on Monday, announcing her intention to run for a fourth term.

School Board member Shirley Barber plans to step down at the end of her third term. Canyon Springs High School Principal Ronan Matthew filed his intent to run for the open District C seat on Monday.

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    • Both Goldman and Matthew said they were motivated by a desire to improve education at a policy-making level. When asked if that reflects a level of frustration with the current board, Goldman said yes.

    "I think that it reflects a frustration about moving things along and the belief that change starts at the top," said Goldman, 57. "That's the school board."

    Matthew said his candidacy is rooted in two things: improving academic achievement and student safety. The Canyon Springs principal has been an outspoken proponent of trying new things to address those issues, and has often been frustrated by the slowness of district decision-makers in responding to his calls to action.

    "Some people say I'm not a team player," said Matthew, 55. "But I'm not going to be a team player if the team is wrong."

    Matthew is retiring this year after 30 years of service with the district. Goldman said he plans to retire if he wins the District A seat. That's in keeping with Nevada law and also with a 2006 advisory opinion issued by the Nevada Commission on Ethics in 2006, Goldman said.

    In the 2006 decision, involving a district administrator seeking a board office, the commission found that the candidate "is not precluded under the Nevada Ethics in Government Law from campaigning for the position of trustee for the board."

    However, the opinion continued, if that candidate is elected, a choice must be made either to continue in the job or take the board position. Serving as both a district administrator and a school board member might create the appearance or risk of conflict of interest, the commission said.

    Goldman, a 27-year veteran of the district, said he doesn't believe that being a candidate for school board while serving as a top-level administrator will be problematic.

    Scow could not be reached for comment Monday. She won her third term in office with 65 percent of the vote in 2004.

    Both Matthew and Goldman are running as advocates for change, a position that the public might question since they're both veterans of the system. Both individuals said they've made the change that's possible from their positions.

    Matthew has most recently worked to establish stronger partnerships with local law enforcement to increase student safety and lobbied unsuccessfully to install metal detectors at Canyon Springs, following this year's increased level of school-related violence.

    Goldman said his efforts to improve education include introducing standard attire policies at schools, staggering high school start times so students can begin the day later, and laying the foundation for Global Community High School, which allows limited English speakers who've been in the United States for less than two years to gain language proficiency.

    "The board makes policy," Goldman said. "Administrators just carry it out. I think I can do more as a policy-maker."

    Contact reporter Lisa Kim Bach at lbach@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0287.



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    The Insider wrote on May 06, 2008 06:13 PM: I guess since I live in District A and I work for the school district, I will not be voting for either one of these self-serving losers. In 12 years of office, Mary Beth Scow has no business running for a 4th term. Morale among teachers is at an all time low from the bowing down the board does to an ineffective superintendent. In my Nevada School Law class, the superintendent answers to board, not the other way around.
    As far as Eddie Goldman goes, he is the dirtiest player in the game. He was run out of the the Southeast Region as Regional Superintendent because of his antics. He wasted the district so much money in grievances. To get rid of him, the district reassigned him to Educational Services Divion Regional Superindendent. Basically what this means is that he has been assigned to the alternative schools i.e. jails, behavioral schools, court appointed schools. He is all over the paper because of the wonderful picture he paints at these schools. The fact is that he is a miserable loser who has caused much misery in this district for the 27 years he has been here. To Hell with them both. I'll be voting for neither candidate. THEY BOTH SUCK!!!


    Genius wrote on May 06, 2008 05:06 PM: We need PARENTS, people with COMMON SENSE, people NOT affliated with the schools to run for School Board. As it is now, the same old worn out fertilizer just keeps being overturned. No wonder the district doesn't bloom. You want a district to bloom, you have to reinvigorate the soil, breathe new life into it, and gets the weeds out. Our district needs watering with new blood.


    Jack wrote on May 06, 2008 06:39 AM: The Screwel Board is a job sought by either lobbyists for monetary gain. (see 1 million dollar projects that cost the taxpayers 10 million) Or by socialist, liberals.(see all our "magnet and special talent schools in the GHETTO)
    So take your pick but don't speak up in THEIR meeting or the will throw you in Jail.


    Peter S wrote on May 06, 2008 05:39 AM: Goldman the outsider? How much smoke are you trying to blow up our skirts? You "only" administer policy? Pleeease! You pretty much have carte blanc and little oversight. Distrct A seems to have 2 wolves.

    BTW, Goldman seems to be getting most of his campaign money from developers...isn't that the Nevada Way? Oh, yeah, he's cut from a different cloth. Scow? Scow Bucket!

    Voting for either of these two is insanity! As in voting for the same old people (and goldman has been there forever) and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity.