School board answers state education survey

School boards all over Nevada are filling out a survey detailing what they think of the proliferation of governmental entities overseeing education in Nevada.

The survey called for by the Legislature in May seeks opinions on the dozen different committees, bureaus, boards, councils, boards and bureaucrats from school boards and superintendents in the state.

Douglas County school board members Cindy Trigg, Sharla Hales and Teri Jamin gathered in the basement of the administrative building on Mono Avenue Tuesday morning to answer the survey.

All three agreed that the Nevada Department of Education should be the ideal agency with primary responsibility for reviewing, evaluating and making recommendations related to education in the state.

"They are the professionals, and should be making recommendations about education," Jamin said.

Interim Superintendent John Soderman said the many committees and commissions responsible for education were created when legislators or the governor felt the department of education wasn't moving quickly enough, which explains bodies like the Commission on Educational Technology or the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation.

"In a more perfect world, the Legislative Committee on Education would be an advisory board to the Legislature," Soderman said.

Jamin said she would like to see the legislative subcommittees be more of an advocate for education at the Legislature.

All three board member said they felt the legislative committee was too political, since it was appointed by the legislative leadership.