Three members of School Board face challengers

The local School Board could undergo a face change this November. Four of the seven positions are up for grabs as a battle continues between Clark County School District officials and the teachers union over educators’ working terms.

District officials want teachers to take a pay freeze, which school police, bus drivers, administrators and other staff have accepted to help balance the budget. But the teachers union, the Clark County Education Association, argues that teachers should keep getting raises, and that the district has the money to pay.

The controversy stands to be front and center as four incumbents, each representing about 40,000 students, fight to keep their seats against a former teachers union president, candidates supporting the union’s position and others.

While Board President Linda Young is unopposed for four more years in District C, central Las Vegas, all of the others face competition. Incumbent Deanna Wright of District A, southeast Las Vegas and Henderson, is up against former teachers union President Mary Ella Holloway, who couldn’t be reached Friday, and Kevinn Donovan.

Incumbent Chris Garvey faces Rose Moore, who has been an advocate for students with disabilities for 15 years. The race is for District B, North Las Vegas and eastern Las Vegas. Like the union, Moore argues that teachers don’t need to take a pay freeze to provide the $78 million over this school year and the next to balance the district’s budget. The union argues that their audit of the district’s finances found the money.

“Union aside, I do believe there’s more money there,” said Moore, who reviews the district’s biweekly purchase orders. “We definitely need to trim the fat.”

Rookie board member John Cole will compete with five others for District E, west Las Vegas. Cole is well-aware of why the other candidates are circling his seat. He has served the least time on the board and didn’t prove himself in an election. The board appointed him to a two-year term in 2010.

“I’m seen as the weakest,” he said.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@review
journal.com or 702-383-0279.