Hallelujah to stopping national search

In reference to your Thursday editorial (“Finally, an end to carpetbagging?”), I just naturally assumed we were talking about the recruitment of the next Clark County School District superintendent. Ironically no, but we probably should.

Amazingly, the School Board seems to have stopped just shy of the precipice and actually displayed some common sense before plunging headlong into a national search for a magic leader who can create education out of chaos. They’re really thinking twice about throwing away more than $50,000 on a nationwide recruitment for a new superintendent to replace the departed Dwight Jones. Some board members recognize that they have a 25-year district veteran filling the position, creating next year’s budget, negotiating new contracts with four labor groups and representing the district at a time when the Legislature is scrutinizing Nevada education dollars all at the same time.

If this “interim guy,” Pat Skorkowski, can do all those things well, isn’t he in fact performing the duties of the office of superintendent with great proficiency? And doesn’t it seem more likely that, having spent his whole career with the district, he’d stay with the job more than a year or two? Does it really make more sense to conduct an expensive nationwide search and give this critical leadership position to someone who performed the best in a 30-minute interview and has no loyalty to the district?

Sometimes the best proof of ability to perform is performance. The School Board should also consider that they’re saving not only $50,000 in search costs, but also $350,000 in Mr. Jones’ salary and benefits, and another $250,000 for his top consultant, Ken Turner.

RONNIE GARNER

HENDERSON

Brooks failures

To the editor:

Finally! A justice of the peace with a brain, Melanie Tobiasson, revoked bail for former Assemblyman Steven Brooks (“Local court revokes earlier bail for Brooks,” Thursday Review-Journal).

A first-year medical student could’ve made the diagnosis of acute psychosis with threat to himself and society at large. The impotent lawmakers who expelled him from the Legislature, with doctors among them, should be held responsible for such breaches of public safety.

Brooks should be held in custody until competent psychiatric oversight determines he’s no longer a threat. As a public figure, all information about him becomes transparent when it impacts fellow lawmakers and the public. Fellow legislators had no right to keep anything secret in that regard.

Mr. Brooks may never be deemed safe for release from medical custody. Face it, many psychoses are not cured, and significant numbers cannot be managed as outpatients.

LEONARD KREISLER

LAS VEGAS

Water pact

To the editor:

I think Utah’s governor is justified in not signing the agreement with Nevada to take water from Snake Valley (“Utah backs out of water deal,” Thursday Review-Journal).

Why should Utah give up its water so people in Las Vegas can hose down their driveways and water their street? I routinely see people in my neighborhood watering on “off” days and sprinklers spraying into the street. I have reported this to the water district on numerous occasions, but no action is ever taken. It seems to me that the water district is only concerned about revenues and not conservation.

MARK LESLIE

LAS VEGAS