School board decides less is more

Instead of an organized and polished campaign, Carson City School Board members decided Tuesday to make this campaign more simple.

"I think we should stick to a grassroots approach," said Jean Kvam, board president. "We need to do things without the polish."

Kvam was referring to the strategy the board used in 1996 when a $48 million bond proposal failed.

In 1996, the board formed a "Yes" committee with an office headquarters, organized walkers, advisors, public speakers and other formal assignments.

This time, they want to keep it more low key.

"There's a feeling in the community that we have to have a healing," said board member Bob Crowell. "It was a bloodbath last time and now's the time to fix it."

Nevada Appeal publisher Jeff Ackerman spoke to the board in their special retreat to discuss the bond issue.

He told board members the board should allow the public to tour district buildings to raise awareness of the need for a bond.

He referred to the district office where the meeting was held.

"What is this? This is like a bomb shelter," he said. "You guys aren't exactly living high off the hog."

The district is seeking to pass an $18 million bond this year to maintain and repair existing school sites.

Marty Johnson, the district's bond consultant, said the election question should be formulated by June 13 and final approval of the question should take place at the June 27 meeting.

The formal language for the question will be presented to the city clerk by July 17.

Mike Mitchell, director of operations for the district, called it a "no-frills" bond.

He outlined the district's goals as:

- Protect investments already made.

- Provide a safe school environment with secure locks and an effective districtwide communication system.

- Provide equal opportunity to learn at each school. Some schools are air-conditioned, while others are not.

"We're not treating everybody equally here," he said. "I think we need to do that."

- Get all classrooms technologically sound.

- Make more educational opportunities available. Mitchell said the high school biology and chemistry labs cannot accommodate all the students who wish to take the classes.

What's next

School Board to decide final school bond question at June 27 meeting.