Goals set for school superintendent

Improving communication, maintaining financial solvency, supporting student achievement and maintaining safety were the main goals Superintendent Richard Stokes suggested for himself in the upcoming year.

After some discussion, the Carson City School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt those goals, with the contingency that they could be adjusted in the future.

Although he voted in favor of the goals, trustee Ron Swirczek recommended that the discussion be tabled for the next meeting.

"I would suggest to work with Richard to bring something back to the board we can all look at and have it for the next board meeting," he said. "What I'd like to do is work with Richard to set the main categories that clearly state what we as a board expect. The list he's given us is great expectations, but let's get it in a format that makes sense professionally."

Trustee Barbara Myers argued that it was not the board's role to set goals for the superintendent, rather to evaluate whether he met those he set for himself.

"When we hire someone, we set out their criteria," she said. "After that, it's not something we spend a lot of time discussing. I think we run the risk of trying to quantify things that are impossible to quantify."

She also disagreed with the idea of postponing the process.

"We need to move ahead so the superintendent has goals in place," she said. "Delaying it for another meeting is unreasonable to me."

Each of the four main goals has an additional five to 10 subcategories to accomplish in the coming years.

Those include developing community partnerships, considering alternative methods of instruction, implementing a public relations plan, seeking additional methods for operational efficiencies, and others.

Stokes told the board he was willing to take their ideas into consideration as well.

"I appreciate your support," he said. "I'm willing to follow your lead in what you'd like to see from me."

At the Dec. 28 meeting, Stokes was evaluated on his performance on the goals set for the 2009-10 school year and was given a "superior" rating.