Time to get school district back on track

The failure of certain Douglas County School District trustees to clearly recognize Carol Lark's achievements over the past three years and most particularly the past 12 months is simply another tragic lack of vision and lack of objective perspective by folks we've elected to oversee our children's education.

In the past 12 months alone we've seen the implementation of consolidation at the Lake as well as a new four day school week "pilot" program, both done without the animosity or ill feelings so many previous superintendents and school boards feared.

The district wide radon problem that has existed for more than 20 years has been addressed to its proper end.

Beginning in June of last year, the budget for this school year was in the red to the tune of 4 percent, 8 percent then 12.4 percent, and yes, the budget for the 2008-09 school year was being hacked by the governor, simultaneously.

While all that was going on, Lark spearheaded the effort to get the maintenance bond passed, and it did pass.

Through it all she has been at the forefront of each of these issues and numerous others. She has not backed away from any issue. She has more than adequately praised or recognized those that have contributed to success.

There appear to be subordinates in the district that do not feel Lark is taking us in the right direction.

She is actually directing everyone to be a bit more responsible and throw away the old "this is the way we do it around here" attitudes and think "out of the box" and with a bit of vision. She wants us to work a little smarter for the kids.

There are also board members that appear to be a bit more special interest oriented than I believe they should be. Some are possibly far too sympathetic to some of Mrs. Lark's subordinate critics than they should be as well.

I've been a district parent for 18 years and this is the first superintendent to step up and perform the job in a completely responsible manner while getting great results since my oldest began multi-track in 1991.

I've been a DCSD employee for the past four years and eight months and I have noticed changes that have many people complaining, but as far as I can tell, it is not justified.

Lark is getting things done internally that the state and federal government forced my previous employer to do in the mid-'80s.

With the exception of the district's educators, far too many employees are complacent. I have seen that start to change, but as is to be expected, there are those that don't want to change, be responsible or actually put out an honest days work for the good wage and excellent benefits we have.

I've witnessed numerous times the collaborative and cooperative sessions she conducts with our teachers. The teachers I work with respect her and, believe it or not, most of them think she's doing a pretty good job overall.

We pay Lark to take on the hard issues and make the hard decisions.

We pay Lark to oversee budgeting that works for the entire district, not just the favorite programs of board members.

Each board member, subordinate administrator, cabinet member, department head and employee needs to open their minds and attitudes to a new direction for our children's education and how to temper the needs with the pittance that "we the people" give Nevada education and how our superintendent recommends we use it.

If anyone else in this district was, or had been, remotely qualified for the job, Lark would not have been hired.

We don't need mediation or counseling for what is taking place. Lark is superintendent, subordinates are just that and need to respond accordingly. We pay you to support the superintendent. That is your job.

The board needs to present Lark with a unanimous vote of confidence at the next meeting and tell the rest of us school district employees who the boss is with some finality.

I don't agree with everything she has done and will likely have some issues with some things down the line somewhere, but at least the district will be down the line somewhere as opposed to simply treading water.

Get on the education train, or dust off your resume and traveling clothes and take the next stage out, I want better for my kids, grandkids and everybody else's as well.

Michael C. Ivie is a longtime Gardnerville resident.