July 19, 2023, R-C Letters to the Editor

Work begins on strategic plan

Editor:

As approved at our most recent Board of Commissioners meeting, we directed new county manager Jenifer Davidson to embark upon a six-month task of updating the Douglas County Strategic Plan. The last plan, approved in June of 2017, identified six primary components, 1) Financial Stability, 2) Infrastructure, 3) Organizational Sustainability, 4) Economic Vitality, 5) Community Safety, and 6) Culture, Natural Resources and Quality of Life.

The Strategic Plan identifies our vision, our mission, and our values as a community and provides us, the Board of Commissioners and our County manager and staff, a road map of where we wish to see ourselves in the next five years and beyond. 

While the commissioners will be heavily engaged in the creation of this critically important document it is equally incumbent upon you, the citizens of Douglas County, to be engaged and involved as well, perhaps even to a greater extent than the commissioners. To that end, we will be conducting two community forums and launching a public survey to accommodate not only those members of our community who are available during the daytime but also working families, who may not be able to participate during the scheduled workshops. In addition, we will employ a variety of social media platforms which will provide you with a direct link to provide the County with your feedback and priorities. 

I know Mrs. Davidson is extremely excited about this opportunity to have you, Douglas County, help determine our direction and I share her excitement as well. I encourage you to become involved and keep an eye out for opportunities to participate as we proceed with this task over the next several months. 

Mark Gardner

Chairman, Douglas County Board of Commissioners

Topaz Ranch Estates

Light ’em if you got ’em

Editor:

I was unsurprised to read the news that Joey Gilbert has been drafted to represent the Douglas County School Board as legal counsel. Although he appears to lack any significant experience representing schools on legal matters, Mr. Gilbert brings valuable experience as an investor in MYNT Industries, a well-regarded Nevada cannabis industry provider.

Having assessed and treated so many local youth for their cannabis violations over the years, I have suggested to administrators that the local secondary schools remove the word “High” from their titles, today’s youth being so literal and all. 

I had been wondering where the new school board members might have been getting their supply, and what they might have been smoking. Perhaps the local kids will be eligible for discounts in the future as well!

Douglas County chose to restrict the legal sale of cannabis here years ago; looks like the budding industry has found a new way to get their foot in the door. 

Anybody got a light? Can’t beat ’em, might as well join ’em.

Lance Crowley

Sheridan

Support our schools

Editor:

I am a lifelong advocate for the Douglas County School District. I have been employed by the district for over 30 years as a teacher, school counselor, school psychologist and administrator.

Phyllis and I raised or girls in Douglas County and both graduated as valedictorians from Douglas High School. I have had the opportunity to work ibn every school in the district. I have enjoyed and admired the dedication and hardworking efforts of the teachers, counselors and administrators in making this the best school district in the state.

We used to work hand-in-hand with the Board of Trustees in establishing policy that supported the educational goals of parents, teachers and administration. Board trustees frequently visited my schools, (Scarselli, Zephyr Cove and Douglas High) during my administrative years (1990-2001) to ask how things were going and check on my school’s academic progress or voice questions parents, teachers or the trustee might have had.

It is very frustrating to see the recently elected school board trustees (Burns, Jansen and Dickerson) become so politically polarized and focused on their Republican Central Committee agenda rather than focusing on goals and objectives established by the professionally trained staff, administrators and parents.

Parents of student in the Douglas County School District need to wake up and understand the importance of not letting these trustees dictate their political agenda that will impact your child’s education. They have no children present or past in our school district and yet they want to “save our children.” These trustees have voiced damaging claims that our schools are not focused on core subjects and engage in social engineering. They presently want to dismiss or terminate the district’s contract with Maupin, Cox and LeGoy and are considering Joey Gilbert.

Mr. Gilbert is best known as an attorney specializing in criminal law, personal injury, immigration and business law. He is also known for his failed attempt to run for governor in the state of Nevada.

He doesn’t list his experiences with Nevada school law, IDEA, Sectikon 504s, ADA regulations or other complex state and federal laws that the attorneys from Maupin, Cox and LeGoy have had to deal with over the last 10-plus years. Parents need to ask themselves how much of their child’s education funding is going to be squandered if these trustees are successful in terminating the contract of a time-tested law firm and hiring someone who simply supports their polarized political agenda.

William Robison

Gardnerville

Definition of nonpartisan

Editor:

I surprised by the letter published on July 12 regarding the meaning of “nonpartisan.” So I went to the expert, Merriam Webster. The definition is: free from party affiliation, bias, or designation. Synonyms include: impartial, unbiased, equitable, neutral, and, apolitical.

This means, when one serves on a school board as a “nonpartisan” one is expected to be “apolitical”. To inject ones politics at school board meetings is  a partisan act and is at the very least, inappropriate. If one cannot keep ones politics out of a “nonpartisan” position, then I suggest one should resign.

I’m afraid some schools board members may be under the false impression that they hold a political office and that they were elected to put forth their political agenda, not true. The position you hold as a school board member is an administrative one, like being elected a county assessor.

The Nevada Association of School Boards adopted a Code of Conduct for school board members in 2008 and it was last revised in 2018. The very first item on the list is: I represent all school district constituents honestly and equally and refuse to surrender my responsibilities to special interest or partisan political groups.

I respectfully request that all Douglas County school board members conduct their business in a non-political manner. It’s the ethical thing to do.

Alice Meyer

Gardnerville