Same stuff for the schools

A new school year has started, and the district has once again made the politically correct opening statements. They told anyone that actually pays any attention to them that the test scores are up, new programs are in place, and our children's education is the most important issue.

Our superintendent was called one of the top "technology" leaders in the nation. That alone should make our students better.

The simple truth is that nothing changes each and every year except the fact that new garbage is added to the pile.

The legislature gave the school district the monies to give the teachers (and administrators, of course) a 4 percent raise. That is great, except for the fact that the NCSD has tied up the raise by making the union go into negotiations for the raise.

Based on past negotiations, this could last for a year or more. I do not believe the money was given to the schools to be used in union negotiations or as leverage to get concessions from a weak union. (By the way, it is my understanding that the administrators have already OK'd the raise for themselves and will be receiving it shortly.)

Top administrators have still been spotted gambling during business hours. When spotted out, and the district office called, people are told the administrators have either stepped out for a moment or they are in a meeting.

I wish I could hold my business meetings at local casinos with a bucket of quarters close at hand. It would make those boring meetings go so much faster.

NCSD has joined the nationwide health trend and taken the soda machines out of schools and replaced them with flavored water and other "healthy" drinks that have more sugar and calories than the sodas. The district has also issued guidelines as to what the teachers can give their students for treats.

I was told by some of the local educators that the soda and snack machines were removed from the teachers' lounges. The district is concerned about the health of its staff as well as the health of its students.

If they were actually concerned, they would get the insurance that they give their employees accepted by the local hospital.

Yes, if you do have an emergency, you can go to the ER and get treatment, but it costs much more because you are at an out-of-network hospital.

Every time someone calls to check on the insurance status, they are told the hospital is still negotiating with the insurance company. Negotiations between countries to stop wars have taken less time. If the NCSD was really concerned about its employees, they would step in and get the insurance company to really negotiate.

The district still transfers teachers around instead of terminating the ones that should not be in education. They are still afraid of the word "lawsuit," but it seems that following the law or educating children are still options. I understand it's hard to attract "quality" teachers to Pahrump, but based on the educators I have talked to, the "quality" teachers that are here now will be leaving very soon.

This year, the district awarded incentive money to schools who did their jobs and made AYP (the adequate yearly progress as defined by No Child Left Behind). From what I found out, three schools in Pahrump did not get the extra money for doing their jobs. The middle school did not make it, and based on the past with the lack of resources put into it and the attitude of the students (and most especially the parents), they will more than likely never make it no matter how hard all the staff works.

One elementary school failed to make AYP and it was, from what I was told by the district office, the only school that had made it every year (except last year).

Now, those teachers worked just as hard as every other teacher in the district, but without the proper staffing they did not make AYP. (I was told the school was scheduled to have three special education teachers, and for the year they only had one teacher and lots of fill-ins.)

If you want all your schools to pass, then staffing them correctly should be a priority. The alternative school did not make AYP, and based on the students that go there, I cannot see them ever making it. The students are basically on their own and the attendance requirements are very lacking. (I believe they must attend less than a typical school day each week.)

Some schools were so low that if any students passed, the tests would show improvement. Those schools' teachers worked very hard to get improvement and they succeeded.

The true test will be this year when the improvement will have to be higher to maintain their status. I asked a number of people and found out that one of the biggest areas of failure is in special ed. Schools have become very tricky when it comes to numbers in special ed. If you don't have a specific percentage of special ed students in the school, then you do not have to count that group in the AYP. My concern is that some schools may not be placing students in special ed so that they may have a better chance of making AYP.

New school year, but same old problems with a few new ones. NCSD once again shows that staff (other than administrators) and students are not a priority. The NCSD motto should be SSDD: "Same Stuff (word changed for publication) Different Day."

WIll Burnet

Commissioners need some wisdom

I am amazed at how our wonderful Nye commissioners vote to approve a huge housing development but lack commercial in the surrounding areas due to "friends" helping "friends". Especially Commissioner Joni Eastley, who has been a true rival of Sheriff DeMeo. She votes to approve huge housing plans but is against arming our deputies with the tools they need to do their job.

Aren't our lovely commissioners overwhelming our deputies if they are going to shortchange the department once these beautiful developments go up? Maybe we need to find a way to catch them in the act of corruption.

They need to remember, that if they do not increase our sheriff's department, they risk all residents of the expected growth of crime. Our commissioners need to be wise when they vote for particular developments. The voters must be wise, too, of who they vote for. Vote responsibly.

Gabe Martin

Take a bow

My husband and I had the pleasure of attending the Tracy Byrd concert Thursday night. I don't know who is responsible for booking this concert, but they deserve to be recognized for bringing quality entertainment to this community.

The number of people who turned out for this event shows that Pahrump can and will support big-name entertainment. Let's hope this is only the first of more great concerts to come.

To the person who booked this concert: Thanks for a great show. Now it's your turn to stand up and take a bow.

Carol Cook

Trying to save money

Hearing the statement made by individuals, "If it was better where you came from, why did you come here" really means change is not welcome. It irritates me, but some relocate here without choice. Pahrump is a rural town with growing pains just starting and hearing locals bitch, change is definitely needed.

Why does spending money for educational purposes in the west differ from the east? Who decided a grade school, middle and high school built separately are needed for kids?

I grew up going to school outside of Philadelphia in the '40s. One township, 10 thousand people, one school, a football field, 12 grades.

Why not Pahrump? One school south, one central, one north, each having 12 grades. As a city grows, you expand east, then west. School busing could be minimized. Why change schools? I walked or rode a bike up to three miles, weather no factor having no school buses.

We didn't carry 50-pound sacks on our back.

Is money being ill spent building three different schools for three grade levels on three separate parcels of ground?

Wouldn't it be better building a school on one parcel two or three stories high in each area and also minimize school busing or is there something locally I'm not aware of?

What was Pahrump years ago? A dot on the map, Ace Hardware, driving 75 miles for groceries and growing cotton for a living? Some would rather revert back to that than have change?

Buying extra acreage and running more buses for schools is not cheap, and my comments are about saving taxpayers' money on school bond issues to better utilize tax money for road improvement and other essentials badly needed.

Charles A. Hagen

English? Absolutely.

The words "racist" and "bigot" are thrown around these days like "have a nice day" or "nice to see you."

This is our country, wake up. We should not have to apologize or explain why we, no way, no how, should have people in this country who don't have the backbone to come in to our country legally.

My parents did it. They worked in the Mississippi cotton fields 16 hours a day. Sometimes there wasn't enough food on the table.

These great people worked hard and moved us to California, where again, both worked so hard to give us children a better life.

With the extra money my mom saved, she had a lady visit her three times a week. Mrs. Bartoli, an Italian immigrant, taught my mom the rate of exchange and the customs of America.

They were more than proud to become Americans and felt they had been blessed to be Americans. Yes, they were proud of their heritage and we were able to fuse all together. It just so worked, and God bless them and people like them.

Having said this, we do not owe anyone who comes into this country illegally a damn thing.

I can assure you that most Americans are so very tired of being made to feel like we are responsible for their problems.

The world has changed. We cannot afford to allow people to waltz across our borders with less than the best of intentions for being here.

Our crime rate is now out of control. Gangs have taken over neighborhoods.

Las Vegas clearly has become hell; the crime rate is off the charts. Yet still we have idiots who insist that none of this is causing major problems for us.

So, English? You bet your asses.

What should we expect from them? Speak English, become responsible citizens, and don't come into this country and wave your Mexican flags and continue to thumb your noses at us.

I will tell you, you're only creating quiet but determined Americans who will refuse to allow you to display your disregard for our country.

It's only creating tension and hatred, so if you want to be in this country, act as if you do by learning English and acting responsibly, as an American.

English for Pahrump. You bet.

Countries all over the world are teaching their children English. It's wonderful to allow our children to learn many languages, but don't think for a minute you can come here and force your heritages on us. You must become a part of ours.

If Americans caused half the problems in any other country, including Mexico, we would be shot or imprisoned for years.

You have no rights until you become a legal citizen. America doesn't owe you a damn thing.

It's a privilege to be an American. Act and prove you deserve the right, otherwise, get the hell out of this country. Don't insult us by waving your flag that apparently has done nothing to support your ass, otherwise you wouldn't be here.

Sarah c. ravlin