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The contest for the school board of trustees is confined to two areas, as incumbents Tracie Ward, in Area IV is running unopposed and Kevin Pape, in Area V, will continue to serve the remaining two years of his four year term.

AREA II

J.E. "Doc" McNeely

Incumbent

Area II – four-year term

Amargosa Valley resident since 2003

Most important issue facing our schools:

"The most challenging issue I see in the next year is additional budget cuts from the state. So far, we've experienced a $600,000 cut in December 2007 and $1.7 million in 2008 -- and we're expecting another cut.

"I am currently vice president of the school board of trustees. So far we have been able to deal with the budget cuts without affecting the children in the classrooms. We have been able to support functions and the teachers and classes have not been affected. But we're down to bare bones and the next cuts are going to be more difficult.

"Every child a success is our motto, but we can't do that if we have to start cutting into the classroom. We may have to cut some hours from the school day or eliminate teachers. In the middle schools and high schools, we may have limited choices for electives.

"If we have to eliminate teachers, that may mean eliminating classes we think are important for the children because there won't be anyone to teach them."

Another alternative is to increase class size. We are going to have to look at all these issues and see where it hurts the least.

Reason for running and qualifications:

"I was appointed to the school board to fill a vacancy in our district a year and a half ago. I would like to complete the programs we are working on right now and I feel like my 18 months on the board gives me an edge.

"I have served on administrative and regulative boards elsewhere. I have given my life to many community service programs -- like Boy Scouts -- and so forth. I have an interest in our future leaders.

"My experience in the construction business with labor relations issues, management and supervision for that industry lends to my value on the board. I have the fiscal experience from managing multi-million dollar budgets and I have the endorsement of the president of the board."

Kathleen L. Bienenstein

Area II – Four-year term

Pahrump resident since January 2007

Most important issue facing our schools:

"Aside from the most obvious issue, which is the lack of money to run the schools, I think we really need to get the parents and community more involved in the educational system.

"If we can get the parents engaged with their children, the children would greatly benefit. Being involved in what the children are learning at school, reading together, being interested in homework assignments and generally fostering a learning environment at home is key.

"Research shows that quality learning experiences at a young age prepare children to be successful in achieving social and academic challenges in school.

"We must increase the current graduation rate from high school and if parents get involved while children are young, it is far more likely their children will graduate. For instance, a lot of our children are having difficulty with math. A positive relationship between students, their families and teachers is necessary so children's challenges can be quickly addressed.

"I would help the parents to help the child."

Reason for running and qualifications:

"I have experience with big groups. I am the president of the League of Voters of Las Vegas Valley. Our community involvement includes voter education in the schools. Of course, we do not have or teach any party affiliations. We teach students the importance of elections and how to decide what is important to them. They make their own decisions. I have the skill to bring that involvement to the parents.

"Texbooks are part of the educational system. I believe school field trips are very beneficial; however, I think the students should earn their own money to pay toward their trips. We are in hard economic times. We keep losing the money we need for school programs.

"It's important for kids to go on field trips but those aren't necessarily funded and I hate to have the children lose those positive learning experience because of lack of funding."

AREA VI

Harold Tokerud

Incumbent

Area II - Running for four- year term

Two years on the Nye County Board of Trustees

Resident of Pahrump since: 2000

Most important issue facing our schools:

"Finances. Money. All told, we've had the budget cut by $2.6 million since December of last year and our enrollment is flat. There isn't any new enrollment that would increase those funds. Decisions have to be made -- some tough decisions about staffing. I would like to see that the teaching staff is not reduced.

"Money is the biggest challenge and staffing is the most difficult decision.

"Of course, we have other problems in the school district. Our high school has more than 1,400 students and our middle school has 1,200. We have to address that problem in the next year. We have the money to build, but no money to run new schools."

Reason for running and qualifications:

"I was Esmeralda County School Superintendent for nine years and then retired to Colorado. But I just couldn't stay away when I was offered the job of interim superintendent of schools for a year here in Nye County while the board searched for a permanent superintendent. My wife and I were on vacation in Sweden when I got the call. A few weeks later, I was here in Pahrump. Since then, I've been principal for Beatty elementary and high schools and principal at Manse Elementary."

"I just love public education. I have been in all the schools in Nye County. I love being around the kids. I owe everything I have to public education. I grew up at the end of the depression. Me and my two brothers grew up in a single parent home and we all ended up with masters degrees. There are seven of us kids and five of us are teachers. Without public education, I don't know where I would be.

I am trying to give back to public education what it has given to me."

Courtland H. Ofelt

Doctor of Education

Area VI - Four-year term

Pahrump resident for 5 years

Most important issue facing our schools:

"There are many pressing issues for the school district; however, I would first focus on keeping school taxation low at the local level. We have a lot of retired people on fixed incomes. Plus, the governor recently said there could be a 10 to 20 percent cut in what the state is giving out all around. If the school district has to actually give back money, we must be ready to cut millions from the dollars we get from the State. We have to do more for less.

"School enrollment is dropping throughout the county. Extend those figures out and in three years we will be at 2005-06 levels of students.

"Secondly, we need to hire and retain highly effective math and science teachers and demand focus, rigor and coherence.

"It almost goes without saying that we must increase Pahrump Valley High School graduation rates to 75 percent from 60 percent.

"We must also decrease student-on-student violence. Last year there were 293 such incidences reported. At the same time, we must improve the school climate and move all the sixth graders out of the middle school and back to the elementary schools.

Reason for running and qualifications:

"I am running for school board trustee because If I didn't run for the area six seat, we would have three people on the school board who ran unopposed and would be "elected" by default. Is that what we want to have happen in American elections?

"I even waited to see if someone else would run for the seat until the last day -- the last afternoon to register.

"As for qualifications, I am a retired educational and city administrator from Alaska. I do have an earned doctorate in school administration from Montana State University and am the founder of two scientific educational non-governmental organizations and a published scientific researcher."

My doctoral examination fields include: education administration, elementary education, school law, statistics, supervision and evaluation, curriculum construction and biology."