Local school board members are looking to define the role of the state school board during their retreat Saturday -- a move state trustee Barbara Myers calls "bewildering."
"It would be nice to know what the state school board does and how we interface with them," said Carson City School Board president Bob Crowell. "It's nothing more than that."
Crowell asked for the discussion after state school board member Myers addressed local members concerning Carson High School's graduation policy last week.
"It's the first time I've seen that happen in the four years I've been on the board," Crowell said. "I want to get feedback from members who have been on it longer."
Myers said there should be no need.
"It's a sad commentary that it's never happened," she said. "We're all serving the same kids so we have overlapping duties."
Crowell said he would prefer decisions about Carson City be made in Carson City.
"I'm generally in favor of educational decisions being made at the lowest possible level," he said. "Education in Carson City should be governed by local officials who are elected to do so. I think that's why we have a local board."
Myers sees it differently.
"It's not a 'them against us' -- that's what scares me," she said. "I believe in local school boards and autonomy but at times there are things we do that affect what they do."
She said lack of respect is apparent at state board meetings where only representatives from Washoe and Clark counties regularly attend but other districts do not.
"We're not hearing from the other boards," she said.
The rift between the two entities may be traced back to last year when the state school board overturned a local board's decision to close a school in Austin.
"It was an anomaly but it created a huge dissension in the state with local school boards," Myers said.
Myers had not yet decided whether to attend the retreat.
IF YOU GO
What: Carson City School board retreat
When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Where:1150 Highway 50, Zephyr Cove
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