Douglas County School Board attempts to pull away from state school board association

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County may become an "island in the state" if the school board votes to withdraw from the Nevada Association of School Boards (NASB).

During their last meeting, the Douglas County School Board (DCSB) had on its agenda to withdraw from NASB, the statewide group that all 17 counties in Nevada belong to. Not all members were on the same page and the item will come back to the next agenda.

NASB was established in 1963 to give a common voice for public education, and according to its website, dedicated to strengthening public schools through local citizen control. NASB focuses upon three primary strategies to accomplish its mission — advocacy, boardsmanship, and communication.

Board members Katherine Dickerson and Susan Jansen attended a NASB conference a month ago, and both said they did not like the subjects some of the national speakers provided.

State school boards across the country have withdrawn from the National School Board Association since it asked President Biden to provide federal intervention in local school board issues in 2021, California included.

School boards have been battlegrounds for the last few years, much of it beginning with COVID-19, race and gender issues, and what books can and cannot be read by students.

But so far, there hasn't been a movement for individual districts to sail away without the support the state boards provide.

Trustee Katherine Dickerson is a trustee on the NASB board. School board members from across the state make up the NASB board with Carson City School Board Trustee and Lyon County Principal Mike Walker as its president-elect.

Dickerson, who was just voted in as clerk for DCSB during last week's meeting, said she is hearing things at the state level that are "very concerning." She called them an activist group with disturbing speakers. Dickerson said one speaker at the conference said schools shouldn't punish students as it is a pipeline to prison, and that they are pushing Critical Race Theory.

Walker isn't sure what Dickerson is referring to, saying they did evaluations after every session at the conference, and all they received were a lot of satisfied participants and no complaints. He said nothing was addressed with the conference organizers.

That was echoed by the NASB Executive Director Rick Harris.

"We had some of the most positive reviews ever," Harris said collectively of the post-session evaluations.

Both were surprised at the DCSB agenda item to separate from NASB. Harris said he wished they'd reached out to discuss any problems or questions they may have.

Harris and NASB Board President Wade Poulsen will both be at the next DCSB meeting in February to discuss the district's membership in the state board.

"It would be disappointing if they stopped participating," said Walker. "Every district in the state is a member."

NASB advocates for elected school boards, they provide best practices, good governance, professional development, and open meeting law and other training. They also mentor school boards.

"We have been part of NASB and I don't want to become an island in this state with all 17 counties as members," said DCSB Trustee Carey Kangas. "We don't have to agree with all speakers at conventions. The trainings are good, they offer what you need on how to function as a board member, and the board book benefits which are the heartbeat of our board meetings.

"It is a great organization," added Kangas. "The CPO (Certified Public Official) program has enriched my ability to serve."

The December conference had keynote speakers that included school superintendents and financial experts on school funding, Nevada Plan information, sessions on how to inspire students and staff for high success rates, and national work on artificial intelligence and its impact on education.

"We strive to bring things in that are timely and resonate with school boards so they can do the best they can do," added Walker. "We advocate during legislative sessions, have a unified voice, and let school trustees know about upcoming legislation and how it might affect them."

"To lose that district would be a loss for the community as they wouldn't be part of the conversation about the state's needs," said Walker.

Students in the rural districts of the state (all but Washoe and Clark) have a right to a quality education, and NASB members band together to make sure that happens, said both Harris and Walker.

"We'd love to partner with Douglas County and help calm the fire," said Harris. "The kids deserve what we offer."