Clark County School Board vote reaffirms Skorkowsky as permanent superintendent

The Monday revote on naming interim Clark County School District Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky to the position permanently ended the same way as the original May 21 vote — with a unanimous decision to hand him the reins of the nation’s fifth-largest district.

The School Board unanimously agreed to redo the vote, but not because it did anything wrong the first time, said board members Linda Young, Carolyn Edwards and Chris Garvey. The School Board is being “prudent,” Garvey said, because complaints have been filed with the Nevada attorney general’s office.

Two complaints allege that the School Board broke the state open meeting law on May 21 by holding a surprise interview and appointing Skorkowsky without proper notice given on the agenda. The complaints initiated a state investigation into the School Board’s actions.

“We don’t think we did anything wrong,” said School Board President Edwards.

However, redoing the vote will assure that Skorkowsky’s appointment stands, no matter what the attorney general’s office finds because the School Board corrected its questionable action, said board attorney Mary Ann Peterson.

“The (attorney general’s office) investigation will not go forward if there’s a cure,” Peterson said.

Regardless of the revote, the attorney general’s office should still investigate and render an opinion telling the School Board whether it broke the law on May 21, contended complainant and parent Kevinn Donovan.

“Just because you slow down after seeing the cop doesn’t mean you get out of a speeding ticket,” he said.

Keith Marcher, the state’s chief deputy attorney general, said earlier Monday that the state could still investigate and give the School Board an opinion on whether it broke the law. That wouldn’t affect Skorkowsky’s appointment made Monday.

The attorney general’s office will decide after Monday’s School Board’s action whether to continue its investigation, Marcher said.

Before voting Monday, Edwards issued a message to community members, whether they agree with Skorkowsky’s appointment or not.

“Let’s come together to support the work that needs to be done,” she said. “We can do that better if we’re not fighting.”

Next, the School Board will enter into contract negotiations with Skorkowsky. Former Superintendent Dwight Jones earned a $270,000 annual salary plus $88,000 in perks, including a $700 monthly car allowance and $660 a month to offset costs of participating in community events.

Before becoming interim superintendent in March, Skorkowsky, a 25-year district veteran, was a deputy superintendent overseeing instruction for less than eight months. In that position, he earned $144,000 a year. After he was named interim superintendent, his salary was raised to $212,300.

“I don’t want to see another Gucci contract,” said board member Lorraine Alderman, referring to Jones’ long list of benefits.

The initial vote to hire Skorkowsky came in the wake of board members “being hammered to do a national search by some special interest groups and politically powerful individuals,” board member Linda Young has said.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.