Candidate Karl Catarata talks education, safety, and accountability in Clark County School Board race
LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — Karl Catarata, running for the District A trustee seat on the Clark County School Board, joined the 8 News Now Daily Voting Guide for an interview to discuss his platform and vision for the district.
"I want to do the school board the right way," Catarata said when discussing the district's budget crisis. "We need to have serious accountability when it comes to making sure that our resources and our dollars are truly going to the students."
One of the central concerns raised by parents, according to Catarata, is the low reading and math scores, placing the district near the bottom of national rankings.
"Every single minute that I'm going to be serving on the dais of the Clark County School Board of Trustees is focused on student achievement and student success," Catarata said. He added that this focus includes ensuring teachers have the resources they need and keeping the district's leadership accountable.
Asked about how he would handle the district's immediate challenges, Catarata made the case that he's prepared for the job.
"I'm already having multiple town halls, roundtables all across Henderson, Boulder City, Searchlight, and Laughlin. We need to make sure we have leaders who have the experience and qualifications ready to be able to lead on day one."
Catarata also highlighted concerns about safety within the district.
"We hear a lot when it comes to teacher retention and teacher recruitment," he said, listing it as a primary concern raised by parents. "The second piece that I hear from many of the parents all across Henderson is safety... If students feel safe, they're able to learn, grow, and be the learners that we believe they can be."
Catarata also addressed the issue of conflict on the current school board.
"Powerful relationships equals powerful results," he said, stressing his willingness to work with others to achieve progress. "I'll work with anyone to get the job done when it comes to our students."
