Cook files for board of education

Dave Cook filed Friday for a second four-year term on the state Board of Education.

Cook represents District 3B, which includes Douglas, Storey, south Washoe and south Lyon counties as well as Carson City.

He said now that the board and Legislature have created a set of standards students must meet to get a high school diploma, the regulations putting those standards in effect must be completed.

"We've approved the standards," he said. "Now the standards have to be implemented."

He said the state needs to go to the next step in dealing with at-risk students and schools.

"I want required remediation for any child in the fourth quartile (the lowest end of test results)," he said. "It's time to get proactive."

Cook said with more standards and requirements, the board is going to have to look at the cost of providing students more time in the classroom.

"Potentially we're going to have a longer school day and potentially a longer school year," he said.

And he admitted that could cost more.

"There's going to be a bill for this," he said. "We're raising the standards and, at some point, you're going to have to give the system the resources to meet those standards."

Cook said he doesn't support the teachers' proposed business tax initiative. He said he is pinning his hopes on Gov. Kenny Guinn's fundamental review of government and recommendations for changing the state tax system to provide more funding for schools.