Cyndi Loza

Barbara L. McLaury still campaigns for election to the Washoe County school board from District G, even though her opponent withdrew.

“I am trying to get my name out there so that people can recognize who I am, but that’s not something that’s happening day in and day out,” said McLaury, 66.

Retired educator Peggy Lear Bowen withdrew as a candidate in the district that covers western Washoe County from Cold Springs to Washoe Valley. Her name remains on the ballot.

“I want to assure you that I am not going away,” said Bowen in a written statement Sept. 11. “In Greek, to be a politician means to offer one’s service. I promise that in the future, I will offer my service once more, and I pray for your acceptance.”

In the Aug. 12 primary, Bowen had 5,368 votes to McLaury’s 3,900 in a six-person race.

McLaury has worked for the school district for 34 years as a teacher, K-12 reading coordinator, principal and senior director. She would replace Barbara Price, who did not seek re-election.

“I can only tell you that I have such a strong belief system in the integrity of every human being and, most specifically, of children and students,” McLaury said.

“I have been an educator my entire professional life, so I care deeply for children and students. I mean, that’s always been the most important thing that I’ve done is to work well with children and families to meet their individual needs.”

As a board member, she said she would make sure additional resources are available for all students.

“Sometimes we tend to the mid-range group of children (more), so we want to make sure we’re teaching to all the ranges of children that we have in our classroom,” McLaury said.

In December, Gov. Jim Gibbons ordered a 4.5 percent statewide cut that reduced funding to school districts by $95 million over the next two years. In May, Gibbons asked agencies and school districts to present “what-if” budgets with 14 percent cuts to operating costs.

McLaury said she is not sure what to cut but wants “to make sure those ramifications don’t effect the classroom level. I think we have to really protect the teacher and the students in the regular classrooms.”