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If a shortfall in state funding means cutting millions from the K-12 budget, Clark County Schools Superintendent Walt Rulffes said he's taking the first hit himself.
Rulffes plans to turn back the 4 percent pay hike he's due to receive (along with the rest of the district's administrators) in the 2008-09 fiscal year. The district's teachers are also scheduled for a 4 percent salary increase, and Rulffes said he has no plans to cut the salaries of any employee.
"If the economy is down and some cuts are inevitable, we're going to start at the top with my office," Rulffes told me. "I need to set an example."
Gibbons wants 4.5 percent trimmed off the state' K-12 budget, which translates to about $93 million statewide. The bulk of the cuts would be in Clark County, the state's largest school district.
Rulffes annual salary is about $300,000. His contract runs through August 2010, and the Clark County School Board will hold its annual evaluation of its chief executive Monday. While it's unlikely the School Board would boost Rulffes' pay this year, given the current economic climate, Rulffes said he would also decline any such offer.
The superintendent's decision is largely symbolic, since the $12,000 shaved off his salary won't make a dent in the more than $60 million in cuts facing the district. But the underlying message wasn't lost on Mary Ella Holloway, president of the Clark County Education Association.
"I think it's a nice gesture on his part," said Holloway, whose organization represents the majority of the district's 18,000 teachers. "He's tried to do the right thing."
New programs, including more full-day kindergarten classes for at-risk students and the launching of the statewide "empowerment schools" initiative are expected to move to the back burner. Rulffes said he's also anticipating a hiring freeze, which he does not expect to extend to classroom teachers.
However, Rulffes said he has put a hold on all non-essential travel requests, and some construction projects may also be delayed.
The superintendent's evaluation will be held at 9 a.m. at the district's administrative building, 5100 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas.
We'll know Rulfes is serious when he completely eliminates the sports teams. They are a disproportionate waste of money, given the limited number of students they serve. Have you ever watched the local TV coverage of CCSD high school basketball and football teams? The stands are virtually empty.
CCSD could also cut out other extra curricular programs which require "try outs" not permitting all students who want in to participage, e.g. choirs, band, orchestra, etc.
When times are tough academically programs which are not open to all students must be eliminated.
In response to OldTimeDemocrat: I agree athletics cost a lot, but cutting athletics outright is not the answer. A "pay-to-play" fee may be better. By the way, all programs ARE open to all students, but tryouts make sure that they are ready for the challenge. A beginning musician should not start at the highest point, and there IS a beginning class for them. In addition, performing arts and athletics serve to motivate students. Attendance at games is usually low, because only the parents and friends of the players care enough to go, unless the team is at the top of the league, like all other sports in Las Vegas.
I can tell from tkreuze's comments that he's an elitist and an "educator". (Pardon me, I vomit every time I hear that self important word.)
The principle is simple. Either everyone is allowed to participate, or those who are "allowed to participate because of their talent, skill or competence" pay the full freight.
How can you say that sports and the performing arts are a waste of time? Have you ever played sports or been in choir? Or have a child or family member that plays or sings?
The sports and performing arts programs are there to keep our students out of trouble and to keep them in school. Instead of them getting into drugs, trouble with the law and just dropping out. I played Varsity Soccer for my High School all four years and was also in two advanced choirs all those years on top of it. I am a big fan of helping the children of today and tomorrow get ahead in this world. I'm not saying they don't cost a lot. But that is what fundraising is for. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it doesn't make a difference.