Businesses urged to help out schools

Teresa Hinds

Friday, Nov. 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Elaine Wynn told a group of educators, politicians and business leaders that Nevada is "doing a dreadfully poor job in education," and that technology is the key to doing better.

Wynn, an education proponent and wife of Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, co-chaired with Gov. Bob Miller the Nevada Education Summit on Thursday at The Mirage. Wynn urged business leaders to form partnerships with local school districts and provide financial support to bring technology into classrooms.

"Sadly, we have the lowest graduation rate in the country. Our basic population doesn't really get it about education," Wynn said. "Overwhelmingly the finger points to technology for getting children to learn."

Wynn's message of technology as the key to the future of education was echoed by Miller, Lew Solomon, who is president of the Milken Institute of Job & Capital Formation, and Clark County School District Superintendent Brian Cram.

Two funding sources

In addition to pledging to lobby the 1997 Legislature for technology funding for Nevada schools, Miller also urged financial support from the business community and said the two funding sources could work in tandem.

"We can do this by utilizing the educational technology fund established through (Senate Bill) 226 during the 1995 session, which was designed to accept both state general funds and private sector dollars," Miller said.

Cram is confident of support from both the Legislature and the business community.

"The Legislature typically has a 'show me' attitude," Cram said. "If we're able to show the Legislature that this will improve achievement and we will get a better product, this will get their support."

School Board member Lois Tarkanian thinks the time is right to approach the Legislature for funding.

"This is the best chance we've ever had for it," she said. "Miller is pushing it strongly, and more and more legislators are starting to realize we need to do this."

Cram said the key to business support is proving the benefits of the request. "When you can clearly define to the business community precisely what it is you want and you can prove there is a benefit, they are very receptive."

Citibank Nevada President Wilfried Jackson liked what he heard at Thursday's conference.

"I'm really excited, I think it's fantastic that Gov. Miller is taking the initiative to do this," Jackson said. "This summit represents a commitment to the city and to the children of tomorrow."

Jackson said he had no doubt the business/school partnership would be successful. "This partnership has to work -- it's tied directly to the economic development of the state."

"I thought the summit was a wonderful first step," said Barbara Mulholland, public relations and external affairs director for Citibank. "The business community will be very excited at the initiative. It's my guess that they will understand economic development and an educated work force is the same thing.

"There are a lot of businesses like Citibank that have waited for a formality like today. Now, let's go," she said.

Low marks from survey

Nevada is one of two states the Milken Foundation is assisting in doing a statewide school technology assessment. Solomon said since the survey began this summer, he has received a 65 percent response rate from Nevada teachers.

From the response so far, Solomon said Nevada has a 25:1 student:computer ratio, which he said should be 4:1 or 5:1. The survey also shows that 57 percent of those computers can be networked; students have access to computer labs for an average of only 2.9 hours per week; only 3 percent of classrooms have access to the Internet; and 70 percent of teachers have no local e-mail access.

Solomon estimated a $175 million price tag to bring every Nevada classroom up to the optimum technological level.

"We are doing our children and ourselves a disservice by preparing our students for the 21st century without technology," Solomon said.

Cram cited numerous instances where the implementation of technology would not only assist in higher student achievement, but also save the school district "significant amounts of money."

He suggested an increased use of distance education could offer students after-school help in studies they are falling behind in, and cut down on the cost of staff needed to teach the remedial courses.

"I just think that what this does is offer a variation of the standard way of delivering education, and for some students, we know it's very, very effective," Cram said.

Miller also pledged to increase educational standards throughout the state and supported improving assessment tools.

"I support the governor's intent that we are consistently raising our standards," Cram said. "The truth is that we know it's not an overnight solution, but if we don't keep setting the bar higher, we're not going to be competitive.

"We're finally talking about the problem. I'm not sure we have all the solutions yet, but for the first time we have the business, government and educational communities sitting down and saying 'We need to re-think how we do business.'"