Miller proposes legislative grants to help improve class technology

Teresa Hinds

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

Gov. Bob Miller said he will ask the Legislature to set aside money so that schools may apply for technological grants.

The governor told business and education leaders attending the Nevada Education Summit at The Mirage on Thursday that every student in Nevada should have equal access to technology.

"I believe that the state has a responsibility to ensure equity of access," Miller said.

He also proposed raising the state's educational standards with the help of a Standards Implementation Board, which would include business leaders working with educators.

The governor asked local school districts to seek comments from parents, the business community and educators in developing higher standards.

"We know that our children should be the No. 1 priority of our Legislature," Miller said. "This next session should start by examining the challenges in education and end with implementing a dramatic change in education."

The technological grants and the Standards Implementation Board were enthusiastically endorsed by Clark County School District Superintendent Brian Cram.

Richard Urey, Miller's press secretary, said money for the technology grants could come from the state's annual budget surpluses, which would mean that no taxes or fees would have to be raised in order to provide the increased services to schools.

Cram defined the type of technology needed by schools. Computers, of course, are part of it, but Cram said the concept also includes distance learning, whereby students can be taught from remote locations. He also said schools need access to the Internet and that internal business operations need upgrading.

Included in Miller's proposal is a statewide Educational Technology Advisory Panel, consisting of private-sector technology experts, education representatives and legislative representatives, who would develop and oversee the grant program.

Public schools would be required to submit technology plans to the school district and to the state. The plan would have to outline technical needs and state how the upgraded equipment will lead to more learning by students.