Legislature told schools need books and pencils, not computers

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

"Before $65 million is provided for computers, etc., we would like to see our basic educational needs met," said the letter from students at Grant Sawyer Middle School.

Stephanie Busby, 14, collected signatures from her classmates who fear they're being overlooked by those whose sights are set on expensive technology.

Busby wrote that her school needs chairs, desks and lab tables to accommodate the influx of new students. And youths want their own lockers and gym lockers so they don't have to carry their clothes with them throughout the day.

Students said the school library lacks the required number of books, so students have to do their research at the public library when reports are assigned.

Art classes are without adequate supplies, including markers, crayons and colored pencils, and math classes lack calculators and compasses, the students added.

Kristine Jensen, of the Nevada Concerned Citizens, distributed the petition during a joint Senate Finance-Assembly Ways and Means hearing on funding for the state's public schools.

"If these problems are occurring at (Grant Sawyer), they're probably happening in other state schools," Jensen said. "They want their needs met before we jump off another cliff."

In his budget for K-12 education, Gov. Bob Miller proposed spending $35 million to kick off a program that will, in six years, place a computer in every Nevada classroom.

He expects to spend $175 million to complete the project.

However, the plan came under fire last week from Finance Chairman Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who said research shows the program will actually cost $233 million by 2003.

Raggio said the computer program, coupled with full implementation of third grade class-size reduction, is an expensive commitment for Nevada.

Ways and Means Chairman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, questioned whether the time has come for the state to start putting parameters on the money it gives school districts.

"How can we make sure there are adequate textbooks and instructional supplies?" Arberry asked. "Once we decide what district A will get, the local school board makes the decision about where it goes."

Arberry wants school districts to be accountable for purchasing textbooks with the money the state allocates for.

Raggio also said he doesn't understand why textbook money disappears, adding, "We have asked the school districts whether they have enough money for required textbooks and they have argued that they have."

Districts, teachers and school officials have opposed legislators micro-managing school budgets, Raggio said. But he has heard complaints from parents who have pulled their children out of public schools because they couldn't supply the students with books.