Private schools could be allowed to use public school services

Jennifer Coleman

Thursday, April 8, 1999 | 5:08 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill to let private, charter and home school students use public school services if space is available was approved on a 16-5 Nevada Senate vote Thursday despite constitutionality concerns.

SB213, introduced by Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, would apply to classes or extracurricular activities at the public schools. The measure now goes to the Assembly for approval.

O'Connell said the practice is allowed in most states, with Nevada being one of only five that doesn't open public school activities to all children.

"Everybody pays for public schools. There's no reason services should be denied to these students," O'Connell said. "Why shouldn't we want every child to have the best education possible?"

But Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, cautioned that blurring the line between public and private schools would undermine the state's commitment to public education.

"If you feel a private education is better for you, that's fine. But having made that choice, you don't have the benefit of doing that at the expense of those who can't afford that luxury," she said.

"In these trying times, we should try to improve education, not subsidize private schools," she added.

Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, also objected to SB213.

"We cannot do this unless we repeal that section of the state Constitution that prohibits funds, public funds, from going to private, parochial, sectarian schools," he said.

But Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said the legislators' legal counsel didn't think the language of the bill could be considered unconstitutional.

Students not enrolled in the public school system would be accepted for extracurricular activities only if space was available, and the school district would have the right to reject an application or revoke an earlier approval without fear of liability.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, said if the state didn't approve the bill, federal funds for special education classes could be lost.

Besides Titus and Neal, other "no" votes were cast by Sens. Maggie Carlton, Bob Coffin and Ray Shaffer, all Las Vegas-area Democrats.