Senate: Private-school students should have access to public schools

Scott Reeder

Friday, April 9, 1999 | 10:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A measure to allow private-school students to take some courses and extracurricular activities in public schools passed the Senate with little trouble Thursday, with a vote of 16-5.

But first Senate Bill 213 sparked some partisan bickering over the roles of public and private schools.

"People who send their children to private schools or choose to home-school them still pay taxes to support the public schools," Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, sponsor of the bill, said. "Why shouldn't they be able to take advantage of some of the course offerings available at public schools?"

But Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said instead of concentrating on how to improve education for private-school students, the state should concentrate on improving the quality of public schools, which are available to all Nevada children.

O'Connell dismissed this argument, noting that Nevada is one of only five states that does not allow private-school students access to public-school programs.

"The reason they are opposed to this bill can be summed up in two words: teachers unions," O'Connell said. She said the unions, an influential force in politics, are opposed to some efforts to assist students who are not attending public schools.

Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, said that is not fair.

"Teacher unions have nothing to do with my opposition to this bill," he said. "These people want to attend private schools and that's fine. But they shouldn't be able to then take part in some extracurricular activities or a few classes in the public schools.

"It doesn't work the other way. Public-school students can't just decide to take a class over at a private school."