State gives counties millions to improve deteriorating schools

Thursday, Nov. 11, 1999 | 12:32 p.m.

CARSON CITY -- In the first use of a 1999 law, the state Board of Examiners Wednesday allocated $15.9 million to the school districts in White Pine and Lincoln counties with most of the money going for new schools to replace deteriorating buildings that have either been condemned or considered unsafe for students.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, board chairman, called it "a good day for the state" to handle these problems for financially strapped counties that can't afford new buildings. "These kinds of situations should not exist in Nevada."

The Legislature, in the past, would give a one-shot appropriation for school construction to a county that didn't have the money or taxing ability for the project. In 1999 it created a $16 million fund and the criteria for school districts to apply for relief either for repairs or new buildings.

Lincoln County will receive $5.9 million to replace the existing high school to accommodate 200 students. During the session, lawmakers also allocated Lincoln County $1 million for an elementary school to replace the one that had been found structurally unsound.

White Pine County will receive $10 million for three projects. There will be $3.6 million for a new K-12 school in Pleasant Valley to serve 100 students. The 63 students in the area are being bussed to a school in Utah. And the district will build modular living units to attract teachers because there is no housing available in the area.

White Pine will also use $5.8 million for a K-12 school at Lund to replace the existing school for 200 students. And $600,000 is being allocated for engineering and architectural studies for a new middle school and to make improvements to the safety systems at the present school in Ely.

State Budget Director Perry Comeaux, who reviewed the applications, told the board that both districts were at the $3.64 maximum property tax rate and the assessed valuation of the county was declining. The present buildings have been found unsuitable, he said.

The state will issue the $16 million in bonds to finance the project. This fund, if it is continued, would have to be replenished at the 2001 Legislature.

The board also:

There has been controversy surrounding the request by the council, which wanted the money to give its employees and owners a pay raise. The Washington, D.C., company had been hired by the state Academic Standards Council.

But the state Board of Education objected to giving any more money to the private company. William Hanlon, a board member, said at its last meeting that state workers did not get a pay raise this year and he objected to giving any money for higher salaries to the private firm. He also said the staff of the state Department of Education did a good share of the work that was supposed to be done by the council.

Other education board members echoed his sentiments. The request for the emergency funds now goes to the Legislative Interim Finance Committee.