Lawmakers refuse school districts’ money request

Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000 | 9:22 a.m.

The Legislature's Interim Finance Committee was briefed Wednesday on the conflict between the state board and school district officials who argue they can't afford the new requirements.

State board member Bill Hanlon asked lawmakers to find funding for special-education needs, which for years have drained money from programs for other students.

The state pays $28,000 for each special-education classroom, but the pay for a special-ed teacher is around $56,000, he said. School districts must transfer money from other programs, and the problem will grow worse because of the new requirements, Hanlon said.

"I am asking you to help local school districts address their financial concerns any way you can," he said.

Lawmakers said they can't deal with the issue until the 2001 session.

"Education is not the only issue we have to fund at the state level," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno. "It's easy for you to say (we) should give more money."

Raggio acknowledged that the board had the right to approve the regulations.

The Board of Education voted Jan. 29 to reduce the class sizes for speech pathologists from 60 to 50 students and the class sizes for early childhood and general special-education teachers from 24 to 22 students.

The decision, to take effect July 1, will cost the Clark County School District $3.7 million in operating funds it doesn't have, said Walt Rulffes, chief financial officer for the district. About $1.2 million in construction costs will be required, he said.

The district isn't opposed to the smaller classes but wants the regulations to take effect after the 2001 Legislature decides on funding, Rulffes added.

Raggio said school districts with concerns about the regulations should provide information to the Legislative Commission, a group of lawmakers that meets to review all state regulations. The panel meets March 13 and could reject the regulations.

Mary Peterson, state superintendent for public instruction, said the Board of Education could consider delaying the regulations for a year.