Students may have to pay for programs: District considers ways to further slash budget

Terry Webster

Wednesday, April 18, 2001 | 11:27 a.m.

A "pay to play" program for athletics, arts and other extra curricular activities is being considered by Clark County School District officials.

Having parents pay for those programs was just one of the proposals raised today as the district began slashing $12 million to $15 million from its spending plan.

The budget already has sustained about $50 million in cuts over the past two years.

"What's left?" Superintendent Carlos Garcia asked Tuesday. "We don't want to go there. But it's our fiscal responsibility to run a balanced budget."

Athletics, fine and performing arts programs and school counseling are among the areas that could be reduced under the 2001-02 tentative budget. The programs are part of a $64 million list of all of the district's extra-curricular programs.

Other items under discussion today included:

* Reviewing "transportation options" for magnet schools.

* Extending the high school busing limit to three miles, instead of two. That means students living three or fewer miles from their school would have to find other means of transportation.

* Charging a higher tuition for noncore, elective classes for all summer school programs.

The district's tentative 2001-2002 budget of about $1.2 billion includes no allowance for salary increases. Particulars on the tentative budget were released by the district this morning.

The budget includes no allowance for employee raises and a small increase in state basic support to the district.

"If we do not receive it, we are going to have to do some fast footwork," said Walt Rulffes, chief financial officer. "We will have to adjust the budget by about $7 million to $8 million.

A Senate-Assembly committee earlier this month announced that school districts should brace for a cut in state aid. "We need to overhaul the tax structure," Garcia said. The state controls all revenues raised for school districts. Over a two-year period the Clark County School District has slashed about $50 million from its $1.1 billion spending plan.

Prior to today's meeting the most recent round of cuts -- $18 million worth -- came in January.

Those cuts resulted in the elimination of programs for disruptive elementary school students and a dropout prevention program, in addition to hiring freezes. Reducing high school busing was proposed during January budget talks.

Concerned about the district's financial picture, School Board members Saturday are holding a series of meetings throughout the city.

The meetings are intended to raise public awareness about the district's financial status.