School district is not giving up on getting more Legislature funds

Terry Webster

Friday, March 9, 2001 | 12:14 p.m.

After facing tough questions from lawmakers earlier this week, the Clark County School District is not abandoning attempts to get more state funding.

The School Board agreed Thursday to send a signed resolution to the Legislature explaining why the district is in a financial crisis.

The resolution asks Superintendent Carlos Garcia to "communicate clearly to the Legislature the district's educational needs."

Garcia said he gladly accepts the charge and will continue to "take on" the issue.

Some state lawmakers took a gruff stance with school officials during their appearance in Carson City, implying the district can afford more cuts.

The School Board's resolution, proposed by board member Sheila Moulton, states that the district is in a deep financial crisis due to several years of insufficient funding for special education, transportation and English Language Learners.

Further, the resolution points to a teacher shortage that is "increasing weekly as annual recruiting efforts continue."

Over the next few months, the district needs to hire about 1,600 teachers to fill vacancies and staff 16 new schools opening next year.

With a current student population of approximately 231,000, the district is projecting it will have 244,000 students by fall 2001.

"We're responsible for a quarter-million of children," Moulton said.

Another concern the board is raising is inadequate inflationary adjustments for textbooks, equipment and salaries.

Joyce Haldeman, the district's executive director of governmental and community affairs, said her worst fear is that the only thing the district will get from the state is a "study" of how to fund education.

"We've cut $50 million from the budget over the past two years," Garcia said after Thursday's meeting. "Where else are we going to cut?"