Increases OK’d for poor schools, teacher training

Friday, May 11, 2001 | 10:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A legislative budget subcommittee agreed Thursday to increases in school improvement programs such as help for failing students and teacher training.

But the subcommittee had to make cuts in Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget because of the $121.5 million shortfall in state revenue for the next two years.

Meanwhile there are still negotiations under way in an attempt to give teachers a cost-of-living raise, rather than the 5 percent bonus recommended by Guinn. The governor suggests setting aside $57 million for the one-shot bonus.

A 1 percent salary increase each year would cost $16.4 million next year and $34.3 million the following year.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, said there is "significant progress" in funding the school improvement programs.

"We don't have to be ashamed of this," he said.

The programs are part of the funds that the state sends to local school districts. The budgets approved by the subcommittee are higher than the current budgets but lower than recommended by Guinn, who agreed with lawmakers to the reductions.

The state is now spending $4.3 million a year to help low-performing schools get up to par and for remediation instruction for at-risk students. Guinn recommended more than $8 million a year. The subcommittee reduced that to $6.7 million in each year.

Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, chairman of the subcommittee, noted it's still a 57 percent increase, but Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, citing the high number of low-performing schools in his district, said "I can't support the reductions."

At present the state is spending $3.5 million a year to support the four centers in Nevada that train teachers. Guinn recommended $5.2 million next year and $6.1 million the following year. The subcommittee voted to reduce the two-year budget of more than $11 million to $10 million.

Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, complained she didn't like taking teachers out of the classroom to instruct other teachers, especially in light of the teacher shortage. She suggested professional trainers be used.

And she wondered why teachers who graduate from college must be taught how to teach reading.

But Jim Parry, superintendent of the Carson City School District, urged the subcommittee not to reduce this program. He said it was one of the best things in education. There are "world class" teachers who train others, he said.

Guinn also recommended starting a new program to get children to read by the third grade. He recommended $5 million a year, but the subcommittee reduced that to $4 million .

The subcommittee accepted Guinn's recommendation for a 15 percent increase next year and 16 percent the following year to pay for utilities in the schools.