Longer walk proposed for high school students

Terry Webster

Wednesday, May 16, 2001 | 10:35 a.m.

An extra mile's walk for high school students is part of the Clark County School District's plan for cutting $14 million out of the $1.2 billion 2001-2002 spending plan.

District budget officials Tuesday said they will present the proposal to increase the busing distance from two to three miles at today's School Board meeting.

If it is approved, high school students who live within three miles of their schools will have to find their own way to get there.

Budget officials also intend to offer a plan for what they are calling "deferred staffing."

Normally the district plans teacher staffing at about 98 percent of the projected student enrollment, budget director Gloria Sizemore said.

This year staffing projections will be as much as 2 percent less than that amount.

Sizemore said real estate growth is lower than expected and that is usually the best predictor of enrollment growth.

School officials have also predicted the district will be lacking up to 500 teachers this fall.

Other cost-cutting measures previously discussed by school officials -- like paying for athletics and arts programs -- are unlikely to become reality, officials said.

"Some of the proposals require a lot more research and study," Sizemore said.

Superintendent Carlos Garcia said he is reluctant to make any further cuts to the budget until he sees how much funding for education the state Legislature provides.

"I would like to hold off for another two weeks and see what happens," he said following a budget meeting at the Community College of Southern Nevada's West Charleston campus.

The district must approve its final budget today, but can amend it in December.

Garcia said he met Friday with Gov. Kenny Guinn and for more than two hours discussed what funding the district needs.

"Believe it or not, I think we are making a huge difference," Garcia said.

Garcia cited a local business study conducted six weeks ago that found 30 percent of the respondents felt there was a financial crisis in the school district.

"Today, in the latest study, it's over 70 percent," the superintendent said. "People are starting to realize that what we are talking about is real."

The district has trimmed some $50 million from its budget over the past two years.

Tuesday's budget meeting was organized by Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, who sits on the commerce and labor, human resources and facilities and taxation committees.

Schneider has proposed bringing Nevada in line with per-pupil spending in other states, a feat that would cost $612 million.

He admitted that amount is unrealistic under the state's current financial conditions.

"It would be an absolute budget buster," Schneider said.

About 30 people, including four School Board members, attended the meeting and discussed potential taxes that could be created or raised to help fund education.

Schneider said he would bring the suggestions back to the state Legislature.