Superintendents push for 72 percent boost in funds

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 9:21 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nevada school superintendents want the state to raise its support of public schools by $904 million over the next two years -- a 72 percent increase.

"We recognize this is a big ticket item," Clark County School Superintendent Carlos Garcia said at a meeting of Gov. Kenny Guinn's Tax Task Force Wednesday. "The state is headed for a crisis in adequately funding the school system."

The superintendents from the 17 counties presented a unified front in telling the task force what they thought it must do to improve the public education system.

"Only five states have larger class sizes than we do and yet we have one of the highest dropout rates," Garcia said.

The state Board of Education has already asked for an additional $851 million over the next two years for school improvements. The Progressive Leadership Alliance has proposed a tax plan for $932 million, with much of it going to the public schools.

The committee is hearing requests from state agencies on future needs. Jeremy Aguero, chairman of a technical working group that is aiding the task force, said the state faces a $2 billion shortfall over the next 10 years if it does nothing. By the year 2010 there will be an annual deficit of $350 million, he said.

Task Force Chairman Guy Hobbs of Las Vegas said one revenue source will not solve the problem. He said there should be a combination of tax increases to help stabilize the tax system in Nevada.

He asked members to make recommendations of their tax proposals to Aguero so he can present them at the next meeting.

Task force members have been given a variety of options including increases in sales tax, expanding what sales tax is charged on, increases in the property tax or the business tax, a new gross tax on business or a tax on its profits, a state lottery and a variety of other resources.

Hobbs said he expected members to come up with 100 to 150 combinations on how to cure the structural deficit.

A big portion of the money requests from the school superintendents must be added to the deficit if the committee agrees, Hobbs said.

The plan from the county school superintendents got support from the Nevada Association of School Boards. Ken Lange, a task force member and head of the Nevada teachers union, said his group could back the proposal but does have some disagreements.

The plan by the superintendents calls for 5 percent pay raises for teachers in each of the next two years. That alone would cost $241.4 million extra over the next two years.

They want more money for health insurance, utility costs, books and equipment.

The superintendents recommended the state continue bonuses for new teachers, costing $8 million.

More than $54.7 million would be set aside for a special 10 percent pay increase for teachers in high shortage areas such as math and special education, and for teachers who are bilingual. And teachers who stayed at "at risk" schools would receive an annual $2,000 stipend.

Hobbs asked the school chiefs to supply more information on the retention rates of teachers who sign contracts.

The superintendents want $85.8 million to finance five days of training for teachers during the school year. At present, the five days are included in the 180-day school year. The plan would be for students to attend classes the full 180 days, rather than missing class during the training session for teachers.

The proposal also calls for the state to restore $118.8 million cut from the budgets of the 17 counties made over the last three years.

John Soderman, superintendent of Douglas County School District, said districts must balance their budgets by increasing class sizes and cutting other programs.