Increase in school budgets proposed

Monday, May 20, 2002 | 9:12 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Education has put the finishing touches on its request for an additional $876 million in an effort to bring the spending per pupil up to the national average.

The board in April approved a $857 million spending plan that calls for increasing starting salaries by $3,000 and giving 4 percent pay raises to teachers in each of the coming two fiscal year.

Gov. Kenny Guinn has promised 2 percent pay raises.

The state board Friday reviewed what it approved last month and will send the request for 60 percent more money to Guinn.

The National Center for Educational Statistics reported that in 1999 the average per student expenditure among the states was $6,508 while Nevada was at $5,587 or 38th in the nation.

The proposal also called for more kindergarten and summer school classes.

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