Editorial: Schools are at risk if budget fails

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003 | 8:49 a.m.

Perennial statistics showing that Nevada's schoolchildren are under-achievers compared to students in other states motivated the last several sessions of the Legislature to increase academic performance standards. The Legislature was not, however, motivated to adequately increase funding. Not surprisingly, Nevada continued to generate dismal scores on standardized tests. When funding became a major issue at the 2001 Legislature, the state's 17 school district superintendents were challenged to document their argument. The superintendents responded with iNVest (Investing in Nevada's Education, Students and Teachers), a plan to bring Nevada's education funding -- and student achievement -- into parity with the rest of the states.

The iNVest plan's calculations, accounting for such things as increases in the cost of books, utilities, liability insurance, employee health benefits and the numbers of children who cannot speak English, were laid out for all to see. The math also covered basic achievement-oriented needs, such as full-day kindergarten for at-risk students, summer school, tutorial programs, manageable class sizes and teacher training.

The plan's bottom line? An increase of nearly $880 million over the next two years beginning this July. Educators cautioned that even this dramatic increase would only elevate Nevada to average in regard to education spending nationally. Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget, however, calls for an increase of only $460 million over the next two years, just a little over half of the need documented by iNVest. Nevertheless, the superintendents were gratified that the state appeared ready to begin closing its funding gap.

Guinn's budget, however, is facing a tough fight in the Legislature. Educators have been issued a warning by Jack McLaughlin, state superintendent of public instruction. If Guinn's budget, or an alternative budget with equal increases of tax revenue, is not passed, there will be a $126 million decrease in education funding. For the Clark County School District, that would mean a budget cut of nearly $76 million. A Clark County proposal last month to save $90,000 by having high school students ride public buses to school met with howls of protest. Imagine the protests associated with larger class sizes, delayed school openings, reductions in the Gifted and Talented Education program, cancellation of after-school activities, sports and busing cutbacks -- and those are just for starters if tens of millions must be cut.