Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Weary teachers, parents implore lawmakers to do job

Under this morning's early sun, parents, teachers and students marched in a circle, their placards held high, as they urged legislators -- again -- to solve the budget impasse and fund education.

Their route around the sidewalk outside Lamping Elementary School in Henderson seemed to mirror that of lawmakers in Carson City, who continued today to retread the same battleground over taxes that has stalled them for months.

The Senate met briefly this morning before announcing it was futile to continue efforts in that house, and that a tax compromise would have to come from the Assembly.

The turnout at Lamping Elementary was smaller than some previous rallies -- about 20 people -- but the message was the same.

"These legislators, these 15 obstructionists are playing with the lives our teachers, support professionals and the children of this state," said Claudia Briggs, spokeswoman for the Nevada State Education Association, representing the bulk of Nevada's teachers. "It has to stop, and it has to stop now."

Briggs, who helped organize this morning's activities, said the constant cycle of rallies and the promising moments when compromise seems near before the inevitable return to stalemate have left teachers and parents worn out.

"We're trying to keep people coming out in force, but they're tired, which is understandable," said Briggs, whose union has organized no fewer than a dozen such events in the last few months. "It's hard to keep your spirits up when it seems like what you're doing is falling on deaf ears."

Robert Smith, a teacher in Clark County for 30 years, said he's concerned not only for himself and his students but also for the district's support employees, who are paid by the hour. If the schools can't open on time, it could mean serious financial hardship for the food service workers, bus drivers and office personnel, Smith said.

"Nowhere in our wildest imaginations did we expect it to go this far," said Smith, noting classes for the 2003-04 academic year begin in less than six weeks. "This is a very scary time."

Teachers are supposed to be in the classroom with students, not out on a picket line, said Nancy Heavey, who teaches third grade at Lamping, where her two sons are also students.

"We're worried, we're very worried," Heavey said. "We're trying to figure out how to get the Legislature to listen to us, how to convince them that our schools matter."

Also marching this morning was Caryn Levenson, who ran unsuccessfully against Assemblyman David Brown, R-Henderson, one of the holdouts in the budget battle. The marchers singled out Brown in their chants because Lamping -- where his daughter is a kindergartner -- is part of his district.

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