Garcia seeks $879 million hike for schools

Friday, March 7, 2003 | 11:31 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Clark County School Superintendent Carlos Garcia pitched a proposal to increase school funding by $879 million over two years to a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee this morning but was told by its chairman that the state doesn't have the money.

Garcia pitched the iNVest plan, a proposal developed by state school superintendents to give schools statewide $367 million in the first of the two years and and $512 million the second year.

He emphasized to the state lawmakers that his district has cut its budget $97 million in the last three years while adding 38,000 students and opening 37 new schools.

Garcia acknowledged that some people complain the administration of the school district is top heavy, but he said it was chopped by 10 percent last year and will be reduced by another 10 percent in the coming year. And there will be a reduction in the vehicles and cell phones used by administrators.

The administration portion constitutes 3 percent of the total Clark County school budget.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, chairman of the subcommittee, said he was pleasantly surprised that the amount was that low. Rawson also said that while Garcia may not be popular in some circles for his budget reductions he appreciated Garcia's efforts.

Rawson said it was the first time in his 18 years in the Legislature that anybody from the school districts has told lawmakers they have not met their responsibilities in funding the schools.

He told Garcia that while improvements are needed, this is not the time to approve the nearly $879 million iNVest improvement plan. The state is too financially strapped right now, Rawson said. The state has a projected budget shortfall of more than $700 million, and it looking at a variety of new and increased taxes.

Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget proposal includes one-third of the superintendent's financing plan, Rawson noted.

Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, said one of the biggest issues facing the district is supplies in the classroom. Garcia said the governor's budget provides $50 per student for books and supplies and that will help.

Garcia said that was a main topic discussed at last week's town hall meeting about the budget. About 700 people attended the meeting, he said.

Walt Rulffes, deputy superintendent in Clark County, said the district receives Medicaid money now for teachers and nurses who are helping identify students who qualify for Medicaid and helping them enroll in the program. That outreach work presently allows $50 to $100 per classroom for supplies, officials said.

Rulffes said that if the governor's budget is approved, it would mean $300 to $400 for each classroom for supplies.

One big issue facing the district is its need to hire new teachers, said Garcia. The district plans to employ 1,400 to 1,800 new teachers for the next school year, starting in earnest in April. But the state's budget won't be approved until June.

He said the "worst case scenario" for the the state budget would result in Clark County having to cut 800 people. If the budget is not approved as recommended, "we may not have enough teachers," he said.

Some of the planned budget cuts for next fiscal year in the Clark County School District include reducing the number of vehicles and cell phones used by administrators. He said administrators, instead of traveling in district vehicles, would be reimbursed for their mileage in their own car. The district has 200 to 300 vehicles for administrators, school police and others.

The number of cell phones held by administrators would also be cut back.

Garcia said the district also is looking into the possibility of having private mass transit in one of the regions for the students.

Garcia noted that 30 schools in Clark County were designated as "needing improvement" because of the low test scores. "I'm not here to make excuses," he said.

He said there were 40,000 students in the district with limited English capabilities and they are making improvements.

Ninth graders are now required to take Algebra. He said 29 percent of the students in the eighth grade took Algebra last year and 85 percent of them received a grade C or better.

He noted the goal of getting children to read by the end of the third grade. "We're seeing these third graders are doing pretty good," he told the subcommittee.

The district, he said is using national standards now to evaluate its teachers to see if they are effective.