Editorial: Children can’t wait anymore

Friday, May 16, 2003 | 6 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: May 18, 2003

The Sun's seven-part series, "Children Left Behind," has shown that Nevada has failed to adequately fund services for children. One result of the paucity of spending is an educational system that isn't adequately preparing children for college and the workplace. In addition, for those children who come from low-income families, our welfare assistance is so low that children too often go hungry and, in the worst cases, find themselves homeless with their families. Needy families frequently lack health insurance, which means their children can go without vital medical care. It's shameful, in a state as prosperous as ours, that we don't make sure that all of a child's basic needs are met.

Today's story, the last in the series, takes a look at what is being done to correct the situation. The assessment isn't rosy. As Steve Kanigher reports, the most optimistic view is that there will be just marginal improvements in education and social spending on children when the Legislature wraps up its business in Carson City in two weeks. Looking to the future, the local nonprofit Children's Advocacy Alliance believes a statewide children's commission should be created. In the alliance's view, the commission would be made up of elected officials and private citizens. Part of its responsibility would be to look at other cities and states that have been successful in providing decent funding and establishing worthwhile programs for children. The commission, in turn, would make its recommendations to the governor and the Legislature.

Gov. Kenny Guinn tried to establish a children's commission in 2001, but the effort died in the Senate. Guinn, a former superintendent of the Clark County School District who has had to work hard just to get the Legislature to pass the modest improvements he's proposed, says he supports another commission -- but isn't willing to advocate on behalf of one now unless he gets legislative support for its funding. Waiting until the 2005 Legislature to create such a commission would mean that the commission wouldn't report back with its findings until the Legislature met again in 2007 -- after Guinn is out of office.

The governor needs to mount a strong push that will result in the creation of a children's commission before this Legislature adjourns. We should have a panel that will immediately investigate not only those areas where we're seriously deficient in helping children, but also will come up with long-lasting solutions and report back to this governor, who has an understanding of, and commitment to, children's issues.