$91 million set aside for school innovations

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006 | 8:11 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Spring Valley High School is asking for $2 million to install innovative educational programs to improve student performance.

Hewetson Elementary School has applied for $1 million to improve student achievement in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Both area schools failed to make adequate progress in 2004-05 under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and they want state money to improve.

On Tuesday nine teams started reviewing applications from 561 schools and school districts for the $91 million set aside by the Legislature to increase student achievement statewide.

Gov. Kenny Guinn told the teams, composed of teachers and administrators who have run successful improvement programs, that allocating the money "is one of the most important things we have done for education." He urged the teams to "try to pick out the best programs" being suggested by schools and "hopefully they will be passed on as a model."

The Legislature appropriated the money to the newly created Commission on Educational Excellence, charged with deciding which programs should be funded.

The state Education Department reported in August that 56 percent of the 608 public schools and programs failed to make adequate annual progress. Statewide, 165 schools were included on the "watch list" for failing to show progress. And 174 schools were judged as "need improvement" for at least the second consecutive year of low test scores.

Commission Chairwoman George Ann Rice of the Clark County School District said the schools and districts asked for $50 million more than was available.

"This is competitive. It (the awards) will be based on all merit," she said.

Some schools and districts will not be funded, she said.

The money breaks down to $78 million for elementary schools and $13.9 million for secondary schools. Spring Valley High and Hewetson asked for the most money in their categories.

Besides the numerous Clark County schools seeking money, the School District wants $28.5 million to finance improvement plans.

Keith Rheault, state superintendent of public instruction, said the teams will have to do "a lot of cutting" in the next four days.

Later this month bids will be sought for a person or company to evaluate the results of the extra money going to the schools, Rheault said.

Four pages of criteria will be used to judge the schools. The results of the first go-around will be reported to the 2007 Legislature.

Guinn told the teams there will be pressure on the schools to show achievement. He said he believed future Legislatures will allocate more money for specific programs to improve the schools.

Del Sol High and Mojave High are each seeking more than $1 million for improvement programs. Rancho High School has applied for $815,000.

Other Southern Nevada schools asking for major grants include Von Tobel Middle School, $1 million; Wengert Elementary School, $846,830; Thomas Elementary School, $767,682 and Lake Elementary School, $705,070.

Cy Ryan can be reached at (775) 687-5032 or at cy@lasvegassun.com.