County schools get more than $54 million

Monday, Jan. 16, 2006 | 8:31 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- More than $54 million is headed toward 236 public schools in Clark County for innovative programs and to help students improve.

The Clark County grants are among $91 million distributed statewide to Nevada schools by the state Education Department on Friday.

Gloria Dopf, assistant state superintendent of public instruction, said she will work with school district superintendents to select a company or individual to evaluate the effectiveness of programs funded. The Commission on Educational Excellence has set guidelines to judge the programs' worth.

A task force of the commission reviewed applications from schools throughout the state seeking more than $150 million.

The $54 million awarded to local schools represents 56 percent of the $96.3 million that the Clark County School District and its individual schools had requested.

Among local schools, Rancho High School received the biggest individual grant of $611,773. Martinez Elementary School received the largest grant among elementary schools -- $604,219. Only one Clark County school was shut out from the funding. Tate Elementary School sought $174,606 but did not receive any money from the amount appropriated by the 2005 Legislature.

George Ann Rice, chairwoman of the commission, said 60 schools statewide did not receive funds because of problems with their applications. But the commission is to allocate $5 million more in grants in April, with priority being given to the 60 schools with faulty applications or that did not apply for this round of funding.

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