School board trustee asks parents to take action

By Ashley Livingston

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 | midnight

Parents were encouraged to convey to state legislators the importance of funding education at the most recent F-Troop meeting held by Clark County School District School Board Trustee Carolyn Edwards.

Edwards oversees District F, which encompasses all Silverado-area schools, with the exception of Charlotte Hill and Louis Jr. Wiener elementary schools, as well as most of the district's Southwest Region.

Facing the possibility of the Legislature approving Gov. Jim Gibbons' requested 14 percent cuts to the 2009-2011 biennium budget, guest speaker district Associate Superintendent Joyce Haldeman talked to the group of parents, educators and other School District employees about the need to take action.

"It has never been more important for the citizens to be involved in legislation," Haldeman said.

The cuts that have already taken place to the 2007-2009 biennium as well as the cuts that may come in the next biennium are in response to the state's severe revenue declines.

Gibbons has said the state is facing the worst financial crisis in its history.

He has stood by his promise to not raise taxes.

"I will continue to balance our budget without looking to taxpayers for more money when they're already struggling in their own lives," he said in a July statement.

The state's money woes may translate to big problems for the different entities that depend on it for funding.

"We're at a very pivotal time in terms of funding for education," Haldeman said to the crowd.

She criticized claims that the district has enough money and just needs to spend it differently, pointing out numerous audits and Nevada's education funding as compared to the national average.

Nevada has never been close to the national average before, and it will be even worse now, she said.

According to a 2006 Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data report from the U.S. Census Bureau, Nevada's per pupil current spending was $7,345, placing it 45th in the nation. New York led the country with $14,884.

Between the last two rounds of cuts mandated by the Legislature, Haldeman said the district has already cut $133 million from its budget.

She told the group that if the 14 percent cuts are implemented, it may become necessary to charge for bus transportation and sports or eliminate high school transportation all together.

The one thing she said the district is not going to do is raise class sizes again.

Despite it being an easy fix, as one more child in each class can equal savings of $10 million or more, she said class sizes have gotten out of control.

If the quality of education is to be maintained, another source of revenue is needed, she said.

"If there has ever been a time where we need parent involvement, it is now," she said.

Haldeman said some of the things the district is seeking in the next legislative session include an assurance that every dollar dedicated to education is spent on education, and a commitment that legislators will work to develop a long-term plan to fund education as well as figure out how to pay teachers more.

The next F-Troop meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 8 at Victoria Fertitta Middle School, 9905 W. Mesa Vista Ave.

For more information visit ccsd.net/trustees.

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or [email protected].