‘No’ on education

Fri, Nov 6, 2009 (3 a.m.)

Ever since authoring a state constitutional amendment requiring the Nevada Legislature to fund public education first before settling other budget issues, Gov. Jim Gibbons has fancied himself as a champion of kindergarten through 12th grade schools.

His record as governor, though, shows that he is no friend of education.

The latest example was reported on Oct. 25 by Emily Richmond in the Las Vegas Sun, a sister publication of In Business Las Vegas. Richmond reported that Nevada has a chance to receive as much as $200 million in federal education grants as part of the “Race to the Top” initiative that rewards innovation in the classroom.

Competing for the money would require the state to allow the use of test scores in the evaluation of teachers, which would require a special legislative session at a cost of $100,000 to change state law.

But Gibbons said no to the chance to take a shot at the $200 million unless there were other reasons to call a special session. That is not surprising.

Gibbons says no to education every chance he gets.

He says no to increases in per-pupil spending that would bring Nevada’s classrooms up to par with national averages. He says no to elevating teacher salaries so that they can make a respectable living.

What Gibbons fails to grasp is that he is shortchanging Nevada’s future by refusing to make an investment in the state’s next generation of business and government leaders, doctors, bankers, teachers, scientists and firefighters. Pinch pennies in education now and the state will pay dearly later.