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Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 | 12:07 p.m.
Sun Archives
- Gibbons: Education proposal wouldn’t mean cuts for schools (1-12-2010)
- Horsford: Legislature won’t support governor’s education plan (1-8-2010)
- Gibbons’ education plan would replace voter-elected board (1-8-2010)
- How Gibbon’s proposed cutbacks might be felt in classrooms (1-7-2010)
- Gibbons seeking overhaul of state education system (1-6-2010)
- K-12 cuts proposal could help — or hinder — Gibbons
Gov. Jim Gibbons' staff clarified today that the Republican governor's education reform proposals would indeed mean cuts to state support for the K-12 system.
"There will have to be some decrease in spending at the statewide level, including at the education level," said Stacy Woodbury, Gibbons' deputy chief of staff, at an interim legislative education committee meeting.
On Tuesday, Gibbons himself was less clear explaining his education proposal, saying the idea was to reform education, but that it wouldn't necessarily mean a decrease in funding to schools.
Gibbons' proposal, released last week, includes eliminating a $145 million per year fund for class-size reduction for first through third grades and eliminating a fund for all-day kindergarten. Most of that money would be returned to the school districts to spend as they see fit.
But Lynn Hettrick, Gibbons' other deputy chief of staff, said "there's going to be some kind of cuts."
Woodbury told the legislative committee that the shortfall between tax projections and actual revenues is projected to total $300 million to $450 million between now and June 2011. If cuts went into place March 1, a 10 percent cut to state general fund spending would total about $400 million.
Democratic legislators have been critical of Gibbons' education plan, saying it's unfeasible to overhaul education in what are normally short special sessions and it would lead to teacher layoffs and larger class sizes. Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, called it a "non-starter."
Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, sent a letter with her own ideas to deal with the shortfall in the state budget, which over the past six months is at about $72 million.
She said the state should "do everything we can to avoid further cuts to education funding in our state." Referring to a past Gibbons initiative, she wrote, "'Education First' should not mean cutting education first."
She also suggested that the Interim Finance Committee could be used to process cuts or budget changes, rather than call the Legislature back to Carson City for a special session.
In an interview today, Hettrick said, "We will be in special session no matter what. We will need law changes."
He specifically cited equities in the furloughs instituted by the Legislature, where some state employees have been exempted, such as correctional officers. When asked if the administration would seek to institute a straight pay reduction for employees who have argued they could not take a day off, he said, "We believe it's a fairness issue going forward."
He said the Interim Finance Committee would be used by Democrats to beat up on the governor.
Can we please have some proper management running this state? This Gibbons monkey is a joke! We need to get someone in here who understands how to run a state! You don't cut education when fireman are making close to 200 K per year...
This so called governor has no clue. Who the heck is running this state? Obviously Gibbons has his head so buried that he does not know what the heck is happening.
We need to impeach this guy. Can't wait to vote for him in the primary.
it does...
it doesn't...
IT DOES!
Poor Gym.
Education, mathematics, obviously not a strong suit. If he only knew what the hell was IN that plan! Perhaps if the person who thought it up and fed it to Gym to present to Nevadans had briefed him better...
Must...think...trying...can't...need...jolt...to...electrodes
I don't understand. Yesterday Gibbons wasn't cutting K-12, and today he "clarified" his position by saying there will be cuts. What the...
I must not be all that bright... "Gibbons' proposal, released last week, includes eliminating a $145 million per year fund for class-size reduction for first through third grades and eliminating a fund for all-day kindergarten. Most of that money would be returned to the school districts to spend as they see fit.
How are you going to save money when you "return (it) to the school districts..."? Are you saving $145 m a year or not? If you are not, leave it alone.
Secondly, class-size reduction hasn't been "implemented" for 20 years... The beginning of class-size reduction hasn't been done yet. two teachers with 36 students isn't class-size reduction!
Today, the public education finance system is "focused on maintaining programs and paying adults, not searching for the most effective way to educate our children"
-School Finance Redesign Project, University of Washington at Bothell
I'm sorry to spoil the haters fun, but Governor Gibbons proposal would put Nevada on the right track.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment not related to story.
Jp,
Class size reduction doesn't actually have to reduce class sizes. It is about reducing the student teacher ratio. Class sizes can still be very large if you leave teachers idle.
http://www.writeonnevada.com/2010/01/edu...
Comment removed by moderator. Comment not related to story.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment not related to story.
Patrick, There is a difference of teaching when there are 36 students in the classroom or when there are 16 students in the classroom. I have taught both. With 16 students in a classroom, teachers have more one-on-one time with each student. Lessons go quicker with a better retention. Look at the model of a private school and you will see that the private school has fewer kids in the classroom than a public school. The problem with "libertarian" view of education is that they only see schools are classrooms. In private school, the student can be kicked out for lack of parental involvement and for disruptive behavior. In the public education arena, everyone is welcome and accepted.
Patrick Gibbons, a mouthpiece for the ultra-conservative, libertarian something-or-other "think tank"
NPRI, gets paid to post this kind of wisdom.
Isn't that special?
Their motto is a familiar one:
"Your doing it wrong!"
Your doing it ALL WRONG!
How did this guy get elected in the first place? We only have ourselves to blame for voting for these thieving, corrupt monkeys. Gibbons, Goodman, etc. It's really a friggin joke, and the good people that live here are the ones that are suffering as a result.
I wonder who are the good people that live here are the ones that are suffering as a result of this guy???
Maybe Shadow Governor Hettrick should just skip the idiot middle man and outline their plans himself.
Plenty of good people with good intentions. Many have priorities that are different than mine, but that's simply a difference of opinion. Even if a large group of people aren't terribly focused on education in this state, I think they still expect something. These politicians are killing any future for the state by doing the same old thing, taking care of their own buddies in the gaming and mining industries, making enough noise and appearing "fun" by drinking martinis in pre-school classes, and neglecting the basic services we need to diversify and strengthen our economy, and improve the quality of life in general.
Poor is the man who expects consistency, coherency or intelligence from Jim Gibbons.
In other words, where is SgtRock?
JP,
One on one instruction is great if the teacher is good. The problem is that without merit pay, meaningful teacher evaluations and alternative certification we are most likely exposing students to inadequate teachers.
The single most important factor the school district can control is the quality of the teacher. Making small classes taught by mediocre to bad teachers will not produce results. In fact, it would be much better to have large class sizes taught by the top 20% of all teachers. Dr William Sanders of the University of Tennessee found that these top tier teachers were 10 to 20 times more effective than small class sizes.
PS, public schools kick out kids too. Each year 1% of students in public schools are expelled while another 0.6% are put into alternative schools.
I should also note that private schools achieve small class sizes while also spending less per student, on average, than traditional public schools. Public education is that mismanaged.
Reduce spending to local education by cutting out 50-75% of all administrative positions. Fire all double-dippers immediately. Eliminate all overtime pay, and payment for unused vacation time. No pay for unused sick leave...use it or lose it, but you can't save it for retirement pay purposes.
Make it a reduction in force at the administrative level across the board from the top administrative offices to each and every individual school Eliminate, that is, end those jobs at the end of the ucrrent school year.
Reduce the pay scale for all administrators by no less than 25%. The top salary for any administrator, including benefits should be no more than $100,000.00. The superintendent should make no more than $125,000. top dollar with all the perks, benefits and contract buy out clauses included. Those that don't like it can move on to cutting grasses or washing cars.
so he [Gibbons] lied again. WTF. what do you expect. His goal is no taxes. So, let's give the state to the UN to settle the poor, destitute Haitians in our unused houses and close all the schools, stop repairing all the roads and go 4th world. Then we'll have the Shangri-la that Gibbons wants: no taxes at all. At least we'll be remembered for returning the state to its original desert.
I like those proposals for cuts, vsestini!
I still think we need to increase the budget for teachers, teacher training, libraries, computer/media centers, etc. And Patrick, you're right, smaller class sizes does nothing if the teachers aren't competent, but I think those are two separate issues. Our class sizes are clearly too large, and I'm sure we've all experienced the benefits of small versus large classes.
As far as teacher quality is concerned...I agree with performance based compensation, but the system needs to be fair to everyone and needs input from everyone. I think it should be easier to let a teacher go if their results (based on whatever metrics are mutually agreed upon by teachers and administrators) are sub-par. We also don't want to get into a situation where we can't fire teachers for making stupid mistakes. The teacher commenting on the Holocaust comes to mind. Instead we give them a paid vacation. Extremely stupid, if you ask me.
A big problem is that the politics prevent innovative ideas. The teachers union doesn't want teachers to be responsible for students' performance, and politicians solution seems to be to cut or add overall funding, instead of going through things line by line and getting the most bang for the buck. When our results were poor when the economy was strong, we used the excuse that the population was growing much too fast. Now that the economy is weak and the population is shrinking, they think they can cut funding. It doesn't add up.
And our results speak for themselves. Complain about the process or logic used in the different studies, but being ranked at or near the bottom in every category is disgusting.
When teachers call in sick, it costs the school district more than when they buy out sick days.
Substitute pay is $90 per day. Buy out is some ridiculous number like $17 per day.
Teachers who are banking sick leave are saving the district money.
As for paid overtime in the school district.... who gets paid overtime? I'm curious.
Educational budget should be realistic and funded by the state not depending on gimmicks to fund our education system.
Maybe local councils should be formed to review budgets and cut out the waste.
For you Liberals who are smarter then the rest of us, how much does the Federal Government Mandates add to the budgets???
vsestini nailed it. Dump the hogs in the stinky admin barn.
In Reno, Hug High has five principals: one top dog and four underlings. Student population ~1200. Why sink a half million $$ in admin each year, dump more kids on already over-taxed teaching staff and pay for studies on why they are failing?
Warehousing is not what we need anymore. It's skill, thought and wise use of resources. Why is the district still in the animal husbandry business, fattening the barn animals now gobbling all our education dollars?