Sandoval off to a rocky start with budget decisions

Fred Taylor, Las Vegas

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 | 2:03 a.m.

Education cuts? Really? Is that what our new governor is proposing? Reducing our public school spending, which is currently ranked 46th in the nation, one that has our students ranked last in chances for success?

Gov. Brian Sandoval plays Chicken Little — not recommending teacher salary cuts, instead opting to have the Clark County School Board and the Nevada System of Higher Education’s Board of Regents do the crossing of that proverbial street while he stands in the shadows.

Wow, a new leader and a new hope for a better Nevada are quashed within the first month!

What we have, Governor, is a failure to communicate. The people of Nevada want a balanced budget, oh yes we do. However, it needs to be done smartly and no one gets any smarter by cutting education.

What Nevadans would really like to see is a steady trend upward in the national education rankings, producing new opportunities and new jobs in Nevada.

Do this and do it right and the governor will lead Nevada into the future with its head held high. If he fails, he will continue the path of futility that has the Nevada economy, its future and our educational system in ruins.