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Principal Dale Slater talks to the students that raised money for the school by running a lemonade stand at Linda Givens Elementary School in Las Vegas Friday, May 20, 2011.
Saturday, May 28, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Sun coverage
Sun archives
- Teachers trying to educate public about budget crisis (5-25-2011)
- School Board OKs budget with at least 1,834 layoffs (5-18-2011)
- Sandoval vetoes lower education budget, says Democrats want to force tax increase (5-16-2011)
- Democrats pass education budget $700 million over governor’s plan (5-10-2011)
- Democrats on path to force Sandoval to veto education funding (5-10-2011)
- Las Vegas teachers protest proposed education cuts (4-27-2011)
- Teachers take fight over education funding to streets (4-13-2011)
- District to cut 200 bus driver positions, change school start times (4-8-2011)
- School District gives early approval to budget that cuts 2,500 positions (4-6-2011)
- Assembly passes bill to use reserves for school construction (3-3-2011)
- Regent says it’s time that K-12 shares in budget sacrifice (2-8-2011)
- Education in forefront of upcoming budget battle (1-30-2011)
- School officials warn of jobs cuts, larger classes under proposed budget (1-26-2011)
- Soft words during State of the State hide Nevada in pain (1-25-2011)
- Teachers not pleased with most of Sandoval’s speech (1-25-2011)
Several youngsters recently walked up to Givens Elementary School Principal Rick Slater and handed him a small plastic bag that held $27 and change. They wanted to help, wanted to save teachers’ jobs at their Summerlin school. Slater was stunned.
Six students had earned the money, plus another $20 from a second fundraiser, by building a lemonade stand in their neighborhood and asking customers to donate what they thought was appropriate for cups of lemonade, the rims carefully ringed with fresh lemons.
Some gave pennies, quarters, dollar bills. One man kicked in $10. A week later the children operated a second lemonade stand at a neighborhood park. They were passing the hat to fill the void left by the state’s budget crisis, which threatens deep cuts in education, including layoffs.
Fourth-grader Gracie Goodwin explains Southern Nevada’s economic reality: “There aren’t enough jobs. There aren’t enough people buying houses.”
Slater has been in education for more than three decades. He’s in his 60s, nearing retirement, dotes over his grandchildren, has the amiable demeanor of a man who genuinely cares about children. He’s not one to seek attention or controversy, but he’s about to lose 6 1/2 teaching positions. Class sizes will grow at his school by one to 10 students depending on the grade level, with fifth-grade teachers having as many as 39 in a class.
Second-grader Kendall Ruberio, who has the wisdom and awareness of a much older child, succinctly explains her thoughts behind the fundraisers. “If we don’t have enough teachers we won’t have a good school,” she says. Fourth-grader Alana Sullivan jumps in as her nonprofit business partners stand nearby. “If you don’t get a good education, you won’t be able to read and write,” she says.
Kendall and Alana know nothing about the political back story — the haggling over state tax policy, per-pupil spending, redistricting, electoral politics, education reform — but they sense the tension, hearing of teachers who are about to disappear from their school.
Givens is one of the district’s better performing schools on standardized tests. It has active parent groups that seek accountability from their children and the school’s teachers and administrators. Teachers often seek transfers to the school rather than from it. Its $73,000 supply budget for textbooks, paper, computers and toner for printers is about to be cut in half. The lemonade money could be used to buy some paper or toner cartridges. Slater hasn’t decided yet how to spend it.
Children do not pass through our lives unaware of the challenges created by grown-ups. They hear the conversations, sense the body language and tension. This group of six has a sense of social responsibility and community activism, although none would call it that. They might have a third fundraiser. Their motivation is simple.
“It wouldn’t be fair if the next group of fifth-graders didn’t have supplies to do science experiments,” fifth-grader Grant Goodwin says.
Slater smiles as the youngsters share their thoughts, but his eyes reflect other emotions as he looks to the two plastic bags with $47.73.
And some people think newspapers aren't biased? Right. Just look at all the articles in the "most read" section and determine for yourself whether or not the context isn't slanted favorably towards teachers.
LVS- Next time try writing about those ALREADY without a job, that will tug at heart strings even more.
If it's about heart strings being pulled,
how 'bout a dumb story about one nation under God with liberty and justice for all
succumbed to the idiocy of corporatism,
lost its funding for education,
so kids got dumber
while China and India spent gobs on their kids and then
took over the land of the free and home of the brave
because nobody there
could see it coming??
This is soooo precious!!
That is, until the municipal goons show up with badges around their necks demanding their permits, licenses, approved food stuffs storage and multiple sinks and ....
"If it's about heart strings being pulled..."
airweare -- yeah, but see how well it works.
"...but a little girl's nod, if it should so happen, will move him..." -- "Discourses of Epictetus," Arrian c. 108 A.C.E.
How pathetic that children are again being used as a political weapon to fleece tax payers. I'am sure the kids just came up with this idea on their own, contacted the paper and set up the photo shoot. Education in Nevada receives over 50% of the state budget, how much more do we have to pay? Everyone is cutting back, the hours of most workers have been cut, some have lost jobs, some have lost homes, their is no more money. The schools should suck it up like the rest of us, things will get better!
I hope they put enough sugar in the lemonade. You can run a stand off campus but you can't facebook the results of a bad teacher. $27 should save a teacher's job. The kids are smarter than the usual with wisdom and awareness of a much older child. Give me a break......you can't have a basketball goal on a street in Summerlin, but you can have a lemonade stand? Gotta love america.
I know this will sound crass...but...
If 'children' are old enough to watch television unsupervised, surf the internet unsupervised, learn of sexually transmitted diseases in elementary school health classes, etc., they certainly are old enough to learn economics...
They should be told that all of their planning, time, hard work and good intentions amounted to $27 - not enough to purchase one textbook...put it in terms they can understand...then maybe, just maybe, by the time they reach adulthood, they will not be as 'entitled' as they otherwise would be...
However, it is really cute!
Wow. A bunch of grumpy people here this morning. What is really sad is that these kids felt that times were so desperate that they needed to open a lemonade stand. This isn't about teachers, about economics, but about a few young children who tried to make a difference.
We should be praising these children for caring about their futures enough to do something like this. These kids show that there are still good things going on today, and if you can't see that, then I feel really sorry for you.
Purgatory...what did YOU know about economics when you were 11? Just take the story for what it is, jeez. With all the practically perfect people commenting here, it's a wonder the world has any problems at all.
great job kids...
but i hate to break it to you...
brian sandoval hates kids...
in fact...
he seems to take pleasure in inflicting irreparable harm on you...
makes him feel powerful...
it's a machismo thing...
so...
your lives are about to be forever changed and damaged...
you will never be able to recover...
but take heart...
our governor sure does have a nice smile...
and he sure does use it an awful lot...
especially when he is about to screw somebody...
as he is to your generation...
just remember this when you grow up...
and your life is more difficult than other kids from states that value education...
remember the main person responsible...
was brian sandoval!!!
this article was on the Las Vegas Sun front page earlier this morning. It shows 9 Clark County high schools rated as top performers. Why doesn't the school board bench mark these schools for key success factors then implement them into the other CCSD high schools?
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may...
Dear sheilacatherine,
I will answer your question...I knew much more about economics and the value of money at age 11 than I knew about sexually transmitted diseases and who Paris Hilton is sleeping with...much more...
As for taking "the story for what it is," I did just that, mam...if you think Mr. Sun placed this story on his website because it was a cute story about cute kids doing a cute thing, you are, of course, mistaken. Mr. Sun is making a political statement about the State of Nevada's education funding, using cute kids to deliver his message...kinda manipulative, don't you think, sheilacatherine?...jeeezzzz...
As for solving the world's problems, I merely suggested that you teacher types take the opportunity of these cute kids' passion to teach the the correct lesson.
Enjoy your Saturday,
Purgatory
Important Life Lesson to be learned: When life hands you lemons make lemonade. It won't help matters but it is cool and refreshing. These kids figured it out. Good.
And you think Purgatory that it is our CHOICE to teach the things you mock! REALLY!?! Believe it or not we do NOT choose our curriculum! It is handed to us by the know-it-alls like you! Want the curriculum changed...teach the things you mock at home.
Great job kids. And don't listen to the rhetoric of the bitter, teabagger loonies.
Don't worry, the children appear to be getting a lesson on the jerks and malcontents who lurk in their community via the comments to this positive story.
These kids learned nothing. To young and naive, what they should have done is have a fundraiser to save the teachers, please help its for the children and then steal the money, oh wait that is what the adults do.
Hey, maybe they can take the money and buy a small piece of another I-pad. A million bucks on I-pads for teachers.......the CCSD is really struggling, aren't they?
I know some who love I-pads but typing on those things while looking at the screen is not workable. Its uncomfortable too looking down while typing and looking at the screen.....tough on the back of the neck after a while.
Samjung23, you're calling us idiots? Let me enlighten you. First of all, the entire athletics budget for the CCSD is $5 million, or roughly .23% of CCSD's budget. The school lunch program is funded in two ways: 1) Federal dollars, and 2) the dollars collected by students who pay for it. It's not paid out of the general fund.
Maybe you should learn a little before you pass judgement. Ignorance is dangerous...
The Las Vegas Sun truly has no shame.
I'm proud of those kids. Thanks to the parents for donating the lemonade. Somehow this needs to be taken to a larger scale. They should band together and go to Steve Wynn, Dingy Harry, Dina Taxus, Scary Shelley, and other casino moguls and ask them for cash donations to help fund CC schools. Instead of the Jerry Lewis boot drive for MS, have a Kids boot drive for CC schools. Save our teachers, save our schools. Let's see how much everyone really cares!
How does paying teachers more money raise the level of kids education? Am I to assume that teachers work harder and produce better results the more you pay them? If teachers are truly concerned about the kids then they will take pay cuts and add teaching positions. That is if it is all about the kids.
Public service unions have destroyed this country.
"think of how stupid the average person is and realize half of them are stupider than that."
and if you cut it in half once again you have .... Dipstick
Birdman: "great job kids...
but i hate to break it to you...
brian sandoval hates kids...
in fact..."
Kids the lesson to be learned is to not rely on the taxpayers to support you. Make your own way. Birdman blames Brian Sandoval but apparently Birdman flunked economics or lives off credit cards. When there is no money you don't spend. When there is a deficit you cut.The entire State of Nevada has been hit hard but teachers, fireman and the public unions think they should be untouchable.
Birdman more taxes kill economic growth so that isn't an option. BHO and Harry Reid had total control for 2 years and did nothing because they at least had a minor understanding of economics.
2 Questions: Would you rather be the hammer or the nail? Would you rather be the teabagger or the teabaggee? I choose hammer and teabagger.
Great work kiddos! Ignore the comments from the right wing wackos (your parents will have to explain that part to you). If you've learned anything from this, you won't become a right winger when you turn 18. Possibly the only thing saving us from no-education radicalism will be yourselves.
@cubuffnaz. Since the 2008-2009 School Year, the CCSD budgets have been cut by 800,000,000. For the 2011-2012 School Year, the projected budget is 1,200,000,000 depending on the state funding. That budget is projecting cuts of up to 400,000,000 which is NOT included in the 800,000,000 figure. The taxes that will sunset and which may be extended have been in effect for the past two years, and business leaders have recently testified that they want those taxes extended, even before the Supreme Court decision. They, the business leaders, felt the cuts in the budget were too severe. Nevada has had low taxes for years, but business still didn't move to Nevada, not even from California. Ikea and Earth Link have said that one of the reasons they DIDN'T move to Nevada was the poor education system.
We have already seen in recent days businesses testifying in support of extending the sunsets on certain taxes. The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce has come out in support of a broad based business tax that is linked to education reform. However, there is still an area that needs to be addressed. The Constitutional protection for the mining industry and the state laws that allow huge deductions need to undergo changes. I am not advocating the Alaska solution of a 25% royalty on oil companies, although based on recent earnings reports, that doesn't seem to have had a negative effect on their profits. The issue was highlighted in a recent power point presentation at the Barrick Mining annual meeting. One of the mines highlighted in the power point was the Cortez Hills Mine in Northern Nevada. According to the power point, in 2010, the mine produced 114,000,000 ounces of gold (over 35 TONS) at a production cost of $312 per ounce. During the first quarter of 2011, the mine produced 366,000 ounces (over 11 TONS) of gold at a production cost of $220 per ounce. If you project a sale price of $1000 over cost of production,that results in a profit of over $1,500,000,000. Based on what the mining industry paid in taxes in 2009, the tax payment to the state of Nevada will probably be less than 50,000,000. The power point goes on to point out that the projected production from Cortez Hills for 2011 will be between 1.30 to 1.45 MILLION ounces (40-45 TONS)at a production cost of $235-245 per ounce. This is natural resource that should provide significant benefits to the citizens of Nevada. Unless the Legislature acts quickly, another two years will pass without any significant action to change the tax structure of the state.
Children using "right wing" free market enterprise is more of a conservative ideal vs. the "progressive slant".
Here is the lesson to be learned "kiddos" ... go out and make $27 dollars through you hard work and wait for the Dems to come take 40% to 50% to help fund their supporters liberal causes. Then watch Pelosi cronies get the exemption on Obamacare while you are expected to pay 100%.
The lesson "kiddos" is to be a giver and not a "taker" like those public union and welfare state recipients. Be in the 40% that pay taxes and support the 60% who live off other peoples hard work and success. Just don't be in the 60% because how could you ever look yourself in the mirror and like what you see?
Tanker,
Isn't it funny how you never see anyone (including yourself) mention taxing the casinos? I am against any and all taxes but if Nevada was going to do that why not tax those from another state that exhaust State resources?
There are plenty of qualified employable people in Nevada so education isn't the issue. Too many resources are spent appeasing gaming and not enough spent attracting industry.
If you are going to raise taxes raise taxes on everyone across the board. Otherwise teachers have to sacrifice just like the rest.
I'm curious. If you make $X per week do you spend $X or do you spend $Y and if you do where do you get the monies to cover the $Y expenditures? The bottom line is you have to budget so not to run a deficit. Taxes aren't the answer.
Real estate values are back to pre-2000 values. Would teachers, state employees and those in the poucblic unions be willing to adjust their pay back to 2005 scales in order to help the state, education and the kids? Yes or No
Great job, kids, keep it up.
Now, here's an idea: why not look through your rooms identifying all the old teddy bears and used toys no longer suiting your age and beg mum 'n' dad to sell pieces of the stuff at ebay, .... sorry, I meant amazon, ...of course, after having created an online account for that purpose, I mean, you know:
Try to raise more money, kids, go ahead.
Best regards
Chuck
Airweare--they don't spend gobs of money on kids in China. A college education in China costs one tenth of what it costs here. The Chinese already have taken over the world economically--iPhones are made at Foxconn, that plant where there were several suicides. These kids are getting a warped sense of economics and money, so what else is new? I remember when I was in junior high my teacher told the class that our parents should vote "yes" on the school bond election. She explained that a "bond" means it won't cost any money. LOL About 20 years later I learned in accounting 101 that a "bond" is a loan that has to be paid back with interest. I suspect that many school teachers really don't understand that.
@cubuffnaz.
In 2009, the mining industry had gross revenue of 5,800,000,000 and paid 48,600,000 in state taxes. In 2010, the gaming industry had gross gaming revenue of 5,800,000,000 and paid 416,000,000, almost 10 times what mining paid. Shall we say fair share? Since 2000, Wal-mart, Costco, the banks, etc, have paid ZERO in taxes on profits made in Nevada. Shall we say fair share?
For years, we have heard the low tax will attract business mantra. Where are the businesses? Last week, a solar cell manufacturing plant opened in North Las Vegas creating up to 300 jobs, which offset the 260 jobs the City of North Las Vegas cut, which left a net increase of 40 jobs. Clark County is projecting layoffs, Las Vegas is projecting layoffs, CCSD is projecting layoffs, Henderson is projecting layoffs. Where are the private sector jobs from low taxes?
Right after his second budget speech, Sandoval announced a new company relocating to Nevada. Urban Outfitters is opening a distribution center (warehouse) in Reno, with up to 300 jobs. Ikea and Earth Link have gone on record that they decided not to relocate to Nevada because of our poor education system.
One of the keys to attracting business is to have a good quality of life, including a top notch education system. I am courious to see what happens with the insert in the Delta Sky magazine. How do you answer the question, "what are your schools like"?
Given that CCSD has had cuts of 800,000,000 in three years, and may have to endure a cut of 400,000,000 for next year, I think that education has suffered enough. The CCSD proposed budget is 1,200,000,000 for the next school year. If all the cuts for next year go through, the cuts suffered by CCSD in 4 years are equal to the proposed budget. Has your company made cuts that significant?
Define "qualified employable people" in Nevada? Are you talking dealing cards, cleaning rooms, or are you talking college educated?
Actually the employees in CCSD haven't had a pay raise in years, so we are pretty close to 2005. Would the employees in your company be willing to do the same? That would give your employer more money to hire some of those "qualified employable people"?
The housing prices may have reverted back to 2000 and gone down but that's the ONLY thing going down (other than our paychecks). Everything else we need and use is skyrocketing in price. Don't ask anyone to take more pay cuts to bring wages in line with 2000 house prices when that is the ONLY thing reflecting 2000.
Now if the schools would buy books instead of Ipads. Why are text books in the office supply category.
Still deleting my comments? Wow, this paper has no shame!
Teachers are public sector employees. When the public funds are not there then cuts are necessary. Taxpayers already pay to much.
Tanker. A high school freshman understands that corporations don't pay taxes. Their customers do. Profits remain the same. You seem to be advocating taking jobs from the mining industry to subsidize the teachers.
A good point was made earlier. In Asia teachers educate for the overall good of society and year round. Here they work 200 days and complain about more money.
Do teachers educate students better if they are paid $30,000 vs $20,000? They should excel and do their best no matter what they are paid. If taxpayers pay you to do a job do it.
Did they pay taxes on their profits?
This story has enormous potential in being a truly "educational" experience for those involved and could become a classic study for all -- it can be assumed that these young entrepreneurs failed to apply for and receive the proper safety and legal requirements necessary in distributing consumables to the public for safe consumption as such, these entrepreneurs should have been arrested and charged for the violations they (unknowingly?) committed which would have launched their "real learning" experience.
These entrepreneurs would have learned about the costly and time consuming bureaucratic legal requirements, penalties, liabilities, processes and systems established with the "good intentions" of keeping the public safe and how such legal intentions/requirements challenge today's "good intentioned" entrepreneurs like themselves -- an invaluable experience which apparently will become lost by those encouraging such "noble youthful intentions" without regard to public safety, the established processes intended in assuring such as well as the opportunity to capture important life-lessons but weren't -- in short, a much better Sun story because of it's social reality instead of a "feel good fantasy" exposing juvenile criminality.
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Good thing this is not San Diego or the kids would have been arrested for operating a food stand without a license.
These students are to be commended for bringing attention to CCSD's problem. Their hearts are in the right place. When they became aware of the problem, they wanted to move towards a solution!
Has that happened in over 100 years when there has not been any meaningful MINING TAX RESTRUCTURING AND REFORM, which could eliminate wasteful loopholes and tax exemptions for the mining industry (and gaming/resort, too)?
Let's ask our public servants to look into their hearts and ask themselves if they are a part of the problem or part of the solution: Nevada Lawmakers, Governor(s), Representatives, School Administrators, Commissioners, and any who have CONTROL over the budget and purse strings!
Citizens need to contact their representatives/lawmakers/governor, and communicate what you expect them to do NOW, please. Thank YOU.
@cubuffnaz. So then you are also advocating that all public employees including police, fire, any city, county or state employee get pay cuts. I would ask that if you were forced to do the same job for a third less salary how motivated would you be? How do you think that you are going to attract quality teachers to Nevada to replace those who leave? I teach at an alternative high school. If you think my job is so easy, you can do it for a week. Then tell me you think that I am over paid.
As far as your statement that taxes are passed on, can you explain how a Wal-mart in Northern Nevada, which has no state tax bill, charges more for a pair of jeans than a Wal-mart in Idaho, which has a state tax on business.
Specifically what taxes do Nevada residents pay? We have NO INCOME TAX, we all pay a sales tax, property taxes, but what other taxes do we pay. Studies have indicated that Nevada has one of the lowest tax burdens in the country.
Do you really think that mining is going to cut jobs. The Sun ran a story last week that a company is trying to reopen the Comstock Lode because it is cost effective to begin mining again. Did you read my posts about the Cortez Mine above? Since 2010, that mine has produced over 45 TONS of gold, at a production cost of less than $312 per ounce. Currently gold is selling for about $1500 per ounce. Do you really think that they will leave? Nevada is one of the largest gold producers in the WORLD.
I'm glad more mega-budget cuts are coming to education. I really need to buy a blu-ray disc player and I can't afford another property tax increase.