Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Education officials react to Sandoval’s $882 million plan for Nevada schools

Brian Sandoval

Lance Iversen / AP

Gov. Brian Sandoval acknowledges a guest in the gallery during his State of the State address in a joint meeting of the Nevada Assembly inside the Legislature building Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, on the capitol grounds in Carson City.

Educators have no shortage of things to talk about following Gov. Brian Sandoval’s State of the State address Thursday night.

The Republican governor outlined a robust plan to raise $882 million for education over the next two years and expressed support for a wide variety of programs designed to improve student performance across the state.

Sandoval was both optimistic for the future...

“I believe that we stand at the threshold of a new Nevada,” he said. “A Nevada prepared to take its place among the most innovative, visionary and well-educated state in the nation.”

...and critical of the state’s current systems.

“We have to own the fact that our K-12 system doesn’t need to improve, it must improve,” he said.

Here’s what educators are saying about the plans he outlined:

Pat Skorkowksy, Superintendent for the Clark County School District

Pat Skorkowsky, Clark County School District superintendent, listens to a question during an editorial board meeting at the Las Vegas Sun Tuesday Jan. 21, 2014.

Pat Skorkowsky, Clark County School District superintendent, listens to a question during an editorial board meeting at the Las Vegas Sun Tuesday Jan. 21, 2014.

Skorkowsky has a lot to be happy about. Sandoval’s speech included support for many of the legislative goals laid out by the superintendents of the 17 state school districts.

“There were many things in the governor’s speech that aligned directly .. to the work we are already doing in the CCSD,” Skorkowsky said.

A major one is support for changing the Nevada Plan, the outdated formula that determines state support for school districts. Sandoval said he would support giving more weight to districts with high populations of low-income students, a shift that would directly benefit Clark County. Skorkowsky said it was “amazing” to hear it in the governor’s speech.

“We can truly change the way we fund education in the state of Nevada so that the dollars go to the students with the most need,” he said.

Skorkowksy also praised Sandoval for his willingness to approve legislation to temporarily rollover bonding authority for school construction. That would allow the district to begin building new schools as early as fall 2017.

“Now that we know this may become a reality, we are looking at how to prioritize where new schools would be based upon growth,” he said.

Joyce Haldeman, associate superintendent and chief lobbyist for the Clark County School District

Joyce Haldeman

Joyce Haldeman

“By and large this was a speech that was good news for educators and good news for students and parents in the state of Nevada,” Haldeman said.

Sandoval promised to expand full-day kindergarten to every school in the state and double the number of students in Nevada preschools. He also pledged $100 million to expand schools that offer additional support to kids learning English.

District officials like Haldeman had heard rumblings in recent weeks that Sandoval might voice support for some of their goals, but didn’t know how far he would go.

“It was the combination of hitting the right notes and recognizing the support that needs to be there,” she said. “It was wonderful to hear. I thought he did a great job.”

But not everyone’s happy with Sandoval. The governor had harsh words for the state’s elected school boards. He called them “disconnected” and said he would support legislation to make them appointed positions.

Kevin Child, Clark County School Board Trustee, District D

Kevin Child

Kevin Child

“When did he become judge, jury and executioner?” Child said. “All of a sudden he wants to take power away from the people?”

Sandoval also said that he would sign legislation that would split up large urban districts like Clark County and consolidate rural districts.

Child said Sandoval’s words undermined school districts at a time when CCSD is doing all it can to be transparent.

On Wednesday, Skorkowsky announced the district was performing a fiscal analysis of every department, school and academic program with the intention of increasing accountability heading into the legislative session.

Child said Sandoval has it the other way around: It’s school boards that have been clamoring for change before a silent Legislature.

“He’s been a governor for a long time. The legislators have been up there for how long?” Child said. “We’re the ones that are getting thrown to the side of the curb.”

Dr. Len Jessup, President of UNLV

Len Jessup

Len Jessup

“His vision to ensure a brighter future for Nevada is an inspiration to us all,” Jessup said in a statement.

Sandoval said Las Vegas “needs a medical school,” and said he would provide $9.3 million to cover the “initial costs” of establishing one at UNLV.

“I want to thank Governor Sandoval for his support of the UNLV School of Medicine and other university priorities in the ‘State of the State’ address,” Jessup said.

The governor also said he would include $10 million in his budget for graduate medical education to attract more doctors to the state.

Nick DiArchangel, Nevada State Education Association lobbyist

“We were very pleased the governor began the conversation with school funding,” he said.

DiArchangel said Sandoval’s support for extending sunset taxes and instituting business license taxes to raise money for education will have the single biggest impact on teachers in the classroom.

“Without the funding, all these programs are going to be for naught,” he said.

He said Sandoval’s vocal support for things like professional development and mentoring for teachers were also important.

Sandoval’s tax agenda will be met with stiff opposition from the Legislature’s conservative bloc, something education lobbyists like DiArchangel know too well.

“We know its going to be a challenge for him to do so,” DiArchangel said.

Seth Rau, policy director at Nevada Succeeds

“It’s a tremendous start,” he said.

Groups like Nevada Succeeds, a business-oriented group which advocates for better student performance, are particularly interested in Sandoval’s support for a litany of school programs.

The governor said his budget includes $50 million for disadvantaged students, $30 million for literacy programs, $50 million for new technology in classrooms and $20 million for STEM and college readiness at high schools.

“Those are serious financial commitments that we have been hoping for, and to see them actually happening is a big deal,” he said.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy