Addressing needs of Southern Nevada, lawmakers did us proud

Sunday, June 7, 2015 | 2 a.m.

This normally is the time, at the close of another state legislative session, when we would ponder what might have been and grumble about a lack of courage and vision and months of political posturing, squirming, infighting and dodging, leading to little more than kicking the can down the road rather than make hard decisions to frame Nevada’s future.

Instead, the 2015 Legislature will be distinguished by the gutsy leadership of Gov. Brian Sandoval in daring politicians to deal with reality and the needs of Southern Nevada. Responsible and politically selfless Democrats and Republicans heard that call and, in a most remarkable fashion, embraced the largest tax increases in state history.

It is the price to move the state forward for the sake of our children’s future, in part by recognizing the role Southern Nevada plays in nurturing a more diverse economy. It has been a long time coming.

“It was a constructive session that secured much-needed resources and reformed the K-12 educational structure in meaningful ways,” said Robert Lang, director of the think tank Brookings Mountain West. “The signal to businesses that may consider locating here is that Nevada is serious about improving education and lifting the skill level of its workforce.”

Among its accomplishments, the Legislature:

• Allocated $27 million to the fledgling UNLV School of Medicine so it can hire the right people, get accredited and welcome its first class of 60 in 2017. The investment will go far in raising the quality of health care research and delivery in Southern Nevada. And now with the state’s commitment evident, significant donors are queuing up.

• Earmarked $24.4 million for the construction of Hospitality Hall, a $56 million teaching and research facility at the Harrah Hotel College at UNLV. Remaining funding will come from UNLV, gaming industry partners and other supporters.

• Paid for a host of education initiatives, including “Read by 3,” in which children who struggle to read will be identified before third grade and receive intensified instruction; increased funding to expand “zoom schools” that specialize in teaching English; more funding to fortify underperforming schools in the 20 poorest ZIP codes in Nevada; and funds to further enrich programs for gifted and talented students and for students pursuing career and technical education.

• Expanded full-day kindergarten to all elementary schools statewide by 2016-17.

• Promised rewards for high-performing teachers — and less job security for underperforming school principals and teachers.

The Legislature was hardly working in a vacuum making these tough decisions; lawmakers were lobbied by many interests, including the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, which applauded the governor’s $1.1 billion tax package.

Sure, there were decisions during the session on various issues that frustrate one side or the other. And of course, there were the absurdities of political theater and childish behavior that gave us cause to chortle.

Still, as the dust settled, Joyce Haldeman, lobbyist for the Clark County School District, said the Legislature was unprecedented for its accomplishments, all the more remarkable given the number of emerging leaders who lacked political experience.

“I’ve been lobbying since the 1990s, and I’ve never seen a session like this,” she said. “There was an overarching sense that education has come into its time, that it was the top priority and the motivation for the tax increase. It was the heartbeat of every conversation in the building.

“We’ve turned the corner.”

Finally, it was a turn in the right direction.

Over the next two years, we will watch how these education reforms and funding levels play out. We’ve still got an uphill journey ahead of us, but at least there’s a sense that we know where we’re going and we’re not having to hobble along on the shoulder with our emergency flashers blinking.