Teachers criticize scholarship plan

Nevada's largest teachers organization has joined the chorus of critics knocking Gov. Kenny Guinn's plan to offer college scholarships to high school students with a "B" average.

Officials of the Nevada State Education Association, which represents 20,000 state educators, on Thursday announced they do not support pieces of Guinn's Millennium Scholarship plan.

Guinn wants to use half the estimated $48 million a year from a settlement with the tobacco industry to offer $2,500 scholarships to students who attend Nevada's two universities and $1,500 to those who go to community college.

But the education association's leaders say they want more money used for anti-tobacco programs and media blitzes aimed at both students and their parents.

More of the money needs to be used to cut down on the access teens have to cigarettes, association Executive Director Kenneth Lange said Thursday.

In his own announcement Thursday, Guinn pointed out that while half the tobacco money in his plan would go for scholarships, nearly $21 million over the next eight years would be used for anti-smoking programs aimed at teens.

Association officials also say they're not convinced enough tobacco money has been earmarked for Nevada to promise such large scholarships.

"We support scholarships," Lange said. "But we want the amount of money to be realistic. We're making a promise, a commitment we want to live up to."

Guinn spokesman Jack Finn said, "We believe the money will be there. Isn't it better to have a program, especially one of this magnitude, in place as opposed to waiting around sitting on our hands to see if the check is there?"

Guinn has been promoting his scholarship plan all over the state.

"There is no bill worth dying for except Millennium Scholarships," Guinn has said.

Guinn faces political obstacles. Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa has said the full $48 million must be spent on health issues. Assembly Democrats have introduced their own version of the scholarship proposal, putting just 25 percent of the money toward scholarships.

The education association suggests other changes to the governor's plan.

Association members want to require students to continue maintaining a "B" average in college, as opposed to Guinn's plan, which calls for a "C" average in college.

The association also wants more state money for financial incentives to draw more teachers to Clark County as teacher shortages begin to take hold nationwide in the coming years.

"We've got to find a way to get teachers to come to Nevada," Lange said.

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