Proposal would reduce school days in financial emergencies

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 | 6:05 p.m.

CARSON CITY – A legislative study committee is recommending that school districts facing financial emergencies be able to reduce the required number of class days.

Joyce Haldeman, associate superintendent of the Clark County School District, said the districts need flexibility when there is a money crisis to avoid layoffs.

The present law requires 180 days of school. Under the suggestion adopted Wednesday by the Legislative Committee on Education, the state superintendent of public instruction could make a finding that a financial emergency existed.

Then, the superintendent would have the authority to allow the districts to reduce their school schedule up to 10 days.

Haldeman told the committee that the cost to the Clark County School District is $8.9 million per day. Each of the 17 school districts in Nevada have different ways to deal with a shortage of money, she said.

The committee decided that the reduction of school days would have to get the approval of the Legislative Interim Finance Committee after the superintendent makes his finding.

The committee also recommended setting up a rainy day fund for public schools. If there is money left in the state school aid fund at the end of odd-numbered years, it would go into a stabilization account.

The plan calls for the state school superintendent to request a transfer from the rainy day fund when there is a shortage in the state school aid account. The superintendent would have to get approval from the Legislature if it was in session or from the Interim Finance Committee.

This plan was passed by the 2009 Legislature but vetoed by Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Sen. Joyce Woodhouse, D-Las Vegas, chairwoman of the committee, said the Legislature failed by one vote to override the veto of Gibbons.