Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Governor’s education funding proposal attacked

Sun Coverage

CARSON CITY – The Clark County School District would lose $18 million under Gov. Brian Sandoval’s planned changes in education funding, a school district official says.

Joyce Haldeman, representing the school district, said there were “a lot of strings” attached to the governor’s plan to distribute a block grant and give districts more flexibility in how money is spent.

Haldeman and two other education officials told the Assembly Ways and Means Committee on Friday they opposed Assembly Bill 558, which is part of the governor’s education reform package.

Committee Chairwoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, also said she feared that programs such as full-day kindergarten and class size reductions would evaporate. It took years to get the backing of the Legislature for those programs, she said.

But Julia Teska, analyst for the state Budget Office, said the bill would provide more local control for school districts. She said districts would have more flexibility to decide what programs work.

Teska said the governor’s plan seek accountability and school districts would have to report to the state on student achievement. Haldeman said districts already submit evaluations on achievement.

Under questioning, Teska said there would be a reduction of $7 million in 2012 under the governor’s proposal, and as the economy improves “there would be a secure funding stream.”

Haldeman said she worried the governor’s plan would lead to increased class sizes with less money over the years.

Craig Hulse of the Washoe County School Districts said the governor’s bill would lead to bigger class sizes. Mary Piercznski, representing Nevada's 17 county school superintendents, also opposed the bill.

No one spoke in favor of the bill and the committee didn't take a vote on the measure.

The Clark County School District does support Assembly Bill 493, which continues a temporary waiver on the minimum amount schools must spend on library books, software for computers, instruction equipment and maintenance and repair of equipment, vehicles and building. That amount is based on spending per student.

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