Lawmakers approve smaller classes for speech therapy

The Legislative Commission wasn't happy with the way it came about, but members agreed Tuesday to set smaller class sizes for children who need speech therapy.

Objections raised by Assemblyman Greg Brower, R-Reno, centered on what he said looked like an end run around legislative approval of the budget to pay for the smaller classes. The smaller classes along with slight reductions in two other categories of special education class sizes will cost about $4 million a year.

Gloria Dopf of the Department of Education said it was not an attempt to escape legislative review of the budget. She said the money is uncommitted federal funding available for projects this coming school year.

She said legislators will have a chance to fully review budget requests to continue the program during the 2000 Legislature.

The State Board of Education approved regulations reducing the caseload for speech pathologists working in Nevada public schools from 60 per teacher to 50 per teacher. At the same time, they cut the class size for Early Childhood and Resource Room programs from 24 to 22 students.

Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, said he may support the change during the 2000 Legislature but worried that allowing an increase in a budget between sessions sets a dangerous precedent that other agencies may try take advantage of.

Brower said the original regulation would have put most of the cost on school districts which argued they don't have the money even though they support the idea.

"The merit wasn't doubted by anyone," he said.

Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said she too had reservations about how the issue came up but that "the problem is pupils with disabilities aren't receiving the educational services they need." She said using the $4 million in federal funds this year, then reviewing the issue in the next Legislature as proposed by Brower's regulatory review subcommittee, was a good compromise.

She said the lower class sizes can take effect this coming school year and the 2000 Legislature can take up the issue of caseloads for teachers of children with speech problems.

She said lawmakers can also deal with the issue of controlling regulation changes impacting the budget at that time as well.