Teachers file petition to increase public school funding

The Nevada State Education Association on Tuesday filed a petition to mandate dramatic increases in public school funding.

The initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State's Office in Las Vegas would require per-pupil funding for public schools in Nevada be at least the national average beginning in July 2012.

This coming fiscal year, NSEA President Terry Hickman said, per-pupil support totals about $5,600 a year. He said the national average is $7,200 - a difference of $1,600 a year per student.

With more than 385,000 students attending public school in Nevada, it would take an additional $615 million a year in tax revenue to meet the proposed mandate.

"It's a lot of money and that's why our petition goes into effect in 2012," he said. "We have every hope the people of Nevada will support the concept and give their legislators four sessions to make a difference and dedicate money to this."

The public education budget is Nevada's largest single category of state spending, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the total general fund. Of the nearly $3.8 billion budgeted for public schools in the two-year budget, almost $2 billion will come from the general fund and nearly all of the rest from sales and property taxes. The federal government contributes about $90 million to education programs.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said he welcomes the debate the petition will induce.

"Education isn't just on my agenda. It is my agenda," said Guinn, a former classroom teacher and superintendent of schools in Clark County.

But Guinn didn't actually endorse the proposed law. "Ultimately, it is the will of the people that will decide this issue and I have great faith that our citizens will decide what is best for them," he said.

To get on the ballot, the petition must raise signatures from registered Nevada voters totaling at least 10 percent of the total voting in the last general election - about 51,000. They must get the 10 percent in at least 13 of Nevada's 17 counties.

Hickman said the additional money wouldn't go just for teacher pay, although he said Nevada needs to pay teachers more to remain competitive with other states. And he said teachers are willing to accept responsibility for doing a good job in class. "We have no problem being held accountable for what happens in school, but we think it's time legislators be held accountable for what's not happening," he said.

Hickman said teachers want more money for pre-kindergarten and full-time kindergarten programs, funding for expanded professional development, especially focusing on "closing the achievement gap" - a reference to helping the poor, minority students and those whose native language is other than English.

"And we think it's really important to look at class-size reduction," he said. "We do a good job with class-size reduction in grades one through three. It needs to be implemented in all the grades."

Hickman said more money for textbooks and supplies is also critical.

He said teacher pay, along with better professional development and support especially for new teachers, will help attract and retain first class teachers.

"One of two teachers hired this year in five years will be gone and out of the classroom," he said. "When they don't stay, the kids lose and the school district loses."

He said starting pay for teachers in Washoe and Clark counties is now about $27,000 and should be raised to at least $30,000. He said veterans also need raises to keep them in the classroom.

If they get the signatures and the proposal is approved by voters, it would require lawmakers and the governor to ensure the state provides at least as much as the national average per pupil funding each fiscal year. That average would be determined by the National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education and would include not only all state funding but projected revenues from federal and local sources as well.

Contact Geoff Dornan at nevadaappeal@sbcglobal.net or 687-8750.