Nevada parents oppose paying to keep school choice program on hold

A group opposed to Nevada’s new Education Savings Account program says it shouldn’t have to post a quarter-million-dollar bond to cover the costs of putting the program on hold.

Lawyers for six public school families filed a motion Feb. 3 opposing Treasurer Dan Schwartz’s request that they post a $239,000 bond. Schwartz wanted to access the money if courts eventually overturn a hold that a Carson City judge placed on the program.

The bond would cover costs to store application information in the cloud so families wouldn’t have to reapply if the injunction is lifted.

Program opponents say Schwartz’s plan to spend nearly $3,000 a month on data storage is unnecessary, and say he doesn’t need $125,000 to retain outside lawyers because the attorney general’s office can defend the program.