2008 The year of devastating budget cuts to K-12 education
General fund revenues in Nevada were less than what was projected when the legislature and Governor enacted the budget for the 2007/08 biennium. Much of the state’s revenue is derived from tourism which is greatly impacted by upturns and downturns in the economy here in Nevada and throughout the country. Nevada is in dire need of a stable funding base to protect the well being of its residents and their quality of life.
In order to balance the budget, Governor Gibbons proposed cuts to government agencies exempting K-12 education, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Safety.
On December 14, 2007, the “Education First Governor” went back on his word and notified the 17 school district superintendents to prepare a list of budget reductions equaling 4.5%. He also included a list of what he thought should be cut from K-12.
Please click on the links to read more: Governor's planned budget cuts Broken Promises
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K-12 education in Nevada lost over $130 million in budget reductions in 2008. These reductions were devastating and left K-12 with no flesh or fat. K-12 is now down to the bone and is being asked to make further reductions of 14.12%.
School districts across the state are evaluating which programs and staffing to eliminate. They are reaching out to the community to help decide what to do and how to best keep reductions from negatively impacting students.
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On Thursday, January 24, 2008, the Nevada Department of Education sent a communication to the Nevada superintendents advising them to cut all the one shot funding for. programs including full day-K, empowerment, SB185 grant dollars, career and technical program increases, gifted & talented, magnet program for deaf and hard of hearing, performance pay pilot program and utility shortfall were all unfunded totaling a loss of $63,888,292. On Friday, May 23rd, the Interim Finance Committee held an emergency meeting to approve an additional 4.5% in reductions equaling $92,700,000.
The Governor called the legislature into special session which began on June 27, 2008, at 10:00 am and adjourned sine die on June 27, 2008, at 10:22 pm. NQE was present in Carson City for the duration of the special session. We did all we could to save dollars going to education but more powerful lobbyists were able to turn the tables in their favor resulting in a $130 million loss of revenue for the state. Consequently, education and other agencies shouldered the burden of deeper cuts. During the special session, school districts in Nevada lost $48 million in textbook and supply funding and 3.3% reductions to the total budget.
The Governor’s budget director, Andrew Clinger, has recently requested agencies to prepare a list of additional cuts totaling 14.12% for 2010 & 2011.
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What Did NQE Do To Protect K-12 Education?
NQE met with legislators, school districts and education agencies in an effort to find remedies in order to avoid loss of revenue. We kept our membership and supporters around the state informed of the issue and enlisted them in the effort to protect K-12.
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Candlelight Vigils In Support Of K-12 Education
The NQE Board of Directors hosted 4 simultaneous candlelight vigils on December 19, 2007 in protest of the Governor’s proposed cuts of 4.5% to K-12 education. These cuts will have a devastating impact on our students and teachers. Every school district in Nevada will endure exploding class sizes, supply shortages, and the elimination of tutoring and ancillary programs.
The theme was: The Governor is Burying Education
The vigils were held at several locations in northern and southern Nevada.
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The locations were:
Las Vegas: Bonanza High School & Greenspun Jr. High
Reno: Swope Middle School
Carson City: Steps of the Legislative Building
Over 300 people from communities across Nevada turned out in support of our students and in protest of the reductions. Extensive media coverage brought the issue into the homes of those unaware and or unable to participate.
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Town Hall Meeting
Over 130 attended the meeting held at Spring Valley High School on January 16, 2008. Jon Ralston of Face to Face donated his time and expertise to moderate the extremely informative and sometimes lively discussion. Jeremy Aguero with Applied Analysis, Speaker Buckley, Lisa Mayo-DeRiso of Mayo and Associates, Assemblywoman Debbie Smith and CCSD Board Trustee Sheila Moulton presented information regarding education funding, the budget cuts and the impact they will have on our students and society. All panelists donated their time to the event. The public had the chance to share their thoughts, concerns and ask questions. NQE thanks all of those who participated.
Please click here to see the invitation to the Town Hall meeting sent to Governor Gibbons.
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Click on these links for more information:
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