Home»Teachers, administrators, parents bracing for education cuts
Teachers, administrators, parents bracing for education cuts
Page Last Updated: Friday February 5, 2010 5:52pm PST
It could be one of the most anticipated speeches in Nevada History.
Monday, Governor Gibbons will deliver his State of the State Address. And, as expected, he’ll call for deeper cuts to the budget. This time it appears as if education could be in the crosshairs.
New mom Amber Aguilar has listened to squawking from lawmakers in Carson City for months; they have been arguing over the state’s budget and the possibility of new cuts to education.
“It's quite scary. We've actually considered moving up to Salt Lake before.”
Denise Rosch: Because of (budget cuts)?
“Yes,” Aguilar explains. “I grew up in Salt Lake. When I moved down here the education systems were two years behind already and I couldn't imagine what it's going to be like for (my daughter).”
And the predictions keep getting worse. “I think we’re hearing 10 percent; as high as 22 percent,” said CCSD Superintendent Dr. Walt Rulffes.
Dr. Rulffes says he could be asked to cut $150 million from his budget. It’s a figure that equates to laying off as many as 2,300 teachers, an idea he’s firmly against. Instead, he says it may be time to renegotiate teacher contracts.
“I believe, based on the hundreds and hundreds of emails I get, most people will be willing to work two or three fewer days or take a small cut or do something where (they’re) personally impacted for the greater good of the students who need these services.”
Ruben Murillo, president of the teachers union, says parents should be worried, too. One possibility is larger class sizes, meaning less one on one time for everybody.
“There are a lot of rumors and I want everybody to know we have not agreed to anything,” Murillo said. “The district has not agreed to anything. What’s being put out there are scenarios.”
What the union is doing is talking to teachers. It is getting input and ideas on what cuts are palatable. But with nearly 13,000 union members in Clark County alone, finding consensus on even a single campus could be a challenge.
Still, both teachers and administrators agree it’s time to work together. State revenues are down and school board president Terri Janison says no matter what the district’s budget, it has to be about the kids.
“We’ll get through it,” Janison insists. “It’s going to be a tough fight. I’m ready to fight the governor and the Legislature but anybody (who) wants to join me is more than welcome.”
COMMENTS
I think our lawmakers should take a paycut instead of the teachers. We need educated lawmakers instead of a Government that thinks cutting education will help.
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Home»Teachers, administrators, parents bracing for education cuts
T.
February 5, 2010 7:32pm PST
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Maybe CCSD should cut costs by going to 4 day school days. Make school a little longer each day. Imagine the savings just from heating/cooling the buildings. Less wear and tear on the buses...not to count all the fuel being saved. Smaller districts do it in Nevada.