The ongoing drama being played out on the Nevada political stage over funding for K-12 education would be comical if it weren’t so tragic. The cast of characters in the production has been set. Enter first: the new Governor, Brian Sandoval. Mr. Sandoval campaigned last fall on a commitment to improve K-12 education in the state but has shown remarkably little real resolve to do so. Next, from stage left, comes the Nevada State Legislature, foundering in its lack of real leadership it seems to lack the attention span to hold education as sacrosanct. Finally, stumbling up from the darkness through the trap door at center stage is the Clark County School District (CCSD) tossing out gloom and doom budget scenarios especially calculated to stir up angry parents and cause confusion and turmoil among rank and file teachers. Neither the great William Shakespeare, nor the most tawdry writer of day-time drama; nor anyone in between; could dream up such a twisted plot, nor such a host of treacherous characters.

ACT ONE: Much has been said about the need to diversify the State’s economy. There have been many appealing proposals on how to lure new business and industry to the State. But the topic of education remains the real elephant in the room when it comes to economic diversification. As long as our K-12 performance is wallowing at the bottom of the pack; and as long as we continue to abandon our higher education system; economic diversification in Nevada is highly unlikely. That is because we can offer very little in qualified workforce to attract quality business and industry to move to the State. After all, our best and brightest students, who somehow manage to blossom amid the barren landscape of Nevada education, will eventually move elsewhere in search of greater economic opportunity. And can anyone blame them? What else is here for them if they stay?

Of course, with our current education system, there will always be plenty of people to wait tables and park cars on the Strip. But that is no way to diversify the economy.

Because of all of this, Gov. Sandoval promised that education would be a top priority to his administration. Of course, he did this while making another firm pledge of no new State taxes. While one may argue the point that these two lofty goals can co-exist, there would be a vast world of political territory to cover and tremendous leadership and discipline exercised to get us there. That is where this production would need a mighty hero to sweep down onto the stage and take up the cause of education for the good of the State economy and at the expense of all else. But no! It is at this point that Mr. Sandoval exits with a flourish stage right; and aptly hands this Gordian knot over to the State Legislature to crack.

ACT TWO: The Legislature would love to make teachers and parents (voters all) happy by funding K-12 education. But they also want to preserve funding to every other meaty, ham-bone program in the state.

Like a spectator at a tennis match, the legislative gaze shifts back and forth, back and forth, from one budget item to another. The ability to keep an eye fixed on long-term economic diversification through commitment to education requires a far longer attention span than is possible in a legislative body of this kind.

What’s more, the Legislature deeply resents having its hands tied by the Governor on devising new sources of revenue to the State. After all, the Legislature wasn’t ever really sold on the idea of preserving education without a tax increase. That path is much too difficult and fraught with political peril for them. It would require determination and far-sighted leadership which is apparently in very short supply in Carson City. So the Legislature takes the easy way. It simply passes out the deep cuts across the board to education and then points the finger of political blame right back at the Governor.

“It’s his fault, he wouldn’t let us raise taxes,” they say as they make a swift and dramatic exit from the stage.

Still no hero to save the day.

ACT THREE: So the whole, tangled up mess is now handed down to the CCSD. Remember, this is an organization that has been under-performing academically for years; even when the State’s coffers were bursting with revenues.

When times were good, a lot of costly administration and fluffy programs were added at CCSD. Interestingly, none of that pulled academic performance up off of the bottom of the heap. Despite this, the CCSD immediately claims the high ground by saying that the Legislature, in making these cuts, is ushering in an even darker day (if possible) for Nevada education.

Of course, the final decision on education cuts has yet to be nailed down by the Legislature. It won’t be done until June. And that leaves plenty of time to CCSD for political game playing.

Thus, the district has started its campaign of political manipulation. Putting on a sincere tone, the district asks parents for their feedback on how the proposed cuts should be distributed. They develop an extensive survey for parents to complete. Of course, the survey only includes a narrow segment of possible cuts for parents to consider. Interestingly the survey includes very few options to cut central administration or facilities and maintenance. Instead it is full of ways to make deep cuts that directly affect a broad base of students in the classroom.

Even so, when the feedback is returned, parents have made some outside-the-box suggestions. Things like cutting transportation budgets, reducing support and perks for magnet schools, and reducing sports budgets are all areas largely outside of the general classroom. But parents surely understand that cutting public dollars to these items would likely cast more of the financial burden back onto themselves to make up the difference; a fitting sacrifice.

This sensible public feedback goes largely unheeded, though. Instead the district just took out the dull, rusty axe and just started swinging.

The proposal opts to drop the lion’s share of $400 million in cuts right at the feet of teachers. A massive teacher layoff will result in significantly larger class sizes, less support and much, much more work for the teachers who have been spared the axe. And by the wayall this comes with a teacher pay cut of nearly 8%.

The dramatic plot thus far has admittedly been complex, with many twists and turns. But the greatest irony of all is the fact that, in the realm of education, the final price for the Governor’s pledge of no new taxes falls on the shoulders of the lowly CCSD teachers.

Of course, this is far from heroic behavior. The thoughtless, worst-case CCSD proposal is miles away from seeking what is best for the students. It is not remotely about preserving what vestiges remain of quality education in the district. Make no mistake, this is all about politics; pure and simple. It is about squeezing those who are going to make the most noise: parents and teachers (voters all).

ACT FOUR: And so, we seem to be left with the worst sort of tragic ending. If the plot continues plodding down its inevitable path, the Silver State will surely see dark days ahead. After all, quality education is often considered a leading indicator of the future health and prosperity of a state or community. If that is true, it does not bode well for the coming days and years in Nevada.

Even now, as we struggle through this extended and painful economic downturn, we are reaping what we have long sown over decades of apathy and ambivalence to quality education. For too long, all of our eggs were placed in the baskets of growth and gaming, neither of which particularly required or valued quality education. No one ever thought that both of those baskets would topple over at once. But they did. And now we see what we are left with?

Our cast of characters: the Governor, the Legislature and the CCSD; are still trying to sow more of the same old seeds hoping for a different crop. But if unchecked, the noxious fruits that come up will once again, chase off and choke out the brightest potential of a rising generation of Nevadans and repel new business and industry in the process. And there still does not seem to be a hero in the wings that will come and set things right.

The bitter comedy is this: when all is said and done, it will be the children of Nevada who will pick up the tab for all of this nonsense. And that is the most heart-rending tragedy of all; both for the kids, and for the State.

One Response to “EDITORIAL: A Plague On All Their Houses…”