Gibbons rethinks schools funding

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Jim Gibbons is dropping his proposal to take $60 million from a teacher incentive program to fund 100 empowerment schools.

In a Reno television interview Thursday, Gibbons said he wants to compromise with legislators and will look for other ways to fund some empowerment schools.

Legislative Democrats had been adamantly opposed to taking funds from an existing teacher program to pay for such schools, whose budgets, schedules and curriculum are largely set by principals, teachers and parents.

With Democrats controlling the Assembly by a 27-15 margin, Gibbons cannot win approval of his plan without their support.

"Compromise means that yes, I will look for other sources of revenue than what we have talked about," the governor said.

Establishing empowerment schools had been the key new initiative offered by Gibbons in his State of the State message in January.

Gibbons still wants to establish some empowerment schools, but he realizes he has to work with the Legislature and wanted to demonstrate his willingness to compromise, according to his press secretary, Melissa Subbotin.

"We are not giving up," she said. "We are still committed to ensuring empowerment schools receive the necessary funding."

Both Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, and Assembly Education Chairwoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, said they want to find ways to fund some empowerment schools.

But they also are looking for revenue to expand full-day kindergarten, now offered in 114 of the state's 340 elementary schools, and add to the innovation in education grant program.

"We are discussing all the education issues," Buckley said about private meetings of education leaders. "It isn't any secret we believe more should be added to the education budget."

Buckley said Democrats never intended to use the $60 million sought by Gibbons for full-day kindergarten or other education programs. That money goes to an incentive program that pays a portion of retirement benefits for math and science teachers and those who teach in low-income neighborhoods.

"We never counted on that money," she said. "It (Gibbons' decision) hasn't changed the dynamic of our discussions."

Parnell said the $60 million should stay in teacher incentive programs.

Buckley expects legislative leaders will soon reach a decision on education matters. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn June 4.

But members need to reach budget decisions several days ahead of that date in order to prepare bulky budget bills and pass them before the adjournment date.

"The clock is ticking," Buckley said. "I am not going to discuss details of our discussions."

Subbotin said empowerment schools don't come free. Gibbons had proposed giving the 100 empowerment schools he wanted to establish an additional $550 per student.

Four existing empowerment schools in Clark County receive an additional $600 per student. Class days are 29 minutes longer than other schools.

A Democratic-backed bill sponsored by Sen. Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, calls for establishing 21 empowerment schools using existing resources or by finding grants.

"We need money for teachers and we support empowerment," Parnell said. "But not everybody thinks it takes additional money to accomplish empowerment."