It’s a given that the Washoe County School District is hacking its budget by some $8 or $9 million. The proposed cuts are dismal. Teacher loads would increase. Purchasing frivolities like new textbooks would decrease. Sex education would be emasculated. Transportation cutbacks would mean parents who already pay loads to keep their kids in sports like cheerleading (out-of-pocket expenses to parents about $310) or soccer ($110-$165) will either have to shell out more to pay for bus rides to and from games—or kick some carpools into gear.
It gets worse. The Truckee Meadows Community College High School gets flushed with the proposed cuts. The fifth-grade strings program takes a hit, as does the Talent Academy, school police, drivers’ education, boot camp and arts.
School district spokesman Steve Mulvenon agreed that the school board shouldn’t be in the position of cutting money for schools that are already receiving far less than the national average of per-pupil funding. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. schools spend an average of $7,079 per pupil per year. Nevada spends an average of $4,966 per pupil.
“The bottom line is that this isn’t about mismanagement of funds,” Mulvenon says. “No one’s been asleep at the switch. Nevada schools are inadequately funded.”
The proposed cuts will be discussed at an upcoming series of town hall meetings:
· 7 p.m. March 6, McQueen High School, 6055 Lancer St.
· 7 p.m. March 7, Hug High School, 2880 Sutro St.
· 7 p.m. March 11, Wooster High School, 1331 E. Plumb Lane.
· 7 p.m. March 13, Reed High School, 1350 Baring Blvd.
· 7 p.m. March 14, Incline High, 499 Village Blvd., Incline Village.
· 6 p.m. March 19, Gerlach High School, 555 E. Sunset Blvd., Gerlach.