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Group attacks Sandoval's teacher salary cut proposals
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU
Updated: Feb. 25, 2011 | 7:58 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Gov. Brian Sandoval has shown "contempt" for public school teachers by proposing to cut their pay by 12 percent to 20 percent, the state teachers union leader said Thursday.
Lynn Warne, president of the 28,000-member Nevada State Education Association, said the annual starting pay of teachers -- now about $35,000 -- would drop to the $30,800 range in Clark County through the Republican governor's budget-cutting proposals.
"We feel an assault on education in this state," Warne told a joint Senate-Assembly budget committee hearing. "There is an assault on state workers as well."
Warne later explained that besides a 5 percent pay cut, teachers also would pay a 1.125 percent additional premium for retirement benefits and Sandoval also wants them to kick in 5.9 percent to help cover Public Employees Retirement System costs. That would bring every teacher's pay reduction to 12 percent.
In addition, she said the Sandoval budget does not include the 4 percent annual step increases teachers received before the recession, or the 4 percent premium they received if they acquired master's degrees. Older teachers also could receive 4 percent longevity pay increases.
She emphasized she made the "contempt" statement in response to a recent statement in which President Barack Obama said teachers are held in high esteem by people. In Nevada, she said teachers "don't feel respect but contempt" for how Sandoval is treating them as professionals.
Her comments came during a meeting in which Democrats said the governor's two-year pubic education budget really is about $1 billion short of the total education budget they approved in 2009.
But Mary-Sarah Kinner, Sandoval's spokeswoman said Sandoval has the "utmost respect for teachers and all public employees. These difficult times unfortunately require shared sacrifice."
While the governor proposes a $2.2 billion, two-year school budget, or about $200 million, or 9 percent, less than current state spending. Assembly Ways and Means Chairwoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, said his education budget plan actually is $668 million less than what legislators approved in 2009.
Her figure includes the loss of federal stimulus and other funds and the cuts legislators made during a special session in February 2010.
On top of that, Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said there is another $326 million hole in the Sandoval budget because county school districts have told legislators that they cannot spend bond reserves on operating costs -- as proposed by Sandoval -- without depleting their reserves.
Jeff Weiler, chief financial officer of the Clark County School District, said his district will have to lay off 2,500 teachers and 700 support personnel if Sandoval's plan wins approval.
The average class size would be increased by eight students and laid-off teachers would go on unemployment, he said.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
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Do you want your child sitting in a crowded classroom with 40=45 others in a situation that may be a serious hazard in the event of a school building fire? If your child sits in a portable classroom as many do this is a serious life and death prospect. Think about it! Administrators at the district and building level sit in roomy, often plush offices with ample air and heating while students and teachers must put up with such overcrowding that it is nearly impossible to move around in a classroom to even reach the pencil sharpener. How about a chemistry lab in one of our high schools? There are certain safety considerations being swept under the carpet here because crowding under these circumstances can be a real and potentially dangerous health hazard. An exploding glass beaker or flask can spray chemicals injuring a large number of students and the teacher. Why are the safety regulations, state and local, not being considered and enforced in our schools? Who is ultimately responsible for the safety of the children in our school buildings when the classes are dangerously overcrowded? Will Brain Sandoval attend your child's funeral or that of a neighbor child or children should some get trapped and killed in a school fire in an overcrowded classroom? Will he and the COC pay for hospitalization and funeral expenses of those injured or killed, or will that only be for the children of illegals in our community?
Cut all
But cut all the fire theives salaries too
these loser are way over rated and pad
Perhaps people who have children should take the responsibility of paying for their children's education.
'hugapug' (2046) wrote: Education is not a career where you get rich ...
You obviously haven't been paying attention to *public* education is this state.
CCSD Superintendent Jones makes $290K.
CCSD Cops make $100K-$200K
UNLV Hoops Coach Kruger makes $1M.
NSHE Presidents and Adminstrators make $200K-$400K.
NV Med School Professors make $200K-$1.2M.
UNLV Football Coach Hauck makes $450K.
The public sector is NOT supposed to be a place to get rich. That is what the *private* sector is for. If these shnooks are so talented let them work there.
In Washoe County we have a BIG problem with the school board and Superintendent. They want to spend a ton of money to FORCE International Baccalaureate (IB) on all students; when/how will they be held accountable?
Another school board member speaks up to challenge (IB),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDE17JDnASg
This is what the WCSD trustees be doing. Not to mention the $65,000 still owed to WCSD by some folks in Incline Village and the $1,000,000 per year for IB at Wooster.
Apparently you don't have to understand math to be a lawyer. Lets just keep electing lawyers. We will be in great shape.
Anya must like living in a hole. How can people want their state to regress. This is really scary. Maybe it time for intelligent people to leave this state in its misery. Turn out the lights and flush.
If you cut Teachers 11.3%, cut state employees 5% plus a furlough, Fire 2%, and police 3%. IS THAT YOUR IDEA OF FAIR? How about that same 11.3% across the board, or reduce amount cut to teachers to equal what others have cut. TEACHERS should NOT lead the entire state in cuts.
FYI Remove teachers from PERS and the system goes bankrupt. Ask someone how much teachers REALLY contribute. When you find out Teachers contribute a little more than half, what will you plan be for the PERS system?
@ANYA First, Teachers have not had a raise since 05 plus a reduction in pay. So get over that nonsense. Second, How about the same 11.3% cut from the police and fire. When the economy was booming, Teachers got a 4% raise (which doesn't even account for inflation). But to humor you: 03 2.3% raise, 04 2.3% raise, 05 3.7% raise. 08 2% loss, 2010 6% loss, 2011 5.3%. You do the math since your SOOOOO good at it. So, it seems teachers have not been compensated AT ALL doesn't it. Increases in Higher education classes (the only way a teacher can get a raise is to pay for classes) is another hit, paying out of pocket for students and class materials, and NOW you wan class sizes increased for the 5th straight year. JUSTIFY THIS