The Governor’s Finance Office makes several good recommendations. As an entity that attends meetings of the State Board of Education, the Commission on School Funding, Legislative Committees, and other Boards and Commissions, the establishment of a single unified statewide system of accountability makes a lot of sense. It’s also clear that our State Department of Education, like public education overall, is understaffed and resourced. With the largest class sizes in the country, we appreciate the acknowledgment that class sizes matter to both teachers and students. And finally, we agree with the recommendations regarding universal free student meals.
A few words of caution on some other items. Public education is fundamentally different than business, so we would take exception to the reference to Forbes, Warren Buffet, and prioritizing “income producing potential.” Reference to the State of Louisiana’s Recovery School District fails to contemplate Nevada’s own failed Achievement School District. However, most concerning is this report’s failure to acknowledge the chronic underfunding of Nevada schools.
While comments from Governor Lombardo are included that he expected results and would not accept lack of funding as an excuse for underperformance, underfunding sadly remains a fixture of Nevada public education. The original charge of Nevada’s Commission on School Funding formed in 2019 was to identify optimal funding in Nevada and chart a 10-year course to reach that. The Commission produced this report in November 2022 that identified those levels and made specific recommendations around sales and property tax. Even with historic funding in last session, Nevada still trails both the national average and what subject matter experts identify as optimal funding by more than $4000 per pupil.
We appreciate the work of the Audit Committee, but we want to ensure the work to reach optimal funding moves forward in concert.
