Credit for increased funding for schools spread around

The Clark County School Board got plenty of suggestions Tuesday on whom to thank for its additional $250 million in state funding for next year, which should be enough to maintain current class sizes and eliminate the need for teacher layoffs.

Joyce Haldeman, associate superintendent for government and community relations, praised Republican state lawmakers for reversing their stand against extending taxes about to expire.

"I would encourage you as a board to let them know how much you appreciate their courage, their leadership and the fact that it will make a big difference for us," Haldeman said.

The Republicans changed course after a state Supreme Court decision that made it untenable for the Legislature to take local funds for state purposes.

Republicans then agreed to extend taxes in exchange for Democrats enacting several education reforms.

The district's operating budget for next year is $2.1 billion and still has a shortfall of about $150 million because of declining local revenues.

Ruben Murillo, president of the Clark County Education Association, said teachers deserve a lot of credit for a 2008 ballot initiative that created a room tax. It is expected to generate $111 million in education funding for the state, or $75 million for Clark County in the next fiscal year starting July 1.

"You can thank me now," said Murillo, whose group bargains for district teachers. "Don't let anybody say we don't help you out."

Lynn Warne, president of the Nevada State Education Association, which represents the state's teachers unions, said she had "mixed feelings" over the room tax money because it was intended to supplement regular education funding, not fill a budget hole.

Warne said the state was using room taxes to get to its per-pupil support up to 2009 levels. Under the terms of the ballot initiative, the room tax funding was to be set aside in a special fund to use for teacher salaries and other designated needs of local school districts.

Victor Joecks, communications director for the conservative Nevada Policy Research Institute, said he is more interested in return on investment and student achievement.

"It's unfortunate that the debate over education comes down to how much are we spending, instead of what are we getting for what we're spending," he said.