District girds for opening day

Working as a white-water rafting guide in the Grand Canyon was good preparation for the classroom for first-year English teacher Nate Haldeman.

In taking care of so many demanding tourists, the Bonanza High School teacher said, "I learned patience."

With the start of school less than 10 days away, school employees expect rough waters ahead because of logistical and climate challenges, such as a new immunization requirement for seventh-graders, the opening of 10 new schools, school budget reductions and a public stressed out by the economy.

At a back-to-school rally this week, Superintendent Walt Rulffes urged school administrators to be sensitive to the financial pressures faced by families. "We will be dealing with many people who are unemployed," he said.

At the same gathering at the Cashman Center, officials made light of the schools' financial situation, introducing Chief Financial Officer Jeff Weiler to the "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch" cartoon tune.

Unfortunately, Weiler said the song's sentiment was fitting. "It's going to be my soundtrack for a while," he said.

The Clark County School District is beginning the school year with $93.7 million less than originally anticipated this spring, including a 50 percent reduction in its textbook and instructional hardware budget.

This school year, "the money for the basics is there, but there's not much more beyond that," Weiler said in an interview.

Luke Morgan, a new sixth-grade teacher at Harney Middle School, said he anticipates he might not be reimbursed for all the supplies he's buying for his science classroom, such as posters of Albert Einstein and the periodic table of the elements.

Morgan, a newcomer from Carbondale, Ill., and Haldeman, a Las Vegas native, both felt fortunate to be hired this year because the district has been slow to fill jobs. "I was crossing my fingers," Haldeman said.

Martha Tittle, the district's chief human resources director, said she is trying to avoid overhiring and then having to lay off teachers.

As of Friday, the district had about 400 unfilled positions for teachers.

Hiring is ongoing, but the district anticipates that every school, on average, will be about one teacher short when the new school year starts on Aug. 25.

The district has 347 schools and anticipates enrollment to be 310,000 this year.

All schools, except for Scott Elementary, a new school in North Las Vegas that needs some roadwork improvements, are expected to open on time. Scott's opening has been pushed to Sept. 15.

While the plan is to staff schools at 98 percent, district officials won't know for sure how many teachers they will need until Sept. 19, the official count day for enrollment.

Officials fear that a new immunization requirement for seventh-graders might prevent them from getting an accurate count of enrollment. Seventh-graders will be sent home if they have not gotten a new vaccine as mandated by the Nevada State Board of Health.

The Tdap vaccine is an acronym for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, which is more commonly known as whooping cough. School and health officials will be offering immunizations next week at middle schools, clinics and stores.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-799-2922.