Advisory group says teacher training and at-risk programs top education needs

Gov. Kenny Guinn urged his education advisers to look for programs that "set the tone" for solving education's needs rather than simply spend the surplus he is setting aside for education.

"This way you can build rather than just picking pieces to fund," he said.

The advisory group of about 20, including some lawmakers and educators, met Wednesday to work out recommendations to Guinn on what to do with the $50 million the administration believes it will have in surplus this year for education.

He said he doesn't want the group to just focus on short-term needs that merely continue to fund what has traditionally been funded. He said he wants them instead to think in terms of ways to advance the cause of public education in Nevada - even non-conventional programs that haven't been tried before.

And he said he wants them to think in terms of where the state will get the most from its money. He said he is looking at such things as grant writing to get more money for the state.

"We don't even have a grant-writing team," he said. "Try it for two years and I will guarantee you'll be surprised at what it can get us."

Another suggestion, Guinn said, is testing full-time kindergarten at a few schools to see if it truly helps give those kids a head start over those who attend half-time now.

In the end, the group voted to recommend putting money into professional development for teachers, principals and superintendents and even some training for parents. They also recommended funding at-risk programs to catch dropouts and help at-risk kids catch up in subjects where they are weakest.

And they decided money should go to buy technology for public schools.

Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, said there were no dollar amounts attached to those priorities.

Guinn will make the final decisions as he and his staff build a budget for the coming two years.