Schools move forward with budget in place

Heide Nielsen-Lerud screamed into the phone when she found out the Nevada Legislature approved a school budget.

"I am so excited," she said. "You don't even know."

Nielsen-Lerud was unofficially offered a job as a second-grade teacher at Fritsch Elementary School around the beginning of summer, but all contracts were delayed pending the outcome of the 2003 Legislative session.

However, the legislative session ended June 2 with no contract and two special sessions were also fruitless. More than a month overdue, legislators agreed on a tax package late Monday night.

"I was still going into my classroom two or three times a week to get everything ready but this was always in the back of my mind," Nielsen-Lerud said.

Superintendent Mary Pierczynski sent word to principals Tuesday morning to extend contracts to teachers waiting in limbo.

"We are sending those letters of intent, the precursor to a contract, today," Pierczynski said. "Principals can go ahead and hire. We are delighted."

All school district officials and board members breathed a sigh of relief during Tuesday's board meeting.

"Solvency makes you feel so much better," said Bob Anderson, the school district's financial director. "It's better than the uncertainty of wondering what we were going to do."

Anderson had been researching alternative sources of financing to carry the school district if it did not receive the distributive school account from the state.

But he found few options.

Officials had considered creating a line of credit but discovered it is not available to school districts.

The state's distributive school account makes up about 40 percent of Carson City's total school budget, or $1.7 million each month -- just about enough to cover salaries.

The one alternative remained an offer by city officials to advance revenues from property taxes to help keep schools in operation until state funds came through.

Anderson said he is grateful to city officials but is happy he did not have to take them up on their offer.

"We're back to business as usual," he said. "A little delayed but I don't think we'll have any adverse effects from it."

He received word that it will be about six or seven more days until districts receive the July installment of the distributive school account.

"We can live with that," Anderson said.