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Nev. Schools Seek Flexibility With Budget Woes

Carson City, Nev.

Nevada school superintendents pleaded with state lawmakers Thursday for flexibility from educational mandates to try to meet a 10 percent budget reduction that could mean thousands of teacher layoffs statewide.

Superintendents appearing before the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee proposed shortening the school year and bigger class sizes to help bridge an estimated $166 million shortfall in education spending. They also suggested an emergency declaration to suspend some collective bargaining agreements.

Education officials acknowledged the state's dire fiscal crisis and that layoffs would be necessary, but said waivers from mandates would help minimize job losses...