Gibbons, lawmakers differ over all-day kindergarten

Gov. Jim Gibbons centered Tuesday's inaugural address on the need for his administration and lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, to work together.

Immediately following the address on the Capitol steps, he set the stage for a battle with legislative Democrats by saying he wants to hold off on funding all-day kindergarten for all Nevada schools.

That proposal was included in the second year of the proposed budget by outgoing Gov. Kenny Guinn and would commit the state, in the next budget, to spending up to $200 million over the biennium to continue the program.

Gibbons said he intends to maintain the kindergarten program implemented during the 2005 Legislature.

"We'll continue funding it for at-risk schools," he said while walking from the Capitol to the Nevada Supreme Court for a reception following the inauguration.

The change cuts Guinn's proposed $126 million budget for all-day kindergarten to just more than $50 million needed to continue the program in at-risk schools.

And that frees up about $75 million in revenue that Gibbons could use elsewhere.

While the state has the money for the 2007-09 biennium, it isn't guaranteed the revenue would be there to continue the program beyond that.

Gibbons said he doesn't oppose all-day kindergarten but believes certain questions must be answered before making that kind of commitment.

"I'm not sure we have the revenue yet," he said. "Nor have I seen data to show it's effective."

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said Gibbons' logic "sounds reasonable."

"We do have a program in place for at-risk schools and we should measure that and see how effective it is," he said referring to the $44 million in the budget for kindergarten in at-risk schools.

"We do have some limits with the cap on spending, but we can take a look at it at the end of this biennium and see whether we can fund it and whether it has proven itself."

But Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley said all-day kindergarten has "proven its success."

She said school districts rank it as one of their top priorities to improve educational achievement and she believes lawmakers will put the money back into the budget.

"We think it's time to improve academic achievement statewide and that means offering it to every family," she said.

As for the money, Buckley said, "I think we do have the money to sustain it."

Raggio said there are two other factors to consider: The ability of the school districts to recruit teachers for all-day kindergarten and the necessary classrooms it will require.

"The last time I talked to the superintendent of Clark County School District and asked publicly can you hire teachers for the program, he said it was doubtful."

Raggio said Clark and Washoe counties have trouble finding enough teachers to handle existing growth.

And he said the necessary facilities are not available at all schools.

In his inaugural address, Gibbons said the diverse communities and residents of Nevada must unite to "create a new ideal of what it is to live the American dream.

"In order to achieve real results for all Nevadans, I know I must reach across the aisle and understand that the shared patriotism I have with each person here today does not create barriers but builds bridges," he said. "In order to reclaim the American dream for all Nevadans, to truly have one Nevada, we must not only build those bridges, we must cross them together."

Gibbons, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, Secretary of State Ross Miller, Treasurer Kate Marshall and Controller Kim Wallin, were all sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Maupin on the steps of the Capitol - Gibbons for the third time, and the rest for the second time.

In addition, two new Supreme Court justices were formally invested with their office in a separate ceremony in the Nevada State Library at 1:30 p.m.

Michael Cherry ran unopposed for the seat vacated by retiring Justice Bob Rose.

Nancy Saitta won her seat on the high court by defeating Nancy Becker. She is the first candidate to unseat an incumbent justice since Cliff Young beat Noel Manoukian in 1984.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.