Millennium Scholarship fund might get cut short

By: Jay Balagna

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 9:12 PM

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s high school students may not have access to Millennium Scholarship funds for four years of undergraduate study if a budget proposal from Gov. Jim Gibbons’ office makes it past the Legislature.

The move, which is part of Gibbons’ proposal to fill the nearly $900 million hole in the state’s budget, is part of a sweep of special state accounts for money to fill the general fund.

Under Gibbons’ proposal, $5 million will be taken from the Millennium Scholarship account and $3.8 million destined for it diverted away, shortening the program’s life to 2013.

“I can’t support this,” Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Clark County, said when Andrew Clinger, the state’s budget director explained the idea to the Senate. “I will not contribute to the end (of this program).”

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Clark County, said the senate needed more information on the proposal and alternatives should be investigated, but did not have it removed from a plan for a draft of the upcoming budget bill as lhe did with other disputed issues.

Executive budget director Andrew Clinger explains an account-sweeping proposal, that would cut the Millennium Scholarship program's life to 2013, to the Senate today. Photo by Jay Balagna/Nevada Sagebrush

Executive budget director Andrew Clinger explains to the Senate an account-sweeping proposal that would cut the Millennium Scholarship program to end in 2013.

“We’re working to find alternatives,” Horsford said. “The governor’s proposal will kill the program.”

On the Assembly side of the Legislature, David Bobzien, D-Reno, said the fact the program would remain around until 2013 means the account still might be swept for the money.

“There’s no impact immediately,” Bobzien said. “I think that’s going to be one (item) that’s in (the final budget bill).”

In addition to a morning of budget concerns, both houses of the Legislature also passed a bill freeing the state to apply for large federal K-12 education grants.

The bill, which was part of a new proclamation from Gibbons earlier today expanding the session’s agenda, changed a law forbidding the use of student success data in K-12 teacher evaluations. The law as it stands prevents Nevada from seeking federal “Race to the Top” money.

The bill passed 16-5 in the Senate, with all votes against it Republican ones, and unanimously in the Assembly.

Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, said that the reason she and many other Assembly Republicans supported the bill was because even if Nevada does not get any of the “Race to the Top” funding, it still improves the state’s schools.

“It allows us to operate with more accountability,” Gansert said, referring to wording in the bill that allows student-success data to be used in teacher evaluations.

Gansert said the planning for the future necessary to apply for the money is also advantageous.

“We have to make a roadmap for the future,” she said. “And that will help (even if Nevada doesn’t get the money).”

Nevada is the only state in the nation that has not yet changed its laws to become eligible for the money.

The move came after Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, forced an informal vote in the Assembly on if the Legislature should set a goal for reducing K-12 budget cuts to 5 percent. Representatives raised their hands along party lines, with the 27 other Democrats voting with Buckley and the 14 Republicans voting against her.

Check nevadasagebrush.com throughout the special session for daily updates. Jay Balagna can be reached at jbalagna@nevadasagebrush.com.