Flexibility On How To Deal With Cuts Should Be Part Of Formula
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
One of the expected concepts that Governor Gibbons is anticipated to cover in his announcement of proposed, necessary reductions in educational spending (K-12 and Higher Education) is that those directly in charge should have the ability to make the cuts as they see fit. This is a good idea, allowing an approach of local determinations of where to cut and how best to handle the cuts. It not only empowers those who have the most insight on what works best for their circumstances…it also starts moving us away from the centrally-planned system of Nevada education which hasn’t been do so well in terms of delivering results.
No one is saying that making these reductions is going to be painless or popular, but those responsible for the direct operations of educational activities – whether at a local school district (perhaps even within a local school) – or at a particular institution of higher education – should have the flexibility to carry out the necessary actions. Through their actions, those who they serve will be able to see what are the priorities considered to be most important.
For those areas which don’t fit within the available resources, committed advocates can begin finding alternative ways to provide needed financial support – or come to recognize that the program they consider important isn’t sustainable as it currently is provided. Such a realization could transform our entire system into new directions not currently even under consideration.
Ideally, through the restraints of our ability to provide financial support an improved insight on what should be most critical (students learning) will be honed into a sharper perspective. Bureaucratic expanse of our educational systems could be replaced with a significant emphasis on focusing available resources into the actual delivery of education.
One of the expected concepts that Governor Gibbons is anticipated to cover in his announcement of proposed, necessary reductions in educational spending (K-12 and Higher Education) is that those directly in charge should have the ability to make the cuts as they see fit. This is a good idea, allowing an approach of local determinations of where to cut and how best to handle the cuts. It not only empowers those who have the most insight on what works best for their circumstances…it also starts moving us away from the centrally-planned system of Nevada education which hasn’t been do so well in terms of delivering results.
No one is saying that making these reductions is going to be painless or popular, but those responsible for the direct operations of educational activities – whether at a local school district (perhaps even within a local school) – or at a particular institution of higher education – should have the flexibility to carry out the necessary actions. Through their actions, those who they serve will be able to see what are the priorities considered to be most important.
For those areas which don’t fit within the available resources, committed advocates can begin finding alternative ways to provide needed financial support – or come to recognize that the program they consider important isn’t sustainable as it currently is provided. Such a realization could transform our entire system into new directions not currently even under consideration.
Ideally, through the restraints of our ability to provide financial support an improved insight on what should be most critical (students learning) will be honed into a sharper perspective. Bureaucratic expanse of our educational systems could be replaced with a significant emphasis on focusing available resources into the actual delivery of education.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 2/8/2010 6:37 AM 
Categories: Nevada Educational Funding
Tags: State of the State Announcement Nevada Educational Funding Nevada Governor Gibbons Budget Shortfalls
Categories: Nevada Educational Funding
Tags: State of the State Announcement Nevada Educational Funding Nevada Governor Gibbons Budget Shortfalls
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