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ESA on Hold
This week in your city By B O B W H I T B Y
The embattled school voucher program faces more opposition
THU 28
By Lissa Townsend Rodgers NEVADA’S EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS PROGRAM has been called the most expansive school voucher program in the nation. On February 1, more than 4,000 students were set to receive funds that would have gone to the public education system, but that they could instead apply to private school, online school or home schooling. But it looks like kids and parents will have to put those plans on hold. On January 12, Carson City District Judge James Wilson ruled on the case of Lopez v. Schwartz and granted a temporary injunction against the program. Lopez v. Schwartz was brought by a group of Nevada parents, who asserted that ESAs violate the Nevada Constitution by creating a non-uniform system of schools, removing funds designated for public schools and reducing public school funding below mandated levels. The court disagreed on the frst two charges, but conceded that their last one had merit: Judge Wilson stated in his ruling that “legislative appropriation from the general fund to fund the operation of the public schools reduces the amount deemed suffcient by the Legislature to fund public education.” “Stories are compelling on both sides, but I think the Nevada Constitution is quite clear that public funds, once the Legislature has designated them for public school use, have to be used for that purpose,” says Sylvia Lazos, policy director of Educate Nevada Now, an organization that supports the plaintiffs. She adds that “Clark County would have lost as much as $17 million and had to make budget cuts that would have adversely affected public school children.” State Treasurer Dan Schwartz, whose offce is in charge of administering the program, says, “We have always
➜
known that this would be an up and down process through the courts.” One thing both sides agree on is that they want to “get this resolved as expeditiously as possible,” according to Lazos. This case is not the only legal challenge to the ESA program: A suit brought by Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison was dropped earlier this month, but one from the American Civil Liberties Union is still working its way through the courts. That suit is based on the grounds that ESA funds used to send children to religious schools violate the Nevada Constitution’s mandate that no public school funds can be for the “use or beneft of any sectarian or secular society or association.” “The ACLU of Nevada is still diligently pursuing a permanent remedy to stop this unconstitutional voucher program,” says Amy Rose, legal director of the ACLU of Nevada. “We are pleased to see that another court recognizes that this program runs afoul of the Nevada Constitution.” And what of those students and parents who planned on receiving their $5,000 in February? Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt has fled an appeal to the injunction with the State Supreme Court. In a statement, he said, “My offce is working diligently so that parents can enjoy the genuine educational choice envisioned by lawmakers this past legislative session, and remains focused on resolving the matter as quickly as possible.” However, it looks unlikely that any resolution will come before the February 1 deadline. Some students may have to put their school plans on hold—but, hey, at least they’re getting an education in politics, bureaucracy and the Nevada Constitution.
January 28–February 3, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
[ BY THE NUMBERS ]
8
Strip vs. Downtown Whether it’s for clubs, craps or conventions, people keep coming to Las Vegas in droves. In fact, 2015 set a new tourism record, with more than 42 million visitors making their way to Sin City. While most are staying on the Strip, some are making their way Downtown. The numbers for the properties around Fremont Street may still be dwarfed by those farther south, but they are rising. —Lissa Townsend Rodgers
News, deals and why Trump is a little like Stupak.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY
90.2%
AVERAGE DAILY ROOM RATE
130.40
$
GAMING REVENUE
5.747
$
Strip
Strip
billion
(+.5% from last year)
(+2.8%)
Strip (-1.2%)
83.1% Downtown (+3.4%)
$
61.31
498
$
Downtown
million
(+4.9%)
Downtown (+6.4%)
* All numbers through November 2015
Bowling and movies go together like pickled eggs and beer; both seem a little incompatible at first, but it turns out they complement each other beautifully. Add Adrian Zhmed into the mix and you’ve got Bowling & A Movie Night at Brooklyn Bowl, featuring Grease 2. Perfect. BrooklynBowl.com.
FRI 29
Last year, more than 2,500 archers from around the world gathered to let the arrows fly at Vegas Shoot. This year, organizers are expecting an even better turnout at what has become the premier event of the sport. Get down to the South Point to see talented Olympic hopefuls in no-error competition through Sunday. NFAAUSA.com.
SAT 30
If you dig sculpted bods as much as we do, then be at the Orleans Arena at 10 a.m., for the NPC Legends Classic IFBB Pro Bikini show. This muscle fest features some of the most pumped ladies you’ll happen across. Might help you keep that New Year’s resolution. OrleansCasino.com.
SUN 31
If we’re going to learn how to live sustainably in the desert, we are going to have to teach the young ones. Springs Preserve’s puppet show, Sustainability Gulch, gets the message across in a language kids understand: fun. Catch it weekends through Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. SpringsPreserve.org.
MON 1
Leonardo is a 23-foot long, plant-eating dinosaur from the Cretaceous period that was naturally mummified before being fossilized. The Las Vegas Natural History Museum has a new exhibit featuring photographs and research into this amazing fossil. Open daily. LVNHM.org.
TUE 2
Local artist Alexander Huerta combines scratchboard and collage techniques with clippings from old magazines to make work that honors our collective history. His work is on display through March 8 at the Clark County Library’s main art gallery. LVCCLD.org.
WED 3
In the wake of the Paris attacks on Nov. 13, Europeans have learned what it means to live with the threat of terrorism. Philippe Le Corre, a foreign policy fellow at Brookings Mountain West, will discuss this new reality in a talk, 6 p.m. at UNLV’s Greenspun Hall. UNLV.edu/BrookingsMTNWest.