| Budget Cuts Info Write Your Legislator Activities Letters From Students Press Contact |
Governor Jim Gibbons has proposed devastating cuts in the education budget for the state – cuts which threaten to decimate our education system. This site was created to disseminate information about budget cuts and their potential impact on us.
Please read about how the budget cuts will affect you and the education system, then find out who your legislator is and write them a letter or email!
Ida S.
It is just amazing that a governor is cutting education so drastically that he doesn't see the impact this is going to have not only on the teachers but on the students themselves. Nevada doesn't have the greatest educational system to begin with and now he is going to make it worse? UNBELIEVABLE!
Does someone have to hit these ole men up side their heads for them to understand that education, partially, got them in the positions they are in now. Why can't they cut their paychecks more than 6%? What is 6% of $300K? Not much, compared to how this decrease will affect children, young adults and adults (as myself) seeking an education. No wonder we can't get decent teachers in Nevada. We went through this when the physicians felt Nevada several years ago. Now the health system is one of the worst I have ever seen. My husband was military and we have done some traveling. It is amazing to think that as a supposedly greatest nation, we can't educate our kids properly.
Were are our priorities gone? To filling the pockets of the people voted into office, paying their cell phone bills to their mistresses? What is here deal here? Come on folks get a grip!
Maraya M.
I am a native Nevadan, a graduate student in the UNLV school of public health, and wife of a Nevada school teacher. I love Nevada, but the sacrifices our family is making to live according to our ideals and values in Nevada are being stretched to the limit.
I will likely have to leave Nevada to complete a doctoral degree. The question is, do I want to return to a state that does not value education, teachers, and public health professionals? Cuts in education undermine years of effort to make Nevada a home we can be proud of. Get your priorties straight and shape up Nevada, or your best and brightest will ship out.
Julie R.
I have been working very hard to get in to Nursing school. Now, I am hearing that because of budget cuts on higher education, that I may have to wait even longer to get in. I have waited long enough, and so have many other deserving students in Nevada. We need for our teachers to feel secure in their jobs, we need for them to keep their jobs. With budget cuts, education will continue to fall in the national rankings. Do we want this for ourselves or for our children?
With budget cuts, many people will be leaving the state of Nevada to look for better opportunities, furthering our economic crisis. Nevada may quickly go from one of the fastest growing states, to one of the fastest shrinking states. Save our schools, and our careers! Don't cut our teachers, and don't cut the budget!
Hether H.
With the recent "bared boned budget" Governor Gibbons has proposed, my education and my familiy's prosperity will be in grave danger. I am a mother of 5 children going to school full time. My husband is the bread winner in the family....he happens to be a state employee. If Governor Gibbons proposal goes through, my husband will face a 6% pay cut and I will be forced to drop college and go work a minimum wage job to help support my family. If tuition goes up and my husbands salary decreases there will be no possible way for me to finish my goal degree that I am so close to recieving. My family will be hit twice as hard because of the proposed 6% pay cut and lack of funds for colleges.
Krista L.
Dear State of Representative
Hello. My name is Krista Leonor. I am a student attending the College of Southern Nevada, Charleston Campus. I work at a shoe store in the Boulevard Mall. I am writing this letter regarding the school budget cuts. I plead that you don’t raise the class tuitions. Due to the horrible economic status, my job has decided to cut my hours. If the tuition of classes increase, I will not be able to afford to pay for the courses I have to take in order to receive my degree. I am asking not just for me, but also the thousands of students that will be affected by those cuts, to not increase the school tuitions. Keep in mind, education is very important and a bridge to the real world. Without having an education or a degree, it would ruin many dreams and futures.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and I hope you have a wonderful day.
Sincerely,
Krista L.Irving S.
01/27/2009
I am a student currently enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada. It is my first semester at College. I am concerned about the purposed budget cuts for school funding by Governor Jim Gibbons. So far I am seeing all over that if he cut school funding by fourteen percent it would affect us in the long term. Somewhere in between fifty to one hundred years. This would mean long before I would even complete my education my children and grandchildren would be affected as well.
Personally I was never the most perfect student in my school. I wasn’t Valedictorian or even salutatorian. I don’t even think I was anywhere near the top of my class rank. Nonetheless that doesn’t mean education isn’t important to me. This year I wasn’t even planning on attending collage. I realized though without a higher education I wasn’t going to get anywhere, especially in an economic crisis like we are currently in now.
I am hoping that my letter and many others will persuade you and your fellow colleagues to take the education cuts into consideration. I understand that money is tight these days but we should not cut into education. If we are going to cut budgets we should cut into construction projects and maybe raise state taxes. I understand people never like taxes to be raised but education is worth far more than a few cents.
Bryttney T.
Dear Senator Warren Hardy, II/Representative Chad Christensen
I am writing to you as a concerned citizen, parent, teacher or student of Nevada. I am an advocate for education, not only at the kindergarten through high school level, but at the university level as well. As one of the most rapidly growing states in the nation, Nevada deserves a world class education system that will educate, nurture and develop our future leaders.
The proposed budget for the 2009-2011 biennium threaten to dismantle an education system that has already been weakened by budget cuts. It is time that Nevada commits itself to the future of the state, not only by refusing to reduce the operating budget for education, but by radically restructuring its funding in a manner that will provide long term sustainability of education and other essential state services.
As a citizen of your district, I am asking you to join the other legislators who have committed to protecting our education system, and stand against any and all cuts to its budget. Although we recognize the need to make sacrifices in these financially austere times, education is not the place to make these cuts.
Sincerely,
Bryttney T.
XXXX Silvereye Drive
North Las Vegas, NV 89084
Suzanne S.
26 January 2009
Dear Governor Gibbons, Nevada Legislators and Fellow Citizens,
As a concerned parent, and student of Music Education at UNLV, I respectfully ask you to consider what such proposed budget cuts to our music and arts education programs could mean to our community and culture as a whole. Music is for EVERYONE, even the hearing impaired. They experience music through other senses. My mother gave piano and voice lessons to a deaf girl nearly 40 years ago. It wasn’t always very pretty to listen to. All she could do was yell because she couldn’t hear herself and adjust her volume at first. With my mother’s help she developed better communication skills with the hearing world. I watched nearly every lesson because I was so intrigued by what seemed to be impossible. It was beautiful to watch.
The benefits of music and arts education programs as a core subject are clearly documented, not the least to mention that those involved in these programs are far less likely to commit violent crimes and use harmful substances etc.
I have been participating in music for over forty years. Most of my education came from the private sector for which I am grateful. However, I became increasingly aware of the gaps in my music education and have returned to a more structured and disciplined program of study at UNLV to better serve the Las Vegas community of which I have been part of for the past 20 years. As much as my sons would like me to go away to college (and leave them home alone), that is not an option for my husband and me.
It is my opinion that if such programs are seriously reduced the use of illicit drugs and violent crimes could escalate. More people would be attracted to assumed shortcuts to success like “American Idol,” where I have observed an increase in people being more critical not only of musical performances but in almost every aspect of life. The pure enjoyment of a musical performance has been dulled.
Another result of limited music education is the degradation of music composition that could also affect our communities in negative ways. Music should be uplifting, fun, and positive, but there is music that promotes violence. There’s very little structure and sense in such debased music.
Please don’t set us back to the industrial age model of “school-as-factory” that existed to produce future factory workers so long ago. We should aim to develop students as people not merely “job-fillers” for the day’s marketplace mindset.
Please consider carefully all the options and opportunities ahead of us as a community.
Thank you, each of you, for your service to our GREAT State!
Sincerely Hopeful for a Brighter Future,
Suzanne S.
(Wife, Mother of 3 sons with 1 serving in our USAF, 2nd Income Earner, Student, and Volunteer)
~We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give~ Sir Winston Churchill
Victoria S.
It is certainly of my understanding that the country's economy is at its worst; it could not get any worse. But like many Nevada college and university students are saying, we are your future. Please understand that we are determined to get an education, to eventually have careers to better the country. We are your future doctors, engineers, nurses, fire fighters, your future lawyers and teachers; and some of us even, have already been soldiers who fought for the country that might now be seeking for a higher education. We want to bring the best to this country like it always has been, or was until this economy crisis. Please do your best to prevent this, or even if someone would suggest a budget plan to save the students of Nevada.
Allysse F.
This year I am a freshmen at CSN and I look forward to graduating college. I am a Dental Hygiene major and the way it is looking I don't know if I will even have a chance to apply within the dental program I've been looking forward to. It's sad that it is my first of college and there are already complications with the education system. We are this state's future as well as the rest of the world. There are way less important things to cut than to mess with the education system, if it wasn't the teachers, professors, faculty and staff or the fact of going to school, none of us would be where we are today!
Olivia H.
I've been attending CSN since fall’07. When I first started classes were cheaper and very affordable. I paid my way by myself for three semesters’, even with the raised prices. This semester Spring ’09 is the first semester that I had difficulty paying for my classes. For major complications on my parent’s tax information I do not qualify for financial aid. I have been borrowing money from family and friends to be able to pay for my high priced classes and books. Currently, I can barely afford furthering my education. If the budget gets cut even more I don’t know what I will do, it is devastating. My ambitions of becoming a teacher myself will be ruined. Please for my sake, my friends, and possibly my future students don’t cut the budget. Don’t take away my future.
Samantha C.
To whom this may concern,
I have been a student in Clark County most of my life and I have watch how each year our budget for schools have been changing more and more. Our school education is ranked one of the lowest in our country. It bothers me that because tuition raises more every year that eventually half of the schools population would be gone because many people would be able to afford paying for their classes. So in truth without education, America as a whole would eventually fall behind other countries; in marketing,trading,etc. The budget for schools is important for our businesses and without people to maintain jobs, our economy would ultimately fail. Please reconsider cutting funding for education.
Alex V.
Senator Breeden.
My name is Alex V. and I am UNLV student attending my junior year, majoring in Psychology. I have heard about the recent budget cuts proposed by Governor Gibbons for the upcoming year. I have moved to Las Vegas over a decade ago and I plan on staying and living in Nevada as long as I can, therefore I would like to see the State of Nevada grow in every aspect, especially in education. Within the past 2 years tuition had increased a few times, cost of living increased as well, our education decreased. I am against the budget cut proposed by respectable Governor Gibbons. He should be reminded, as every other politician in the system, that we "the people" have voted and chosen you to be our voice, to work with and not against us. I, and every other hard working American, understand that we are facing difficult times, but that is why we entrusted you to work with us, for us, and together we shall be able to overcome the obstacles placed before us.
Every country in the world works harder every day to increase and strengthen their educational system, but we are doing opposite trying to lower it and to dumb down America. Education is needed in every country, state, city, town and village. And as every corner of the world moves forward, by approving this proposal we are moving backward. We are moving toward the past, not the future. If the budget cut gets approved you are not only jeopardizing my future and future of every hard working American, but you are jeopardizing the future of generations to come, our youth, my children and yours.
Well I say NO, I say NO to budget cuts, I say no to my future's cut, I say NO to this nonsense. This is my plea and my wright, to ask of you to let my voice be heard and to say NO to education cut. I demand that you represent me in Carson City, that you stand up and vote NO to budget cuts for me and every Nevadan.
Annette L.
Education is the foundtion of a prosperous nation! TRY AGAIN!
Sabrina M.
Hello,my name is Sabrina McGee and I am writing to you because I have very grave concerns about the educational buget cuts that are plaguing the state of Nevada's educational system. I am sixteen year girl that is trying to get ahead start on her education and that is why I have been attending the College of Southern Nevada for the past three semsters. My high school but the buget cuts are directly affecting this goal of mine; because, as of now I am unable to purchase my textbooks find reliable grants are very hard to come by and being only sixteen there are not many jobs that I can apply for not to mention I have to keep up with my studies in order to sustain above avarge grades if I want to be eligible for scholarships. I cannot be working thirty-six hour shift per week and attend seven college classes and study for.
Debra
I have enrolled into the Family Nurse Practioner program to enter into the Fall 2009 program. However, with the budget cuts, I am not sure where I stand at this moment. If programs are going to be eliminated and teachers layed off, this state will face a major crises. A great deal of people including myself will be leaving this state to look for jobs and higher education elsewhere. This is very upsetting for me and my family. The Nurse Practitioner program is a dream come true for me. This program will allow me advance education and clinical training so I could assist the community with high quality patient care that is cost-effective. What will happen with the baby boomers retiring? There will be no one to replace them.
Matt
Classes have gone up in price sense I started going to CSN 2 years ago. I don't think I could afford another increase in tuition, I barely had enough money for this semester.
May
When I was still in high school, I never thought that the school budget cuts would affect me so tremendously. I would hear the news about budget cuts and I would not even pay attention. Eventually, I felt how strongly it had affected me: I had to share an old book (which was almost torn apart) with another classmate, the chair I would sit in class was almost broken but the school could not afford to replace it, I had to walk long distance just to be able to ride the bus, I had to be taught by a substitute teacher instead of a credited teacher because almost all the good teachers had already left the state. I felt so discouraged, I valued education but none of the state legislators valued it the same way I did.
LeighAnn R.
Ditto on this letter! School is already an outrageous amount and will only get worse if this passes. What reason do we have to listen to someone who has gotten us into this mess? NONE!
Ryan C. H.
Dear Senator
I writting briefly to request a raise for our teachers here in Nevada teachers need more money I work in managerment in the Resort Industry and I make way more than my step mom who is a teacher making less than me and is in more danger than any of our regular jobs.
Thank you
Ryan C. H.
Ashley O.
I'm an Air Force veteran who just got out of the service after serving years overseas fighting the war on terror... now i don't know which is worse fighting those who threaten freedom or fighting for my education!! I pay out of state tuition currently and i can barely get by financially with my GI Bill alone. I've had to get additional loans to pay the rest of my tuition and books. How can they cut higher education? Where are we to go to become successful adults with careers that will support this failing economy and those in the legislative who will eventually become dependent on our careers to pay their social security.
Negar
I was planning on starting school this semester, when I was told that it would cost more. I cannot afford school, and I am less likely to get financial aid. Now I must delay going to school until I can afford it.
Dani P.
I moved to Las Vegas from Baltimore, MD a mere three weeks ago. I have no family or friends here, but that is not what I came for. I came here for an education. UNLV is all I have. For students like myself, this budget cut means everything.
Jessica W.
I represent the out of state student already paying an extra Five Thousand Dollars(5,000)per semester. I cannot afford to pay more and we as a student body cannot afford more. Our teachers cannot afford to take pay cuts. And we cannot afford budget cuts at UNLV. I support our student body and our teachers.
Sarah U.
I waited for years for the chance to go back to college. I worked hard as a stay at home mom until my son was in the second grade, when I decided to go back to school to pursue my dream of working in the technical and artistic end of the film industry. I've been working hard, and done fairly well grade-wise. With this additional proposed tuition increase, however, I don't know if I'll be able to stay in school or not. If it happens, I know I won't be able to afford school even with financial aid. I'm either too old or too young for most scholarships, and the academic ones don't actually pay all that well. I feel like I've reached for the stars, and pulled back a bloody stump. It's all because one elitist in Carson City wants to shoot Nevada's future in the foot.
Randee G.
I am supposed to graduate this spring, but the budget cuts caused one of my last needed classes to be dropped. Because I go to NSC there are few to no options for similar classes this semester. Furthermore, the cost of school is out of proportion in this state.
Last semester I took 21 credits and it cost me just under $2,200 (not including the outrageous cost of books). If I took 21 credits as in-state student at comparable schools in California or Utah I would pay far less ($1,548.35 in Utah and about $1,600 in California) (see http://www.calstate.edu/SAS/fa_coa.shtml#fre and http://www.dixie.edu/reg/Tuition-2008.pdf).
Why can’t Nevada seem to stay up to pace with other states? While I have lived here since 1992 I will not attend graduate school in the valley – it simply costs too much money. This story is becoming all too common. Make no mistake, our education is in a state of emergency.
Christina
I am SO hot. This is partially due to genetics, and partially due to my incredibly attractive intelligence (not to mention my modesty). If you take money away from our education, I will only be half as hot.
Spenser P.
With all these budget cuts that are being threatened by our Governor Jim Gibbons, i am now ashamed that I ever voted for him. One of the reasons that I voted for was because he "claimed" that he would only cut education as a last resort. What a lie that was! They say that these cuts could reduce UNLV to being regarded like a community college, be it that i am graduating this spring, this is quite a concern to me. i want my degree from UNLV to well regarded and respected, if these budget cuts were to pass, that just would not happen. Nevada is a state that has a vast amount of money at its disposal, the problem is that it has been severly mismanged. There should be no reason why these budget cuts to Nevada's ,already underfunded, education should even be considered.
Tiffany
I am an international student at UNLV. I came here because I want to get a good education for my career which is hospitality management industry. Even though international students already are paying expensive tuition like $9,000, how we can pay if tuition is going to increase about 25%. It seems like budget cuts is trample down out future. Not only international students but also students who are residents in here cannot get good education for their career. How we can service in society?
Tim L.
I am yet one more student affected by these budget cuts. I am an engineering student watching my school on the brink of oblivion. If this goes the wrong way, I and many of my fellow students will be looking for another school to attend, even if it means a vocational school. This is completely ridiculous.
Milton C.
Dear Legislators:
I am writing you to let you know that the proposed budget cuts cannot should not materialize or the education in Nevada will suffer tremendously. We the whole UNLV community, student body, administration, faculty and workers altogether, stand firm and will fight to last consequences to stop the systematic annihilation our education system all throughout the entire state is suffering by hand of our state governor jim gibbons.
we are united , we are firm, and we will win this fight. make no mistake, we have sufferd patiently up to this point, but the decisive moment has come, this budget cuts will not pass, and we will raise hell if it does.
so i request from you very respectfully your support and your alliance to our cause. we need your help now, please join us in the fight against the governor's proposed budget cuts against the educational institution, we stand behind you, we trust you will represent us and the state of nevada's best interest.
I thank you before hand.
God bless you.
God bless nevada....!!!!
Anthony M.
Hello, I am a concerned student of CSN, one of the higher education colleges that will be feeling the result of Jim Gibbon's budget cuts. I believe that as a citizen and a human being, we shouldn't have to sacrifice more than we already have in order to satisfy other people's needs. I wish that we would be able to put an end to this and with great gusto!
S. M.
If my college is cut, I will have no choice but to move out of Nevada. I will not allow my education, my daughter's education, and therefore our future to be destroyed. I worked too hard to be where I am to be defeated.
Holly V.
Simply put, if tuition increases any more I will have no choice but to drop out of school.
David
Governor Gibbson can not be trusted. he should be impeached.
Ana V.
The cuts are affevting me and all of us im many ways. I currently go to CSN and have worked very hard to be where im at and i feel its not fair for people like me who are just trying to be better then the average and be someone in this community get cut short. We are coming as one to say stop.
Jaehoon H.
Of course, it will be affected me and make me survive as international student. Our currency which is won with dollar is so much different now. Which means dollar is so espensive and tuition fee is going up high every year. It is to much. My goal sometimes change, because money issue, especially tuition fee is 99% of major reason for this hardship.
Gale K.
I have been a CCSD teacher for 18+ years and was hoping to retire at 20 years (I am 55). With the cuts going on I'm devastated. They have suspended the "early-out retirement incentive program and yet, I have little incentive to keep on working!! I recently got my Master's plus 32 (even more) and now they want to take away that acheivment (and better pay)by reducing it 6%! How can I possibly recompense that? I may as well retire and find a better paying job. I would LOSE so much by staying!
Nick G.
My future and that of my wife and 9 month old daughter depend on this education. If the tuition is bumped again I'll have to give up school. Our hopes for a better future will be shot.
Aaron K.
This budget cut is insane. It's driving UNLV students out of their pants. I've honestly thought about transferring out, but I've left an option open to stay at UNLV. I understand the nation's economic slump, but this isn't a way to answer to it. Downgrading one of the schools that are well respected for hospitality is an insult to the nation's education. UNLV students! Let's stand strong and beat this disaster. Hoo-ah! UNLV! GO! FIGHT! WIN!
Edward C.
THIS BUDGET CUT SUCKS. because of this problem, my future is at stake and i am starting to wonder if it is best for me to transfer to another school. Because of your cheap decisions in this state, we the students are suffering and is causing nothing but stress and anger. Stop being cheap and help us damnit
Emily
As a student at UNLV, I am aghast at the proposed 50+% budget cuts. As the wife of a CSN student I am pissed off at the proposed budge cuts. As a mother of 2 children, one of which is set to begin public school this fall, I am terrified about the proposed budget cuts for CHILDREN THAT CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST THIS MAN!
The real estate bubble bursting cost my husband to be laid off from his job of 5 years, the economy downturn cost him to be laid off from his job of 8 months and now he works as an EMT making a whopping $8 an hour and the Gibbons idiot wants to begrudge him an education?!? I don't see him volunteering for the 6% decrease in salary (and let's face it, his is much more substantial than the teachers). Let's get him out. IMPEACH GIBBONS.
LeLisa W.
I cannot believe another education budget cut is being considered. It’s totally ridiculous! All our lives, we have been taught that education is the key to our future. But yet, when our state is in turmoil, education is the first place they begin cuts. So tell me, how can education be the key to our future and the future of our children when they have placed a dollar value on our worth?
Jessica W.
Stop cutting education. Stop cutting our Future short.
Brian L.
The budget cuts will affect me because i'm already using financial aide to pay for my schooling and if the financial aide gets even more limited that would mean that i would have to pay out of pocket more money. So i would have to get an extra part time job just to be able to afford a full time schedule. Don't cut the funding you're destroying the future!!
Dolly M.
School is my pride, it is my drive in life...if it is taken away from me, I have nothing to live for. I do not want to spend the rest of my life working at a casino and being unable to succeed.
Tanya T.
I find it sad that Gibbons and the rest of the overpaid politicians can make hundreds of thousands in profits and revenue and be able to take vacations in Europe on their environment-murdering yachts, and yet I'm struggling to pay for four classes and some WAY overpriced books.
Dr. Stephen C.
In effect, I've already gotten a pay cut. Here's my story. I am a 21-year member of UNLV’s faculty. Because of budget cuts over the past year, teaching assignments were adjusted within my area. What for 20 years would have been an 11 credit teaching load, is now being called a 9 credit teaching load. In other words, my workload was increased by more than 20%, but I’m being paid at the same rate. Because of the hiring freeze, as well as the more limited support of part-time faculty, the time I spend advising students and doing committee work for the University has all increased as well. To add insult to injury, there was a new ruling just a couple of months ago that does not permit me to be paid overtime. I had a one credit overload last semester, and will have another this semester but will not be paid for it.
Now I hear that the health benefits for me, my wife and three daughters, will cost me substantially more. I’m being told that the retirement benefits I was promised when I was hired may be taken away. But this isn’t enough? The Governor and others want to take away another 6% of my salary? I hope our state Legislators have the courage to do something helpful for good citizens of this state who, like me, have devoted years of their lives to Nevada. The Governor just wants to stab us in the back.
Dennis McBride
While I'm not associated with the university system presently, I ama graduate of UNLV [1977; 1982], I've worked at the university [Special Collections Department, 1988-93], and I'm currently a state employee targeted by Gibbons' proposed budget cuts. Gibbons' proposals are beyond irresponsible; they border on the punitive. Cuts of that magnitude will destroy entire programs, perhaps entire departments and colleges. The university system in Nevada could well lose its accreditation and take a decade or more to recover. Students who might have begun degree work at UNLVor UNR would find themselves unable to complete their education. Cuts in support services, such as the university library, would not only be ruinous for the university, but for the community that's come to depend on its resources.
So far as the budget cuts affecting me: I'm currently the Curator of History and Collections for the Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas. We've had our staff reduced to the point we're doubling up on jobs, unable to pay full attention to the work for which we were hired; our budgets have already been cut to the point that our mission is compromised. We stand to lose three more positions from an already "skeleton" crew. Further, Gibbons'proposed salary cut to state personnel is not just 6%; he proposes cutting museum operating schedules to 4 days a week, which amounts to a 20% pay cut. A 26% pay cut, combined with increased medical withholding, increased deductible, and diminished coverage would leave many of us unable to support ourselves on our state salary. Our only hope is that our legislature grows a spine and hits hard against Gibbons' absurd proposals and comes up with a long-termfix of our tax system so Nevada never again has to suffer through this kind of nonsense.
Dennis McBride
Kevin K.
We are students. Many of us have full time jobs or part time jobs to pay for school, rent, gas, car payment, food, personal hobbies. If the cost of tuition continues to go up, it will literally take most of our income. I guess I just won't eat or drive or do anything else except attend classes with 200 other poor people in them.
Ben R.
I will not be able to finance my tuition with another increase. I will be forced to take one or two classes maximum per semester. In addition I will loose health insurance benefits that I will not be able to regain without full-time status. Also, other discounts and sources of income (internship) are contingent upon my full-time status. I will loose my internship and source of income with tuition increase because I will not be able to afford tuition and will be forced to leave current internship. I will then be forced to obtain a minimum wage job and repay tuition loans that I will most likely not be able to afford. Please look for other alternatives.
Freddy L.
When we voted a few years back, we voted that our educational systems be funded first before other state programs. Why are we now facing budget cuts? Did the people not vote completely against this? What will tuition rise to? What will teachers salaries diminish to? With a horrible economic state, can we afford to have less money and pay more for tuition at the same time? Have our government leaders forgotten that they too, were poor college students? Many of our internships, classes available to us, etc. depend on available classes! These budget cuts need to be the last thing that we should have to worry about and our leaders were appointed to represent the people and their opinions...not their own interests and chances of being re-elected.
Lisa K.
By cutting the higher education budget you are forcing NV residents to seek out other schools in other states. Is driving out thousands of students to become citizens of elsewhere the right move? Our personal economy will only suffer further not to mention that more and more educated, qualified people will hold employment in other states. We want our students to be able to get their degrees in NV and then become professionals here as well so others seek out what we have to offer. If the school budget gets cut by how much our governor wants we pretty much can rule that out! - CSN student
Jenny S.
I teach Spanish at a Las Vegas high school. We currently have block scheduling which allows students to take more classes and earn the credit needed for graduation (the idea is to lower the drop-out rate). Because of the budget cuts, next year we are going to the traditional 6 class schedule. What this will do is give struggling students less of an opportunity to earn the credit need for graduation less opportunities to catch up. Furthermore, with a 6 class schedule the students will not be able to take as many (or any in some cases)electives. Classes like foreign language, arts, music, robotics, proficiency classes will be cut down by half or in some cases be cut all together.
Taylor M.
Yes, the economy may be at an all time low since the depression, and Gibbons wants to attempt to resolve this by proposing a budget cut for EDUCATION? explain to me how this makes ANY sense? If this proposition is passed and there is infact a 35.9% cut in nevada education how will students( along with future students) be able to attend school, nevertheless graduate? we need to cut budget in other areas so we can all continue schooling and hopefully replace Gibbons with someone WITH education.
Ed and Lois D.
Why doesn't Governor Jim Gibbons cut his own salary and the salary of the top administrators in Nevada by 40%? This extra money saved could help shore up the Education Budget in Nevada!
Pamela M.
It is so sad that our governor has saw it necessary to cut the education budget when Nevada has one of the worst school districts in the country. My oldest son decided to attend college in Arizona so he moved to Arizona his senior year. He almost did not graduate because the courses he took here in Las Vegas were not equuivalent to those in Arizona so he had to take extra courses in order to graduate.
We expect our children to be able to pass profeciency tests but we don't want to pay the teachers to teach. We expect our children to further their education and go to college but parents won't be able to pay for it. There is just so much that needs to be said and not enough space or time to do it. The fact of the matter is, we can not afford to cut the education budget. There has to be an alternative.
Barry R.
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe." Arguably the greatest president in American history, Abraham Lincoln, characterized the importance of education in terms of its real life benefits in this quote. The building block of human society, the common ground of all knowledge lies within the ability to learn and educate so we as a people can progress socially, technologically and most important, intellectually. If we allow these budget cuts to come to fruition, it will be symbolic of a sad reflection upon us all that the bond that all human beings share, that of a yearning to learn and to educate, no longer is worth fighting for. In a time of economic uncertainty and fear let us hold true to the ideals that our country holds with such pride and fight not for a belief or a cause, but for the foundation that unites us all.
Angelina D.
Dear Governor Gibbons:
My name is Angelina D. and this is my first year at UNLV for the spring 2009 semester. I have served in the U.S Coast Guard for two years and now I am going to college with my G.I Bill. I understand that you are planning a budget cut of 35.9 percent for the next semester. This in turn will hurt alot of students and their education. And also, deploy many teachers. I am aware that you seek to balance your budget, but must you take it from the little people who are still trying to discover themselves in the world, who are trying to make ends meet financially. I suggest you balance your budget through another source - a source that won't have to suffer from a painful impact, or a lack of education. We may be little people in college, but with our educational achievements and great minds, we just may set out to do big things some day. Education comes first and foremost. Please consider the consequences that may diminish us as students, teachers, and as a University in it's entirety. Above all, please reconsider your decision, and if you do, it may be the most noble and heroic one you'll ever make!
Sincerely,
Angelina D.
Ryan S.
Dear Representative Breeden,
The budget cuts have to be one the most retarded things I have ever heard of in my life. We've always talked about teachers not making enough money, and teachers making as much money as trash men. I had never thought that it would come to teachers loosing money and their jobs. I don't believe that we have a budget shortfall just because the government says that we do. Even if there is a budget shortfall then how on Earth would you come to the conclusion that you need to raise taxes or cut services? And if you choose to cut services, why would you choose to let teachers go? The people making a greater difference every year in a different childs life. The verdict you have come to is beyond me.
Kristine E.
Due to budget cuts on our education, many students, including myself are starting to sacrifice our education in order to stay afloat in this rough economy. With tuition rising and cuts in the education budget, it is becoming more difficult to continue with school. On a personal level, the lack of funds and flexibility of classes has made it extremely hard to go to school. With tuition rising, I need to work more and find other ways to pay for the expenses of school (boarding, travel, books, etc.) If we continue to cut more from our education budget, more students will be forced to go out of state to continue their education or put their dreams on hold because of the lack of educational resources.
Valery
No good
Nazeer S.
The cuts will raise tuition costs. I can barely afford to pay the the current tuition rates. If the cuts happen i may be forced to drop out of UNLV.
Diaz
The proposed budget cuts have affected not just the certainty of my education, but also my job security as well. As a UNLV student, i am faced with the daunting number 52%... and the uncertainty of what will happen to me and my education if Gibbons proposal would go through. Job wise, I face the 99.9% certainty that I will be out of a job next CCSD school year, because I work as an AVID tutor, and AVID is one of the programs on the list to be cut. Which is a shame, because as a national program, AVID has been proven to work. Thank you Gov. Gibbons... for nothing. "Education first" my butt.
S. Holland
Because of the budget cuts, a good friend and international student can't find funding or loans to keep going to school here. Because of the budget cuts, my Acc409 class isn't held in a computer lab because there isn't enough room. Because of the budget cuts, one accounting professor has already left...and more could follow. Enough is enough! Nevada's students can't absorb these cuts. If Nevada can stick with us just a little longer, UNLV students can and will improve this state with our education and our drive to make a difference. Legislators say Nevada students just don't care, but I believe it's the other way around. We DO care. The question is, do legislators care about Nevada students?
David W.
I am barely getting by my rent with the economy and all, if tuition increases or classes are cut, I will be in a world of problems.
Darron P.
The art department is in shambles. As the building continues to fall apart budget cuts have sent most part time staff, the lifeblood of our art education, out. Class sizes are larger then ever which is crippling a students ability to progress concidering art cannot be taught in a lecture style; art education needs to be done one on one, instructor to student for one to learn anything.
I can't understand how any more budget cuts could be an option to our state. Does anyone in office even care about education? Do they really think that it will ease financial burden by letting a bunch of uneducated, leperous retards into the workforce to try and solve it?
Danielle I.
Because of the cutbacks and tuition raises, it has gotten harder for me to be involved on campus. Once an active leader on campus, I am now forced to work over 40 hours a week to pay for school, and no longer can be active on campus. The talk of tutiion raises, and budget cutbacks scares me for the future of my family. As I look at my brothers and sisters coming from a low income house hold and knowing first hand that without funding and assistance I wouldn't be were I am today scares me and reduces the chances for my younger sisters and brothers to pursue their dreams one day in college.
Andy
I'm a GA at UNLV. I have to admit that I was hesitant to come here, pretty much for this very reason, it seemed that Nevada wasn't all that impressive when it came to education. I took a chance, and now I'm wishing I hadn't.
I'm trying to support my family on a GA's stipend without incruing a mountain of debt that will take me decades to pay back. It's hard enough as it is, with the budget cuts, we're going to see a heavier load placed on whatever teachers aren't cut from programs. This heavier load will further diminish the quality of their teaching. It's a terrible cycle that won't stop until someone takes a stand.
If you as Nevadans want good teachers, you need to stop this cycle now. I know that right now I'm seriously considering leaving the state, and if I do, I doubt I'll ever be coming back.
As of yet, I feel no sense of connection to this area, and that may be a good thing because it seems that the governor isn't really interested in keeping me around.
Mark S.
My job at UNLV has been eliminated and my contract will be up at the end of this coming June.
Y. Hunter
I believe that while the budget cuts may help balance the budget, cutting education funding only ensures that Nevada will remain at the bottom of the list. Throwing money at a problem might not solve a problem but taking money away from an already underfunded dept only makes its underperformance certain. Cutting education funding discourages students from maximizing their potential via Nevada institutes of education. I have attended CSN and now attend UNLV. I was only able to do this because it was affordable. Shame on you Gov. Gibbons for this proposal.... among other things.
Anna S.
As a teacher, I have pushed myself to go beyond that of a simple Bachelor's Degree and beyond a Master's Degree. I feel that my education is important to my students. Now, the governor is telling me that my higher education and the education of my students is not important by threatening great cuts in education. It is absolutely ridiculous to cut education where students have to struggle with the lack of materials in elementary schools already, teachers are living close to poverty and now are being threatened with a pay decrease. Why would I continue my education when it is not taken seriously and why should my students worry about getting an education when the prospect of furthering their education is taking such hits that they may never be able to attend a local college? These budget cuts are absurd and need to be recalled before they destroy education altogether!
Charlotte M.
I am a single mother in my final year of graduate school at UNLV. I also earned my bachelor's degree from UNLV and for many years, felt proud of my alma mater and adopted state of Nevada but I am shocked and bordering on disgusted with the cuts that I, as a UNLV student will be facing should my tuition and fees increase to the degree to which the governor is proposing.
I am the sole provider of my family and the purpose of me continuing my education is to be of service to my community, which is Nevada, but also get an example of educational and personal excellence from my son. The proposed cuts and financial burden that will follow will not only impact me financially but also force me to potentially consider leaving the state for employment as well as higher educational opportunities for my son elsewhere. I realize that as a state we are all going to be forced to make some sacrifice but I will not accept the fact that our state leaders feel that it is the burden of higher education, as well as the public school system, to completely "fit the bill" of fixing the states financial woes.
To approve such cuts in our higher education is to make a mockery of the spirit of our goals to pursue our degrees of study, not just for ourselves but for our families. It is ridiculous that I will have to choose between filling up my car with gas for the week or cutting back on groceries because I have to pay an additional $1000 because of such ridiculous and outlandish budget cuts is abhorent. Get your act together, fellas.
-C. M.
Isamar M.
To whom it may concern, I am a current student attending UNLV, and I am very worried regarding the budget cuts that have been mentioned throughout campus. I personally, have the need of having financial assistance, well this money is what allows me to continue throughout my college career. I hope that you understand, and reconsider the budget cutting, well many would find themselves affected. Thank you very much, I appreciate you taking the time to read this concerning letter.
Sincerely,
Isamar M
Alexis J.
Because of the failures our government has not been able to fix, UNLV will be cutting my major next year! I love Las Vegas.....
Richard W.
Cuts in education is a tax... why hasn't anyone said this yet? A tax on students, teachers... in learning... Why not a reasonable tax on all instead of an dishonest tax on a few?
Joe B.
When I was a student at Purdue University in 1970 Indiana had a ridiculous fee increase, but it was NOTHING compared to Jim Gibbons' one! We had many rallies and eventually occupied the Student Union for a week until the police arrested us.
You might consider joining with the UNR students and we concerned citizens and march on the State Capitol Building and make yourselves heard. Loudly!
Richard F.
The outrageous proposed Higher Education Budget Cuts are threatening my future – not because I am a student – but because I am a Nevada entrepreneur and investor in high tech businesses. We can’t grow new companies without an educated workforce. Making sure that all Nevadans have access to the training they need has never been more critical. Furthermore, university research can translate into job opportunities that allow more of our brightest graduates to stay in the state. Finally, investing in a competitive, educated workforce is of critical importance in diversifying our economy and attracting globally competitive businesses that will employ our talented young people and keep them close to home. These projected drastic cuts are wrong for so many reasons and must be stopped.
Lori
Why do the students at UNLV have to be punished for the economy break down?? Las Vegas just spent half of a million dollars on fireworks for New Year's Eve, Las Vegans are losing their jobs everyday, and now our students are being looked at to have budget cuts. What is wrong with this picture? Come on, this is wrong!!
Jonathan C.
The economic short fall is short term, cuts are a long term solution. The appropriate action is to take out a bond not cut spending
Joseph A. P.
I am an adjunct instructor at CSN. The proposed budget cuts by Gov. Gibbons are unacceptable and no doubt will result in placing Nevada last nationally in the quality of education it offers. It will be a sad day for Nevada if these cuts are approved.
Brian
I go to CSN and am about to transfer to UNLV and I have to say is wow these people have no idea what could happen if they do this!!!
Thomas L.
The absurd cuts to the University system have already forced the cancellation of an important class in my department at UNLV. Further cuts will make it highly unlikely that I will be able to obtain future graduate assistantships, forcing me to pay the skyrocketing costs of education out-of-pocket.
As both a graduate student and an alumnus, I am saddened at the gutting of my university. What was poised to become a hallmark of quality public education in this country is slowly being reduced to a smoldering pile mediocrity thanks to Governor Gibbons' ineptitude. Rather than hold our heads in pride at the triumph of Nevada's higher education system, we will bow our heads in shame at the ruins of a once noble institution decimated by Governor Gibbons' anti-educational policies.
What we need is not prayer in school, as our Governor so joyfully supports, but prayer for our schools. I urge the members of our legislature to fight, with all possible vigor, the crippling cuts to our education system-at all levels. Please do not allow our unenlightened executive to create a public education system in Nevada that falls below the standards of even the worst of our fellow states.
George G.
I am a student at UNR. Fortunately I am in the Reynolds School of Journalism so the budget cuts will not affect me quite as directly as they will other departments within the school. But the more I look the more I see how they are affecting the school. As of next year a number of foreign languages are being cut - French and German being amongst the most noticeable - and not just a professor or two, but entire departments. We have let go of all of our part-time faculty (even here in the school of journalism) in favor of faculty who are both full-time and tenured. I suspect that even some of the untenured full-timers may be susceptible to the cuts through no fault of their own.
The writing center will also disappear as of next year, which means no more tutors for those students who are struggling to write better papers or draft better documents. That will probably hit the hard-science based students a bit harder than the social science based students as writing is less stressed for those subjects and those students will still be required to pass their core classes.
Athletics will probably also be amongst the hardest disciplines to be hit since they are usually viewed as expendable. Since I bought a year-long swim pass I am hoping that the pool will be open, especially since I need to swim to help me recover from a number of surgeries I will be undergoing over the course of the next year.
In addition, the president of the university - Milton Glick - has already announced that there will be major cuts and a tuition raise as of next year. Is this worrisome? Yes. Cutting back on students? Wow. So much for the ivory tower status of higher institutions.
Mervin Fried
Dear Students
Don't believe the government when they say they have a budget shortfall and have to cut services or raise taxes. Google "CAFR report". This talks about how much money the state, city, and school districts really have invested off of the "budget" report. They invest billions of dollars that they get from taxes, either income tax (Nevada does not have this :)) pension funds, school bond money ect. Do the math. There is no short fall if all of the money is accounted for on one set of books. The government keeps several sets of them. I too am sick and tired of the cuts to schools while we send money over seas. Good luck in your fight!
Mervin Fried
Kingman, Arizona
Republican Precinct Committeeman
RPR
Sunny
This is a letter that Ii wrote to Barbara Buckley regarding education in nevada and what govener is doing to our state:
Speaker Buckley,
We would like to tell you that we agree with everything that you said on state of the state. What the governor is doing to our state's education is absurd. Not even third world countries would do this to their children. Not to mention the effects on the mental health patients. The governor contradicted himself when stating he cares about the children and children with special needs. Our son is autistic and the funding we were about to receive through the RAGE program was cut due to funding. Education should not even be involved when talking about cuts. Our children are already suffering not to mention the disabled students. Our son has fallen far behind do to the lack of teachers able to teach him and now the governor is wanting to take pay cuts from the teachers who make it possible for our children to be successful. Maybe he should take a pay cut. We cannot get our son help due to the expense.
People will leave this state and move to other states that care about their children which is our future. We have discussed moving many times and it is always because of the school system. Also the fact that he would cut from the mental health system is scary. These people need these services. They need medication to maintain stability. Also places that again are capable to deal with these people. It is not their fault that they are this way and turning your back on people like this only makes them worse. We are disgusted with the governor. He must want our state to be the place that raises uneducated gang bangers. That is what happens to kids who have no future.
Thank you so much for your time.
Gabriel R.
Dear Representative Breeden,
I am writing to you upon the eduacation crisis here in Nevada where cuts are being made to where myself and my fellow students are looking to better ourselves for society and to make a difference. Attending either a University, Community, or State College to get an education, but how can we with higher tuition, smaller classes, and most of all maybe not being able to attend either one at all due to cost.
Clarissa R.
Dear Representative Breeden,
I am writing to you as a concerned student attending UNLV. As I registered for Spring 09, I had noticed the rise of tuition. I had heard peers talking about it, but I did not think too much into until I saw and realized that I was not going to be financially able to pay for this semester.
Therefore, I stressed tremendously about it because how was I going to pay for school? Yes, I have the Millennium, but the scholarship pays for only so much. Luckily, I lucked out this semester and my parents were able to help me pay.
Yet, what about the other students who do not have that financial support? What about next semester, when tuition will be outrageous...will my parents be able to lend me a hand again? Or will I not be able to attend school?
Right now, the cost of tuition is a big deal for college students and this is why we as students, need to do something about it because education is vital in our society!
With that said, I look forward to attending the rally on Thursday, January 22nd.
Thank You,
Clarissa R
Ryan W.
... If something drastic isn't done quickly and firmly, UNLV will be a tangled web of mess that will take years if not ever to untangle. How many tuition hikes have we had since 2000? The millenium scholarship use to cover the tuition at $80/credit, now the rates have almost doubled in less than eight years. THE ANSWER IS NOT ANOTHER TUITION HIKE. PRETTY SOON STUDENTS WILL BE PAYING THE SAME PRICE OF AN IVY LEAGUE INSTITUTION FOR A unlv EDUCATION. WHATS WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE? DO YOU REALLY THINK PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO PAY?
Vladimir A
As a student at Palo Verde High School, in Las Vegas Nevada, I am feeling the pressure of budget cuts. At our school, we currently have block scheduling, which means we take 8 classes a year, but if they get rid of block scheduling, we will only get 6. This could threaten our education, and keep us from getting the skills neccisary in order to succeed in life. I think that we should find another way to fix the economy, rather then taking money out of the school systems. The children are the future, and if we jeapordize their future then if could affect the whole world. Thank you for taking the time to read my message and I hope you will think about stopping budget cuts to our schools.
they can't do this why because if you do then we won't have all of our classes i won't graduate that isn't right they can't do this i need to graduate why are they doing this they are stupid if we don't get our blocked schedule......
WE NEED BLOCK SCHEDULE HERE MY VOICE
Whos idea was it to seriously cut off classes for high school? I mean seriously! I am a freshmen at Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas. I can not wait until my sophmore year for photography. I really want to go to college for photography. But now with this idea i will have to take full time classes all thorugh my senior year! i will have no time at all to really complete my high school years the way i want to. Without block scheduleing I will have to take 6 classes every year for high school. thats not right! i am only human i have electives to take and homework to do. All I am asking is to really REALLY think this through. You all have no idea how much you are hurting us when it comes to our schools.
i am here to complain because me and my friend have friends that have like 5 ap classes a day and it would suck for them to do like 12 hours a homework aw day! The block schedule is awesome because we have 2 nights to do our really long homework and all the kids who need all those extra classes for the extra credit because some people already can' qualify to graduate.
