Strong Public Schools Nevada has taken legal action against Senate Bill 1 (SB1), contesting its constitutionality.
SB1, which allocates $380 million in taxpayer funding for a new stadium for the Athletics baseball team as they relocate to Las Vegas, has sparked significant controversy. The plaintiffs argue that the bill violates five provisions of the Nevada Constitution.
“During the last Legislative Session, with important education issues outstanding, the Governor and Legislature shifted their focus to the needs of John Fisher and his lobbyists,” the group said in a press release. “For eight days, Nevada politicians singularly focused on financing a ‘world-class’ stadium for a California billionaire while ignoring Nevada’s second-class education system.”
According to the education group, the focus should be investing in the education system rather than subsidizing professional sports team infrastructure.
“Educators throughout Nevada are frustrated by the lack of focus by politicians on real priorities, like public education,” President of NEA of Southern Nevada Vicki Kreidel said. “There’s been more planning of a ‘world-class’ stadium than there has been implementing a funding plan to ensure a ‘world-class’ education for our kids. These misguided priorities are why Nevada continually ranks at the bottom of all the good lists.”
The state educational system faces challenges, ranking 48th in per-pupil funding and the largest class sizes and highest educator vacancies nationwide. Critics argue that state leaders have prioritized the needs of private interests over the urgent demands of its education system.
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