Results from the Nevada governor’s race show that Republican Joe Lombardo has edged out his opponent, Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak, by a narrow margin, a victory that could be a loss for teachers unions. Sisolak conceded to Lombardo on Friday evening.

Sisolak and Lombardo, the Clark County sheriff, campaigned heavily on school choice throughout their race, with Lombardo advocating for school voucher programs and Sisolak opposing them.

Under a school voucher program, if parents want to send their child to a different school than the one in their district, they receive the tax dollars collected to fund public schools to offset the cost. Democrats often argue this type of program diverts dollars away from a public school system. Traditionally, teachers unions oppose school choice, but some parents argue that the only way to provide the best education for their child is to send the student to a different school.

During Lombardo’s first term, voucher programs, which aren’t approved for use in Nevada, could be permitted.

“By expanding access to charter schools, providing more opportunity scholarships, and investing in Education Savings Accounts, Joe believes that we can make our education system work better for every student and every family,” Lombardo’s website said.

Nevada GOP gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo speaks to supporters at the local Republican Party offices this past Sunday in Henderson, Nevada. Lombardo won the election for governor, defeating incumbent Steve Sisolak after he conceded on Friday evening.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Nevada public schools consistently rank as the worst in the nation, and some parents who prefer to send their children to charter or private schools could use vouchers to offset the cost. One of Lombardo’s first goals in office could be allowing voucher programs in Nevada, which would be a blow to some of the state’s teachers unions.

David Washington, a consultant with public relations firm PoliticalVIP, said the teachers unions’ stance against school choice has everything to do with job security.

“They believe that if parents get the option of putting their child in whatever school or charter school that they choose, it will affect the amount of teachers that can work at a particular public school and school district,” Washington told Newsweek.

“Unions don’t support charter schools,” he continued. “They want kids to stay in the districts they live in. Once you start having charter schools, you are running the risk of the population of public schools going down and letting teachers go.”

However, not every teachers union in Nevada takes the same position. One of the state’s top teachers’ unions, the Clark County Education Association (CCEA), didn’t endorse either gubernatorial candidate and said too much attention on school choice distracts voters and legislators from the larger issue: increasing public school funding.

CCEA Executive Director John Vellardita told Newsweek that the bipartisan teachers union endorsed Sisolak in 2018 but that the CCEA felt the governor didn’t fully act on promises he made for education in his first term.

Instead, CCEA funneled its resources into state races, advocating for Democratic candidates in Nevada’s House and Senate.

Vellardita said that CCEA wants to keep public school dollars in the public school system and that school choice is a diversion from CCEA’s fight for more public school funding.

“Is that the holy grail fight for us? We don’t want to see public dollars leave the public school system,” he said about voucher programs. “We don’t even have enough public dollars going into the public school system to begin with. But we are fighting for more dollars in the K through 12 system than making a big fight around money leaving the system and going into whatever school choice program there is.”

Vellardita said he doesn’t believe school choice is at a scale where it threatens public education.

It remains to be seen what Lombardo does regarding voucher programs after he takes office, but the vouchers could be on his agenda.

Lombardo’s campaign and the Nevada State Education Association, which endorsed Sisolak for governor, did not respond to requests for comment.

Source link

You May Also Like

Russian forces retreat from strategic Donetsk city a day after Moscow’s annexation of the region | CNN

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN  —  Russian forces retreated from Lyman, a strategic city…

Defusing climate change ‘ticking time bomb’ requires slashing 60% of emissions by 2035: U.N.

Climate Armageddon is just around the corner, the United Nations said Monday…

U.S. military carried out airstrikes against Iran-backed group in Iraq

U.S. military carried out airstrikes against Iran-backed group in Iraq – CBS…

Two suspects at large after Baltimore mass shooting

Two suspects at large after Baltimore mass shooting – CBS News Watch…