MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      March 17, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Education was called to order by Chairman Wendell P. Williams at 3:35 p.m., Wednesday, March 17, 1993, in Room 330 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda, Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Mr. Wendell P. Williams, Chairman

      Mr. Ken L. Haller, Vice Chairman

      Mrs. Vonne Chowning

      Mr. Tom Collins, Jr.

      Mrs. Marcia de Braga

      Mr. William D. Gregory

      Mr. James W. McGaughey

      Mr. Roy Neighbors

      Mr. Michael A. Schneider

      Mrs. Gene W. Segerblom

     

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

      Ms. Sandra Tiffany      (excused)

 

     

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Donald Williams, Research Analyst

 

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      None.

 

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      Wendy Paris, Paris Ranch

      Jan Cahill, White Pine School District

 

ASSEMBLY BILL 319 -     Makes appropriation to Lincoln County School District for teacher at Garden Valley School.

 

Chairman Williams announced the bill was concurrently referred to Ways and Means and the committee was only to address the policy of the issue.

 

Assemblyman Marcia de Braga, Assembly District 35, presented testimony in support of the bill.  Mrs. de Braga indicated the bill would mainly affect the children who live and work on the Paris Ranch.  Mrs. de Braga explained the school was actually located in Nye County; however, the ranch headquarters were in White Pine County with a portion being located in Elko County.  During the winter months, the ranch moved locations to Nye County and Lincoln County.  The ranch was approximately 100 miles from Ely and due to an abundance of dirt roads, the children could not be bused to school. 

 

Mrs. de Braga clarified two families were involved in 1993; however, there could be a variation from year-to-year depending on the employees hired to work on the ranch.

 

Mrs. de Braga stated AB 319 was a request for funding for two years to pay a teacher to instruct the children.  In the past, a teacher had been hired for two years to instruct the children on the weekends and the White Pine County School District paid for the teacher. 

 

Mrs. de Braga suggested an alternative solution which was installing a telecommunications system, due to the shortage of funds.  Mrs. de Braga remarked the White Pine School District had provided computers and equipment needed to establish the telecommunications hookup; however, there was no telephone line to the area compatible with the equipment.

 

Mrs. de Braga pointed out sending a teacher to the area was a problem due to the weather and the condition of the dirt road accessible to the ranch.

 

Mrs. de Braga referred to similar studies which had been completed in Montana relating to telecommunications schooling to rural counties (Exhibit C). 

 

Wendy Paris, Paris Ranch, presented testimony in support of the bill.  Mrs. Paris explained the major problem the ranch faced was the travel to different areas.  Paris Ranch was a sheep and cattle operation with separate winter and summer ranges.  The school year began in White Pine and Elko County for approximately two months.  From there, the operation was moved to Nye County and was concluded in Lincoln County.  Mrs. Paris commented the superintendents of the counties involved had worked together to obtain computers and a part-time teacher; however, it was necessary for Mrs. Paris to home teach in order to complete the agenda the part-time teacher set.

 

Mr. McGaughey questioned if the Paris family was complying with the state requirements for the attendance of school, etc., and he asked how many children there were between kindergarten and eighth grade.  Mrs. Paris replied there was one each in kindergarten, fourth grade, sixth grade, and eighth grade, and they were in compliance with the state requirements.

 

Mrs. Chowning asked if the children involved were workers' children and if they traveled with the adults.  Mrs. Paris responded three of the children were hers and the fourth was an employee's child.  All of the children traveled with the adults.  Mrs. Chowning questioned if the telecommunications would be viable due to the travel involved, and how many students might be affected in the future.  Mrs. Paris indicated last year there were eight students and there was a possibility of the same amount by next year.  Mrs. Paris explained with a telecommunications system, the possibilities were limitless, including high school education. 

 

Mrs. Chowning asked if the funding for one teacher was approved, would the teacher travel with the families.  Mrs. Paris responded currently there was a teacher who was available to travel.

 

Mrs. Sergerblom questioned how far the ranch was from the Lund school and how far the bus service extended.  Mrs. Paris replied approximately 67 miles and there was no bus service.

 

Mr. Haller referred to similar problems which had occurred in the Washoe County School District several years ago and one solution had been to issue driver's licenses to the older students and supply them with a car.

 

Dr. Eugene Paslov, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was concerned with Mr. Haller's suggestion since the roads to the ranch were impassable during the winter months.

 

Dr. Paslov explained the teacher who had been traveling to the ranch was Mike Walden; however, he had been reassigned back to White Pine County.  Dr. Paslov suggested the possibility of installing a sophisticated telecommunications system with an interactive capability to hookup with a teacher in White Pine and Nye County.  Dr. Paslov explained the department of education was seeking funds in order to purchase computers, a CD rom, a modem, a laser disc player, and a monitor.  The modem would allow the children to have daily audio contact with a teacher in White Pine and Nye County.  Dr. Paslov indicated a portion of the equipment was already in place and the teacher, Mr. Walden, was monitoring the daily lesson plans and was still going to the ranch on weekends.

 

Dr. Paslov clarified there was difficulty with the modem since it had to be hooked up via telephone and the telephone at the ranch was a radio phone.  Most telecommunications with modems were done through hardwire.  Dr. Paslov explained the department had located a translator connection for the radio telephone which should allow the transmission of both data and voice to White Pine.  Dr. Paslov pointed out all the equipment was portable and could move from area to area as long as there was a place to connect it. 

 

Dr. Paslov indicated the ranch telecommunications program could be an opportunity to demonstrate how the system worked since there were other remote areas facing the same situation.  According to Dr. Paslov, hiring a teacher to travel with the children would be the best solution; however, due to the monetary situation of Nevada, it would probably not be possible.  Dr. Paslov urged the committee to provide any additional resources to install the telecommunications system.

 

Mrs. de Braga questioned if it would be possible to hook the telecommunications system through the radio phone.  Dr. Paslov replied it was possible, but would entail purchasing a different type of radio phone with a translator.  The cost would be approximately ten to fifteen thousand dollars for the equipment.

Dr. Paslov remarked he would provide the committee with a breakout of the costs regarding the equipment versus the cost of a teacher.

 

Mr. Collins questioned if there was a physical classroom at any of the locations where the ranching operation moved.  Mrs. Paris responded there was a trailer permanently located in Coal Valley and a room at the permanent ranch which they used for teaching.  Mr. Collins expressed concern with the breakage of equipment and what amount of "down" time might be expected.  Dr. Paslov indicated there would have to be some type of personal contact with a teacher in addition to the equipment.

 

 

Mr. Haller questioned if there was any chance of receiving Chapter 2 funds for the project.  Dr. Paslov replied there was a possibility and the project was one of the major priorities.

 

Jan Cahill, Superintendent, White Pines School District, presented testimony in support of the bill.  Mr. Cahill emphasized how remote the Paris Ranch was from the school districts in Nye, White Pine, and Lincoln Counties.  Mr. Cahill stressed it would be virtually impossible for a school bus to travel the road between the highway and the ranch, particularly in the winter.

 

Mr. Cahill commented the Paris children, particularly the two older ones, had consistently scored in the upper 98 to 99 percentile on the CTBS scores.  Mr. Cahill indicated there was a deep commitment by the Paris family for education and their children's academic scores had validated the fact. 

 

Mr. Cahill remarked he had spoken with the part-time teacher from 1991 who had indicated he would "jump" at the opportunity to return to the Paris location.  Unfortunately, all the school districts were faced with the reduction of expenditures and the elimination of the teacher's full-time services occurred.  The teacher was still driving to the ranch on the weekends and his salary for the month of March 1993 was $1,092 which the White Pine School District was paying. 

 

Mr. Cahill pointed out White Pine was currently providing telecommunication services to Lund High School in three different curricular areas for the upper grade levels.  The teachers involved were being paid a stipend which totalled approximately $10,500 per year for the three teachers combined.

 

Mr. Cahill pointed out there was a program in White Pine County which, if the family chose, would board the high school students at White Pine High.  However, Mr. Cahill stated in addition to maintaining their grades, the children at the Paris Ranch all worked with their parents.

 

Mr. McGaughey questioned how the Lund school was doing.  Mr. Cahill replied a new addition was in the planning process and the telecommunication program was doing very well.  There were currently 58 students in grades 7-12 and 71 in K-6.  Dr. Paslov added there had been an increase in enrollment which had doubled since 1985.

 

Mr. Collins asked if Mrs. Paris would prefer a full-time teacher rather than the telecommunications program.  Mrs. Paris replied  she would prefer the teacher and Mr. Collins agreed it would be more beneficial than equipment.

 

Mrs. de Braga clarified even with the telecommunications program, there would be a need for some supervision from a teacher.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN MCGAUGHEY MOVED TO DO PASS AB 319.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN COLLINS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.  (ASSEMBLYMAN SCHNEIDER WAS    ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.)

 

Mrs. de Braga emphasized the name of the county and the valley would need to be changed.  Chairman Williams suggested having it amended in Ways and Means or on second reading.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:21 p.m.

 

                                    RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

 

 

 

                                                                                                          Marilyn Cole, Committee Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

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Assembly Committee on Education

Date:  March 17, 1993

Page: 1