| "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"...is the | | | | teach second classes in addition to their normal |
| most recent slogan to come out from the city, | | | | workload; that will take time away from lesson |
| enticing tourists to come out and cut loose. | | | | planning. |
| Unfortunately, Las Vegas Schools are struggling, | | | | The school district will have to find more teachers |
| while the casinos enjoy seemingly limitless profits. | | | | using creative recruiting techniques. The number |
| In fact, most Nevada tax dollars actually go to | | | | of applications is down by a third from last year, |
| the casinos! Not only do the Las Vegas Schools | | | | and Las Vegas Schools have almost twice the |
| struggle on a meager budget, but they also | | | | number of teaching positions still to fill. |
| struggle consistently to recruit and keep teachers. | | | | The Las Vegas Schools superintendent Walt |
| These folks, understandably, are the lifeblood of | | | | Rulffes said, "Everything revolves around the |
| any school system. Without the teachers, the | | | | success of a good teacher." |
| students have no guidance in their learning. | | | | The superintendent believes that quality teachers |
| Without the teachers, the city's 215,000 children | | | | anchor all of his educational initiatives. Rulffes |
| would have no school. | | | | claims he has done everything he can to attract |
| The Las Vegas Schools recently made a public | | | | teachers - even partnering with national programs. |
| plea for teachers. The school district needs 1,163 | | | | In fact, many Las Vegas Schools have teams of |
| teachers to fill vacancies before August 2007. | | | | principals in cities that are downsizing their teaching |
| That is almost twice the number the district | | | | staff, hoping to draw those teachers to Las |
| needed last year. There are not many options if | | | | Vegas Schools. The group was recently in Detroit, |
| the vacancies are not filled. | | | | a school district that is seeing a major decrease in |
| Fewer teachers means that the Las Vegas | | | | its student population. They are, therefore, dealing |
| Schools will have to increase class sizes. Another | | | | with the task of eliminating instructional positions, |
| solution would be to require some teachers to | | | | and those teachers need jobs. |