A new report predicts “disastrous” economic consequences unless Nevada invests more in higher education to train skilled workers and attract new businesses and industries.

The report released this month by the Institute for Higher Education Policy said that in 2006, only 28 percent of Nevadans between the ages of 18 and 24 were enrolled in college, compared with 41 percent in top states.

It blamed inadequate academic preparation of elementary and high school students, as well as a lack of financial assistance. Increasing college access and success will require “a stronger and more coordinated relationship” between educators, business leaders and state government, the report said.

Other barriers to college success, according to the report, are rising costs of higher education, a lack of financial aid, and inadequate access to information about college admission procedures for students whose parents didn't attend college. Jane Nichols, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the Nevada System of Higher Education, called the report a “wake up call.”

“It underscores the tremendous challenges that our colleges and universities face, challenges that must be met with the help of Gov. Jim Gibbons and members of the Nevada Legislature,” Nichols said in a written statement.

Nevada Chancellor Jim Rogers is proposing a 25-percent tuition increase to help offset another round of looming budget cuts in the down economy.

Rogers, who has sparred with the governor over funding cuts, has long advocated a tuition and fee increase. He also advocates tax increases, borrowing money and a federal bailout.

Critics, however, say raising fees will further limit access to higher education for Nevada students. Regents are scheduled to discuss the tuition and fee proposal during their meeting Dec. 4 and 5.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The school district thought it was done with cuts for at least the current school year but now they are being asked to look into cutting deeper — up to $75 million deeper.

So they are working with parents and staff and making a list of what should absolutely not be cut and what can they live without.

Parents, students and staff filled the gym, all having ringside seats for round four of budget cuts.

“We had been told that we would probably not have anymore cuts this year. Now that has been changed and we are facing really very significant cuts,” said superintendent Dr. Walt Rulffes.

The district is being asked to look into a range of cuts, from four-percent to 11-percent, or up to $75 million.

“It said cuts this year and it made me scared thinking what is going to happen after Christmas break,” said teacher Amy Wood.

Wood is joined by many teachers who worry their class sizes could go up to 40 or more students, even in kindergarten classes. Parents fear that beyond the crowded classrooms there will be no extracurricular programs.

“It really provides them with a great educational incentive to keep in school. I've seen my own kids be so rewarded by those programs,” said parent Diane Clough.

To many, there's cuts they can't live with. So the district is giving them a chance to voice it. Everyone was given three orange tickets to write a program they want to keep, while also getting three green tickets to elect something to cut. For many the choice were not easy.

“I wish everything was on the keep list. Unfortunately, I understand we are in an economic downturn. I understand things have to be made, cuts have to be made, decisions have to be made,” said Wood.

So far athletics, extra curricular programs and small class sizes are topping the list to keep, while proposed cuts are empowerment schools, early retirement incentives and cutting prep periods for high school department chairs.

Some members of the district are also calling for some out-of-the-box ideas for cuts, like moving to a four day school week. But the superintendent of school says that idea so far has not been supported by the community and would actually be illegal by state law.

If you didn't make Tuesday's meeting, another one is being held Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Chaparral High School. It will also be streamed live on the CCSD website.

Metro police will be hosting two classes on landlord and tenant issues that will provide basic information to help landlords avoid some common pitfalls.

• Nov. 12, Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Northwest Area Command, 9850 W. Cheyenne.
• Nov. 13, Thursday at 7 p.m. at the South Central Area Command, 4860 Las Vegas Blvd. North

Landlords will learn how they can better screen potential renters and how to set up a rental agreement.

Metro says as larger rental properties tighten their tenant criteria, some undesirable tenants try to find inexperienced landlord to rent to them.

To reserve a seat, please email Crime Prevention Specialist Ed Daley. Seating is limited.

Students at one local elementary school are learning a tough economic lesson at a very young age. The owner of a local sign making company took their hard-earned money and closed up shop before building their new school marquee.

A brand new electric marquee should have been erected on a blank wall at the school several months ago.

The students and parents of Jacobsen Elementary spent two years raising thousands of dollars to buy the new school sign. But the only message they've received so far is buyer beware.

“Our school raised a lot of money for that sign,” said fourth grader Rydman Terry.

Rydman was only in the second grade when he started selling cookie dough to raise money for a new electric marquee for his school.

“It took a lot of cookie dough for these kids, buying and selling to their families and friends to raise the funds for the marquee,” said PTA Vice President Simone Barreto.

$9,000 is a lot of dough, “It was going to be right over our front door.”

The Jacobsen Elementary PTA eventually chose a Henderson franchise of a well known national company, Sign-A-Rama, to build and install the marquee.

So upon request, the school's PTA paid a large chunk, 75-percent, up front. That's $5,325. Barreto says the marquee was supposed to be installed by February, but now there's no sign of Sign-A-Rama at its former Henderson location on south Eastern.

“That's bad because we worked hard for the sign,” said fourth grader Ali Barreto.

The school's PTA says Sign-A-Rama's corporate headquarters in Florida feels bad about what happened to the student's hard earned money, but say they're not responsible for the actions of an independently owned franchise.

“People were doing business with that franchise because they trust the name,” said Barreto.

And the students learned a tough lesson, “That some people just aren't good.”

The PTA is hoping Sign-A-Rama's corporate headquarters will have a change of heart. “They need to know it's still good to work together on a common goal and that it's worth it — that it doesn't always end up like this. We know we can make this into a happy ending,” said PTA President Rachel Terry.