Chris CiarloChannel 2 News
$123 million has been cut from the Washoe County School District's budget the past five years. In 2014, WCSD Superintendent Dr. Heath Morrison says another $80 million will be on the chopping block.
On this week's Face the State, scheduled to air on Channel 2 News February 4th and 5th, I sat down with Dr. Morrison and asked him what he has to say to those legislators that say the district has plenty of money to work with?
"I would say I very much question that. There's a study called Quality Counts and research says our students have the 51st chance in the country to graduate before public education all because of how we fund education."
Dr. Morrison admitted many prospective superintendents around the country would look at the school district's budget deficit, the state of our economy and say forget it. That being said, I asked him why he chose Nevada?
"I wanted to go somewhere that had a lot of needs, was interested in doing things differently for sake of being better."
Dr. Morrison was recently named a finalist for National Superintendent of the year by the American Association of School Administrators. No doubt, he is starting to get some recognition for his efforts. I asked him if someone came calling with a job offer, would he leave the Nevada?
"I have gotten a lot of nice offers the past few years," said Morrison. "They have been flattering and even tempting. I think I'd do what any responsible person would do and sit down with my family and discuss it."
Morrison said for now, he is committed to this school district and doesn't plan on leaving. He said despite continual cuts, test scores are starting to climb and that keeps him going.
"The graduation rate has gone from 56% to 70%," Morrison explained. "What I'll say about that is I'm not totally excited about that. I want it to be 100%. That still means 30% of our students aren't graduating. It also means we are way ahead of state average and right at the national average for graduation rates."
You can catch my entire interview with Dr. Heath Morrison on Channel 2 Saturday, February 4th at 4:30am and 3pm. You can also watch on Sunday, February 5th at 6:30am and 3pm.
