Las Vegas NowSchool District Eyes Veto Override

School District Eyes Veto Override

There was a reversal of fortune for education in Nevada on Friday. Lawmakers overrode Governor Jim Gibbons' veto of tax hikes.

The Clark County School District has already slashed programs and jobs. With this new development from Carson City, some who work at CCSD hope their pink slip could be null and void.

Imagine a letter coming through certified mail with the words "deep regret" and "budget reduction" confirming your worst fears -- you've been terminated. A CCSD employee named Alice will lose her job next month. She asked to hide her identity because she's not happy with the district's reduction-in-force process.

"Because of the budget constraints, they're letting things go that they should not let go. I want to be there to be able to help," she said.

Alice is hoping the legislature, by overriding Governor Gibbons' vetoes, will keep the district funded at current levels and allow her to keep her job. "I love working with kids. I love being part of a public entity and I love my job," she said.

"I would absolutely support tax increases. Nevadans and Nevada businesses are not overtaxed," said teacher Peg Bean. She made her opinions known at a rally supporting the $781 million tax hike.

"These tax increases are barely going to keep things at the level they are at now. We are not looking at more money for education, we are just trying to keep it at current levels," she said.

For now, the governor is convinced he did the right thing. "This legislature is simply adding to the misery of the people of Nevada," said Governor Gibbons.

And Alice is keeping her fingers crossed that her job won't be on the chopping block after all. "I worked so hard to get into the district. That is my goal -- to stay with the district," she said.

In a statement, CCSD says, "At this point in time, the [veto override] does not affect the reduction in force process that is underway. CCSD has not received official numbers from the state with regard to the district's funding."