State education department responds to CCSD letter outlining potential $20M deficit

The Nevada Department of Education said Friday it will review the Clark County School District’s budget response from Thursday in which the district disclosed a potential budget deficit of approximately $20 million.

If the department determines that the district’s response is not in compliance with state law, the district will be required to submit a “corrective action plan,” the department said in an emailed statement Friday.

“On behalf of the students, families, and public schools in Nevada, we take seriously our two-fold duty to support school districts in their pursuit of excellence and to ensure school districts fulfill their legal responsibilities,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert said in the statement. “We will give the CCSD response the attention it deserves. We will assess whether the response fully responds to the questions posed, and we will evaluate whether follow-up action is required.”

After the district reported financial troubles last month, Ebert demanded answers by Oct. 3. That day, CCSD sent Ebert a letter disclosing a potential budget shortfall of approximately $20 million. The letter from Interim Superintendent Brenda Larsen-Mitchell added that the district would present an amended final budget to the Clark County School Board by Dec. 12.

“The Nevada Department of Education is committed to addressing the Clark County School District’s (CCSD) budget shortfall with a thorough and transparent review process,” the department’s statement read.

If that review “finds that CCSD has not met the requirements outlined” in state law, the department will issue a notice of noncompliance that would require the school board and Larsen-Mitchell to submit a corrective action plan, the department said.

The department statement also said it may appoint “compliance monitors” to ensure accountability; these monitors would “assess the district’s efforts and provide monthly reports” to Ebert.

According to the email from the department, further updates will be provided as the department evaluates the CCSD letter and determines the appropriate next steps.

Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com