I listened to Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro’s (D-Clark) recent remarks about education funding, and I have to admit it was pretty insulting.
Not because I don’t care about our teachers. I do. We all do.
But because she completely missed the point.
In her speech, Senator Cannizzaro accused Republican legislators of being “wildly inappropriate” for objecting to a proposed education budget.
Why did they object? Because it excluded raises for public charter school teachers.
That’s right. Democrats pushed a plan that gives raises to some public school teachers, while leaving out thousands of others just because they don’t work for a union-run school.
Let’s be honest: That’s not about fairness. That’s about politics.
These Are Public Schools, Too
Charter school teachers in Nevada are public school teachers. They’re funded with public dollars. They’re held to state academic standards.
And they’re serving over 60,000 Nevada kids – many of whom come from minority communities and families who made the conscious choice to seek a better education.
Schools like Sloan Canyon, Pinecrest, and Amplus Academy are some of the best in the state.
They’re 5-star rated, outperforming many traditional public schools.
Their teachers work just as hard – often with fewer resources – and they deserve to be treated with the same level of respect.
To exclude them from a statewide teacher raise is, frankly, insulting. Infuriating, even.
Follow the Money
The real reason these teachers are being left out is no secret: they aren’t unionized. Let’s not pretend otherwise.
The teacher unions don’t represent charter school staff, and unfortunately, their priorities often drive what happens in Carson City.
When it comes down to choosing between what’s best for students or what the unions want, Democrats side with the campaign checkbook.
And this time, that choice means shortchanging thousands of educators who are helping our kids succeed.
Lombardo Is Right to Push Back
Governor Lombardo has said he will veto any education budget that doesn’t include raises for charter school teachers. And I support him 100%.
This is about fairness. If you teach in a public school – union or not – you should be respected, supported, and yes, fairly compensated.
The Governor’s office put forward a reasonable plan: fund raises for all public teachers, improve school accountability, and expand parental choice.
The Democrats’ response? Only partially fund the raises – and then turn around and blame Republicans for not rubber-stamping it.
Gimme a break.
Republicans Fought for These Raises – Don’t Let Democrats Rewrite History
Let’s not forget who fought for teacher pay raises in the first place.
It wasn’t until Lombardo and Republicans in 2021 demanded education accountability and more support for educators that any serious funding started moving.
They stood firm – and as a result, raises for district school teachers were approved.
But they’re not going to stop halfway. They’re going to keep fighting until every public school teacher is treated equally.
That includes those at charter schools.
What’s at Stake
This isn’t just about politics – it’s about people.
It’s about that teacher at a public charter school who’s pouring her heart into helping kids read and write, knowing she won’t see the raise her peers across town are getting.
It’s about the families who chose a charter school because their child was falling through the cracks in a district school – and now feel like their school choice is being punished.
And it’s about doing what’s right, even when it’s not politically convenient.
To Sen. Cannizzaro: If you truly believe in fairness, then let’s be fair.
Don’t punish teachers just because they’re not union members. Don’t divide our public education system into winners and losers based on political loyalty.
Pass a budget that lifts all educators. Because when we say “every child deserves a quality education,” that has to include every teacher, too.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
