Guinn Center in the News

An article for The News & Observer discussing Question 4, the Medical Patient Tax Relief Act, on the November election ballot in Nevada cites the Guinn Center’s Fact Sheet on the initiative, which would provide a sales and use tax exemption on durable medical, oxygen delivery, and mobility-enhancing equipment. In particular, the article includes the Guinn Center’s findings on the costs of such equipment, who in Nevada might benefit from the tax exemption, and which other states in the U.S. have instituted a sales tax exemption on these items.

In an editorial for the Elko Daily Free Press, Guinn Center Executive Director Nancy Brune discusses rising instruction-related costs in the Silver State’s K-12 public education system. In Elko County School District (and Nevada), personnel costs (salaries and benefits) account for almost 80 percent of education expenditures. Brune summarizes the recommendations of the Center’s recent report, which identifies possible models the State should consider to control costs.

In an editorial for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Guinn Center examines the policies in Nevada that offer better student outcomes than class-size reduction (CSR), despite CSR being a popular–and expensive–tool for education reform. Nevada invested $306.3 million over the biennium in CSR, but educational and policy experts are in broad agreement that it less effective (and more expensive) than other programs and strategies.

Education Week‘s Denisa Superville reports on the new plan proposed by Michael Strembitsky to reorganize Clark County School District into 350+ autonomous schools, leaving the district intact. The Guinn Center discusses the importance of having a robust system in place for recruiting, training, and supporting highly-effective principals, which will be given greater autonomy in the new system of organization.

In an editorial for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada’s U.S. Congressional Representative Crescent Hardy (R, CD-4) cites the Guinn Center’s research on Nevadans’ access to mental health providers. In the 2014 report, the Guinn Center noted that 1.4 million people in our state live in an area designated as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area. That includes our rural counties and 36 percent of Clark County.

Northern Nevada public radio station KUNR examines the economic boom effects of the new Tesla Motors plant on the economy in the greater Reno-Sparks area and explores how transferable tax credits, which Tesla received from the State and then sold at a lower rate to a casino, could impact state revenue. Guinn Center Executive Director Dr. Nancy E. Brune offers some remarks on how we should evaluate the Silver State’s development incentives as an economic development tool.

An article in the Las Vegas Sun discusses a recent blog post from The Guinn Center, “Growing Childhood Poverty Could Undermine Recent Educational Investments.” As the Guinn Center reported, “The number of children living in poverty in Nevada is at 22 percent, up from 15 percent in 2008. Similarly, the number of children whose parents lack stable jobs has risen 6 percentage points to 32 percent.”

This is Reno reports that $20 million in transferable tax credits were sold by Tesla Motors to the MGM Grand for gaming license fees. This is Reno explores the impact of this transaction and cites the Guinn Center’s 2014 report, Development Incentives: A Guide for Nevada Legislators, which analyzed Nevada’s development incentive package offered to Tesla.

The Guinn Center discusses a new national report, which reveals that students of color, which now comprise 49.7 percent of K-12 pupils in the country, continue to face significant disparities in school discipline, as well as access to high quality teachers and advanced coursework. The Guinn Center discusses these disparities in Nevada and offers some policy recommendations.

The Guinn Center draws attention to the number of special education teacher vacancies in Nevada and offers a number of solutions to attract and retain special education teachers. Thirty-eight percent of teacher vacancies in the Clark County School District’s elementary and middle schools are special education vacancies, and many of these are for autism specialists. Additionally, 83 percent of special education teacher vacancies are in Title I schools, which serve our community’s most under-resourced families. This crisis in the supply of special education instructors is not limited to the Clark County School District. The Washoe County School District has more than 240 job openings, more than 40 percent of which are for special education instructors.

The Guinn Center hosted a public forum for candidates running for Nevada’s education boards: the Clark County School District Board of Trustees, the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents and the Nevada State Board of Education on May 25, 2016 at the Centennials Hills Library in Las Vegas. KLAS Reporter Nia Wong spoke with candidates and guests at the event.

In an opinion piece for the Reno News and Review, Former Nevada State Senator Sheila Leslie calls the Guinn Center’s policy report, “School Facilities, Construction and Maintenance” a must-read for all state legislators for policy solutions to address many aging school buildings across the state.

In his Reno Gazette Journal column, Jon Ralston discusses the Guinn Center’s recent blog on the rise of nonpartisan voters in Nevada and the Intermountain West, and argues that most proposed solutions, such as open primaries, are misguided.

The Las Vegas Sun provides an update on the legislative conversations to consider the reconfiguration of the Clark County School District, the fifth largest district in the U.S.  The Guinn Center notes that there appears to be consensus around the idea of decentralization of authority to local communities, rather than a real break-up of the district into smaller districts or precincts.

The Guinn Center appears on KNPR’s State of Nevada to discuss the reorganization of the Clark County School District and the latest plan to explore decentralized or autonomous schools.  The Guinn Center notes that strong school (principal) leadership and weighted student funding are critical components of successful efforts to decentralize decision-making authority to schools.

The Guinn Center’s Executive Director Dr. Nancy E. Brune talks with KUNV Civil Engagement host Ken Lange about the Guinn Center and the role of a think tank in promoting civic engagement.

Jon Ralston speaks with the Guinn Center about the development incentive package for Faraday Future being considered by the Nevada Legislature in the 29th Special Session, which began on December 16, 2015.

The Las Vegas Sun highlights the Guinn Center’s research on licensing laws for mental health professionals and discusses changes made by the Nevada Legislature in 2015 to make it easier for these professionals to come from other states to Nevada.

8 News Now discusses the topics to be addressed by the Nevada Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission and interviews the Guinn Center about its role in providing analysis to inform the work and deliberations of the Commission.

KNPR’s State of Nevada cites the Guinn Center’s policy report on the reorganization of the Clark County School District (CCSD) during an interview with CCSD Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky.

News 3’s Sandra Gonzalez interviews the Guinn Center’s Director of Education Policy on Nevada’s results on the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress.

The Las Vegas Sun reports on the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Committee developing a plan to reorganize the Clark County School District and references the Guinn Center’s report, Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Issues to Address in the Reorganization of the Clark County School District.

The Guinn Center writes that crafting the reorganization plan required by AB 394 will be a highly complex endeavor and identifies five critical issues the advisory committee should consider as it develops the plan: (1) community engagement and communications; (2) demographic and educational equity; (3) funding; (4) facilities; and (5) governance.

In Governing Magazine, writer Alan Greenblatt explores the impact that immigration and demographic change in Nevada have had on government services and infrastructure. Greenblatt references the Guinn Center’s regional report, The State of Latinos in the Intermountain West (2014), and speaks with Executive Director, Dr. Nancy E. Brune.

Executive Director Dr. Nancy E. Brune discusses bipartisan collaboration in Nevada and California to address the drought and highlights recent bipartisan efforts at the Federal level to address climate change.

Reno Public Radio looks at the issues surrounding Nevada’s new choice program, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), and talks to the Guinn Center’s Director of Education Policy Victoria Carreon about the Nevada Plan and categorical programs that target specific populations.

Jon Ralston interviews the Guinn Center’s Director of Education Policy, Victoria Carreon, about how the new education initiatives adopted by the 2015 Nevada Legislature should be implemented so the public receives a positive return on its investment.

The Las Vegas Review Journal discusses the Clark County School District’s challenges in filling anticipated teacher vacancies and cites the Guinn Center’s testimony at the July 23, 2015 State Board of Education meeting on recruitment and retention incentives.

The Las Vegas News Trip announces that UNLV Boyd School of Law Dean Dan Hamilton has joined the Guinn Center’s board of directors.

The Associated Press quotes the Guinn Center in its review of Nevada’s ACT scores. 2015 was the first year that all high school juniors were required to take the ACT. Only 8 percent of Nevada’s students were college ready in all four tested subjects: English, Reading, Math, and Science. This story also appeared in the Connecticut Post.

Vegas Inc. announces that Stephanie Tyler has joined the board of directors for the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities.

The Ely Times highlights the Guinn Center’s policy brief on implementation of three key programs approved by the Legislature and Governor as part of the 2015 Legislative Session: Read by 3, Zoom Schools, and Victory Schools.

In an Op Ed for the Las Vegas Review Journal, the Guinn Center outlines critical steps that state and local officials should take to ensure a higher return on investment from state and Federal funds directed at new literacy programs.

The Reno Gazette-Journal announces that Ms. Stephanie Tyler, president of AT&T Nevada joined the Guinn Center’s Board of Directors.

The Las Vegas Review Journal’s Neal Morton discusses the reasons behind the Clark County School District’s budget reductions and cites the Guinn Center’s analysis of per pupil funding.

Las Vegas Business Press announces that Dr. Dana R. Bennett, Nichole Lamboley and Elizabeth Thompson have joined the Advisory Council of the Guinn Center. Members of the Advisory Council frequently serve as external reviewers of Guinn Center policy reports.

The Las Vegas Sun’s Ian Whitaker examines obstacles low-income families could face in fully accessing the Education Savings Account program approved by the Nevada Legislature and Governor. Guinn Center Executive Director, Dr. Nancy E. Brune, cites the need to consider the disparate quality of private schools.

Associated Press Reporter Riley Snyder covers Governor Sandoval’s recent proclamation that creates a partnership between Nevada and the Western Governors University, a nonprofit, low-cost online university designed to ease access to college degrees. Snyder interviews Guinn Center Executive Director Dr. Nancy E. Brune, who said “expanding online offerings for degrees in high-demand fields would be a boon to Nevada companies seeking a better-trained workforce […].”

The Las Vegas Business Press recognized Dr. Nancy E. Brune for her work at the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities. Brune was named a 2015 “Woman Who Means Business” by the Southern Nevada business community.

The Las Vegas Sun explores what research says about the impact on student achievement and school district finances from the proposed breakup of CCSD. The story  cites Executive Director Dr. Nancy E. Brune and the Guinn Center’s research on this issue in our report: Examining Nevada’s Education Priorities: Which Initiatives are Worth the Investment?

Jon Ralston cites the Guinn Center’s recommendations in Comparison of 2015 Nevada Tax Proposals during an interview on Ralston Live of Senate Minority Leader Aaron Ford on the Governor’s Business License Fee proposal.

The Las Vegas Review Journal recommends that the Nevada Assembly make modifications to the Governor’s tax plan recently approved by the Senate. The editorial cites the Guinn Center’s recommendation to have a less complex, flat-rate gross receipts tax as a replacement for the tiered business license fee.

The Las Vegas Review Journal’s Sandra Chereb reports on the passage of Governor Sandoval’s restructured Business License Fee and cites the Guinn Center’s analysis that a uniform tax rate would be easier to calculate and enforce.

AP Reporter Michelle Rindels  announces the Senate passage of Governor’s Sandoval’s restructured Business License Fee and discusses the Guinn Center’s report comparing pending tax proposals. This article appeared in newspapers nationwide: including The Telegraph in Macon, Georgia; the Miami Herald in Miami, Florida; the Washington Times in Washington, DC; and The State in Columbia, South Carolina.

Jon Ralston highlights the Guinn Center’s prepared testimony on AB 464 for April 7, 2015 and quotes our analysis discussing whether the proposal reflects elements of good tax policy.

The Las Vegas Sun reports on the hearing on the proposed changes to the Business License Fee and cites the Guinn Center’s concerns about the difficulty of estimating the amount of revenue that will be received given the lack of data on gross receipts.

In its coverage of the proposed changes to the Business License Fee, KNPR asks Assembly Majority Leader Paul Anderson about the Guinn Center’s concern regarding the need to be clear about how the Business License Fee rates are calculated and the need to examine the revenue estimates.

Jon Ralston uses the Guinn Center’s analysis of the Governor’s Business License Fee proposal to pose questions to Mike Willden, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, and Steve Hill, the head of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

The Guinn Center writes an Op Ed for the Reno Gazette Journal on the school choice proposals pending before the Nevada Legislature and highlights the impact on rural areas.

The Las Vegas Sun reviews the Guinn Center’s latest policy brief, “Examining Nevada’s Education Priorities: Which Initiatives are Worth the Investment.” This paper was a collaboration between the Guinn Center and Nevada Succeeds.

The Las Vegas Review Journal covers the kick-off event for the Health Impact Assessment on full-day kindergarten. The Guinn Center is collaborating with other partners on the study.

Vegas Inc.’s newspaper, The Sunday, announces that Dr. Robert McCord has joined the Guinn Center as a Senior Fellow.

In an interview on KNPR’s State of Nevada, Dr. Joel Dvoskin, Chair of the Nevada Behavioral Health and Wellness Council, discusses workforce issues as a major barrier in improving the mental health system and cites the Guinn Center’s policy brief.

Jeff Gillan of NBC News 3 interviews Victoria Carreon about the Guinn Center’s new report on mental health governance and discusses what should be the state’s top priorities.

NBC News 3 reporter, Sandra Gonzalez, covers the December 9, 2014 meeting of the Behavioral Health and Wellness Council and discusses the Guinn Center’s presentation on mental health governance models in other states.

The Las Vegas Sun discusses the upcoming December 9, 2014 meeting of the Nevada Behavioral Health and Wellness Council and focusses on the Guinn Center’s reports on mental health workforce issues and governance.

KNPR reports on progress made by the Behavioral Health and Wellness Council on Nevada’s mental health crisis and highlights the Guinn Center’s research on mental health workforce issues.

The Biloxi Mississippi Sun Herald  covers the December 9, 2014 Nevada Behavioral Health and Wellness Council meeting and highlights the Guinn Center’s research on mental health workforce issues.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer in Ohio  covers the December 9, 2014 Nevada Behavioral Health and Wellness Council meeting and highlights the Guinn Center’s research on mental health workforce issues.

The State newspaper in South Carolina covers the December 9, 2014 Nevada Behavioral Health and Wellness Council meeting and highlights the Guinn Center’s research on mental health workforce issues.

The Fairfield Citizen in Connecticut covers the December 9, 2014 Nevada Behavioral Health and Wellness Council meeting and highlights the Guinn Center’s research on mental health workforce issues.

The Washington Times covers the December 9, 2014 Nevada Behavioral Health and Wellness Council meeting and highlights the Guinn Center’s research on mental health workforce issues.

CBS Local discusses the updates to be provided to the Behavioral Health and Wellness Council on December 9, 2014 and highlights the Guinn Center’s research on mental health workforce issues.

Fox  11 Reno reports on progress made by the Behavioral Health and Wellness Council on Nevada’s mental health crisis and highlights the Guinn Center’s research on mental health workforce issues.

Dr. Nancy E. Brune appears on Ralston Reports to discuss the Guinn Center’s new report, Mental Health Governance: A Review of State Models and Guide for Nevada Decision Makers.

KKOH reporter Daniela Sonnino asks the Guinn Center what a yes or no vote means on Question 2.

KKOH Reno reporter Daniela Sonnino interviews the Guinn Center about Question 2. See text and audio links below.

What is question 2? It’s the mining tax initiative, and KOH spoke with the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities, a bipartisan analysis group, and had them explain it for us. Victoria Carreon with the Guinn Center.

Victoria Carreon: What that means is that currently there is a cap on taxation of mining in the constitution and this would  remove that cap and would give flexibility to the Legislature in the future to be able to change that or increase that rate.

If question 2 passes, the Legislature could make those changes as soon as early next year.

Ralston Reports Morning Flash highlights the Guinn Center’s Fact Sheet on Question 2, which would remove constitutional provisions regarding the taxation of the proceeds of minerals.

The Las Vegas News Trip provides information about the Guinn Center’s Fact Sheet on Question 2: An Amendment to the Nevada Constitution. This measure would remove the constitutional provisions regarding taxation of the proceeds of minerals.

Jim Fannin of KKOH Reno interviews Victoria Carreon about how Nevada can remove licensing barriers for mental health professionals coming to Nevada from other states based on the Guinn Center’s policy brief: Nevada’s Mental Health Workforce: Shortages and Opportunities.

The Reno Gazette Journal reviews all the studies done to date estimating the impact of The Education Initiative (Margin Tax) and cites the Guinn Center’s Fact Sheet on The Education Initiative.

Sandra Gonzalez of NBC News 3 interviews Victoria Carreon about strategies to deal with Nevada’s shortage of mental health care workers, based on the Guinn Center’s policy brief: Nevada’s Mental Health Workforce: Shortages and Opportunities.

Director of Education Policy, Victoria Carreon, appears on NBC News 3 to discuss Nevada’s mental health workforce shortage and steps the Legislature can take in 2015 to address the issue. Video begins at 13.30.

The Las Vegas Review Journal’s Yesenia Amaro highlights the findings from the Guinn Center’s policy brief: Nevada’s Mental Health Workforce: Shortages and Opportunities. 

Executive Director Dr. Nancy E. Brune and Victoria Carreon, Director of Education Policy, toured White Pine, Eureka, and Elko counties in September visiting schools and talking to educators. In Elko, the Guinn Center visited Great Basin College (GBC) where they shared some of their recent research and talked to educators about GBC’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, adult education & learning programs, and recruitment and retention efforts. KENTV Channel 10 interviewed Dr. Nancy E. Brune following the Guinn Center’s presentation on Building the Infrastructure of Opportunity for Latinos.

Dr. Nancy E. Brune outlines additional reforms that the Nevada Legislature should consider in the 2015 Legislative Session to ensure that taxpayers in Nevada benefit from the Silver State’s development incentive programs.

Dr. Nancy E. Brune appears on NBC News 3 to talk about the tax incentive package approved by the Legislature during the Special Session and how to improve accountability in development incentives.

Chris Sieroty of KNPR News cites Guinn Center recommendations (published in Development Incentives: A Guide for Nevada’s Legislators) as the Nevada Legislature considers development incentives for Tesla Motors.

Jon Ralston highlights the Guinn Center’s recommendations for increasing accountability in development incentives after the first day of the Special Session to consider an incentive package for Tesla motors.

CarsonNow.org provides information on the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities’ report (Development Incentives: A Guide for Nevada’s Legislators) to advise legislator’s on development incentives.

The Reno Gazette Journal’s Anjeanette Damon cites the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities’ concerns about whether the economic growth spurred by Tesla will be sufficient to cover the increased need for public services in counties most affected by the development incentive proposal.

Conor Shine of the Las Vegas Sun highlights the Guinn Center for Policy Priority’s recommendations on development incentives as the Nevada Legislature considers a tax incentive package for Tesla Motors, as published in its report, Development Incentives: A Guide for Nevada’s Legislators.

Dr. Nancy E. Brune and Victoria Carreon appear on Mundo Fox’s Labor Day special to discuss education issues, including why it is important for students to succeed in grades K-3, how to help Latino parents become more involved in education, how to prepare students for high technology jobs, and how to improve professional development for teachers.

The Sunday magazine announces that Brian Davie has joined the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities as a Senior Fellow and that Sue Clark-Johnson has joined the board of directors.

Victoria Carreon of the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities and Seth Rau of Nevada Succeeds comment on what can be done to improve professional development to improve literacy outcomes and how Nevada can maximize federal funds for this purpose.

Guinn Center Board members Phil Satre (Chair) and Dr. Jill Derby (Vice Chair), along with Executive Director Dr. Nancy E. Brune, join Nevada Newsmakers host Sam Shad to discuss the work of the Guinn Center and the recent report, Building the Infrastructure of Opportunity for Latinos in the Intermountain West (Interview begins at 11:27).

The Sunday magazine announces that Chris Roman has joined the board of directors of the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities.

The Las Vegas Sun discusses the Guinn Center’s findings and recommendations related to education, as published in its report, The State of Latinos in the Intermountain West.