State issues letter to CCSD seeking further clarity on budget deficit

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — The Nevada State Superintendent of Public Instruction sent a letter to the Clark County School District earlier this month, seeking further clarity of its budget deficit.

Jhone Ebert gave the district until Monday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. to respond her questions that she outlined in a letter dated Oct. 14.

The letter was addressed to CCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Brenda Larsen-Mitchell.

Ebert initially wrote to Larsen-Mitchell on Sept. 24, questioning the district’s financial problems after Nevada lawmakers invested $12 billion last year into state schools — with CCSD getting a large amount of that money.

The district responded to that request on Oct. 3, declaring that it is $20 million short due to lawsuit payouts, salary increases, and a miscalculation of At-Risk funding. But then on Oct. 10, CCSD lowered its deficit to $10.9 million.

CCSD’s financial issues first came to light last month and led to the firing of its then Chief Financial Officer Jason Goudie. Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo also announced he would investigate CCSD’s budget issues.

Last week, Larsen-Mitchell told the CCSD Board of Trustees the district spent $53 million this fiscal year in attorney fees and to settle lawsuits.

CCSD is the nation’s fifth-largest school district and serves the Las Vegas valley.

Below is a copy of the Ebert’s letter to the district:

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