LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Nevada State Education Association representatives shared strong opposition to the Oakland Athletics’ stadium plan for the south end of the Strip during a Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting Thursday.
“We’ve spent more time implementing a world class stadium than we have working to build a world class K-12 education system,” Alexander Marks, representing NSEA, lamented after the meeting. “We’re 48th in the nation, we’ve got the largest class sizes in the nation, and we’ve got the highest vacancy rates. When our politicians get distracted by shiny objects like stadiums, those issues fall by the wayside.”
Marks was one of two NSEA members who spoke out against the plans for the ballpark, which will cost an estimated $1.5 billion, $380 million of which will come from a combination of state and county help.
The board held a couple of votes on the park, one of which acknowledged that Major League Baseball team owners have given their blessing for the A’s to move to Las Vegas. The other recognized that the A’s themselves are committed to moving here.
The board workshopped a non-relocation agreement that would keep the A’s legally bound to Las Vegas until at least 2051, and will vote on it at a later meeting.
Monday, the Nevada Supreme Court rejected a bid by Schools over Stadiums, with whom NSEA is affiliated. The group wanted to put stadium funding on the ballot and let voters have a say. It opposes Nevada tax dollars being used to build a stadium, and is vowing to renew its fight in 2026.
“When we ask for a 20% salary increase and they tell us that’s too expensive, or when we ask for class size reduction measures and we’re told that’s too expensive, and then they turn around and give a billionaire $380 million in public money, that offends everybody,” Marks told FOX5.
The state legislature did set aside $250 million for teacher pay raises, although a similarly-priced class size reduction bill did not pass.
At the tail end of this meeting, the board also received a report on the revenue brought in by Allegiant Stadium. It showed about a 13% boost, thanks in large part to hosting the Super Bowl.
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