Rural school grants approved by state

The Nevada Board of Examiners approved $1.3 million in grants Tuesday for school repair and construction projects in White Pine and Lincoln counties.

The money is the last of more than $16 million in bonds approved by the 1999 Legislature. Director of Administration Perry Comeaux told the board headed by Gov. Kenny Guinn the $1.3 million is basically remaining interest from those bond proceeds.

White Pine School District asked for $920,685 for completion of construction at White Pine High and White Pine Middle School, landscaping and parking.

Lincoln County School officials requested $485,000 to replace a boiler and evaporative coolers with a geothermal heating system.

Comeaux said those projects together come to just over $1.4 million.

The board voted to approve the spending and to reduce the amount each school district gets proportionately.

That means each county's request will be reduced by about 8 percent.

Board members Guinn and Attorney General Brian Sandoval also voted to write off $534,000 in bad debts from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Agency officials said the debts are primarily bounced checks dating to 1999 and before and have been ruled uncollectable.