LAS VEGAS -- Nevada's public school system could take a $96 million under budget cuts proposed by Gov. Jim Gibbons last week.

Clark County schools said the cuts will put them in a tight spot.

Organizers with Nevadans for Quality Education said they are planning a major protest to show their disgust with the proposed cuts.

"The governor's proposal to cut $96.25 million could be absolutely devastating to a system that's already so grossly under funded," said Mary Jo Parise-Malloy, of Nevadans for Quality Education.

Gibbons announced the potential 4.5 percent cut to K-12 education statewide on Friday. Parise-Malloy said she was stunned.

"This is very fearsome what is happening, we can't cut anymore money, I don't understand where this is going to come from," said Parise-Malloy.

School officials said they are scrambling to identify the costs and consequences of the decision.

"We'll likely have to get into areas of personnel, maintenance, transportation those kinds of things that are really essential services to students," said Dr. Walt Rulffes, Clark County superintendent.

He said it's going to be difficult returning state funds that have already been spent midway through the school year.

"I was led to believe K-12 education was protected; that services to boys and girls would be protected from budget cuts," said Rulffes. He said administrators have fought tooth and nail for improvements in education the last couple of years.

"It's just discouraging to think our people worked so hard to serve the community and that now may start to slip backwards," said Rulffes.

Organizers said that the cuts won't only affect education.

"If our children are not in school, they'll be out on the streets causing trouble and it's going to affect public safety and if we don't educate we're going to incarcerate -- so education doesn't stand alone," said Parise-Malloy.

Members of Nevadans for Quality Education will be holding four candlelight vigils Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. They said the vigils will take place in Las Vegas at Bonanza High School and Greenspun Junior High.

The superintendent will be meeting with Gibbons in Carson City to discuss the proposed budgets cuts Thursday morning