The Ed-Watch series is designed to increase access to information on what decisions
are being made regarding public education in Clark County and Nevada.
Washoe County School District Board of Trustees
What is the Board of Trustees & what are they responsible for? The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees are publicly elected decision-makers for the school district. They are responsible for providing oversight to the Superintendent and establishing District-wide policy. Trustees are accountable to work with their communities to improve student achievement.
Click here to learn more and see a list of current Trustees.
How often does the Board of Trustees meet? Trustees meet twice per month (second and fourth Tuesdays) at 2 pm both virtually and at the Central Administration Building Board Room, 425 E. 9th St., Reno, NV 89512.
Click here for a full list of Trustees meetings.
Can community members engage at Trustee meetings? Decision-making bodies benefit greatly from hearing public input and multiple perspectives. Currently, members of the public can submit comments on agenda and non-agenda items through email or voice recording. Public comment can be provided in person or via email. Email comments should be submitted to publiccomments@washoeschools.net.
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Washoe County School District Board of Trustees Meeting
Click here to see the meeting agenda.
Watch the meeting playback.
What happened at this meeting?
Trustees Approved the Consent Agenda
Consent agenda highlights include:
- Funding of two family advocate positions
- Approval of teacher laptop computer purchases
- Several facilities items
- Approval to appointment to the Council on Family Resource Centers
- Approval of appointments to the Safe and Healthy Schools Commission
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Received a Presentation on the District’s Two-Way Immersion and Dual Language Programming
Trustees received a presentation on the District’s Two-Way Immersion and Dual Language Programming. Highlights and data from the presentation included information on two LIEP (Language Instruction Educational Program) models being used by WCSD schools: DLI (Dual Language Immersion) and TWI (Two-Way Immersion).
Recent data was presented on these programs from three Washoe County Schools (Beck ES, Mount Rose ES, and Mount Rose MS), results demonstrated scoring above district elementary schools by 29% in ELA (English Language Arts) and 22% Math on statewide assessments (Elementary School SBAC) based on prior data from 22-23. Additionally, these programs demonstrated an 11% increase from 22-23 & 21% above district ES as measured by the Elementary ACCESS AGP (Adequate Growth Percentiles) for the schools mentioned above.
Wooster High School now has programs in both Math and Social Studies that provide instruction completely in Spanish. Moving forward, the trustees mentioned consideration for a district-level coordinator for TW/DL Immersion programs that was discussed during the previous budget.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Provided Preliminary Approval of Board Policy 5720, Hazing Prohibited, and Initiated the 13-Day Public Review and Comment Period
Trustees voted to provide preliminary approval of Board Policy 5720, which prohibits hazing within schools, buses, and other facilities. The approval initiates the 13-day public review and comment period.
Key provisions of the policy include:
- A definition of hazing, as “any method of initiation into or affiliation with a student groups that endangers an individual physical and/or mentally regardless of whether the recipient is a willing participant”
- Examples of what may constitute hazing, including beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption, mentally embarrassing, harassing, or ridiculing behavior
- Policy guidelines and specifications on witnessing, conducting, or failing to report hazing
- Requirement of the Superintendent to adopt an administrative regulation that includes methods of reporting, guidance on requirements and procedures, disciplinary action, behavior which may or may not be considered criminal in nature, and communication of the policy to employees, students, parents/guardians, and the community
Explore the presentation.
Student Representative Report
Report highlights included:
- Student retreat last Friday
- Meeting with members to discuss post-secondary resources, inclusion for all, and inclusion/representation
Trustee Reports
Report highlights included:
- Attending school events and activities
- A visit from Olympian Luke Hopson to Reno High School
- Donation from the Raiders to Hug High School’s football team
- Need for judges for an upcoming debate tournament
- SBAC scores
- Children’s Cabinet fundraising throught he Art of Childhood event
- $5 million grant announcement for the Community Health Alliances organization by the City of Reno
Superintendent’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Visited Double Diamond Kindergarten’s first day
- Visited Incline schools and toured the high school
- Nutrition service center applauded for support and culture
- Continuing partnership with University of Nevada, Reno’s Education program
Public Comment
- Need for dual language learning programs
- Concerns regarding locker room policies
- Walk zone regulations
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for September 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
