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, September 10, 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:
- Approval of appointments to the Zoning Advisory Committee
- Approval for school psychological services throughout the District
- Approval of the 2024-25 Elementary and Secondary Student Behavior Manuals
- Approval of hiring a retired teacher for which a critical labor shortage exists, for foreign language teachers
- Several facilities items
Explore the consent agenda here.
Items 4.01 (Constitution Day ) , 4.02 (Attendance Awareness Month), and 4.04 (Attendance Data) were moved to a later meeting. 5.02 (board) reports were skipped.
Trustees Approved WCSD Board Resolution 24-017, a 2024B School Improvement Bond Resolution
Trustees approved Resolution 24-017, a 2024B school improvement bond resolution authorizing the District to issue general obligation (limited tax) school improvement bonds, Series 2024B, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $110,515,000.
Explore the resolution.
Trustees Approved WCSD Board Resolution 24-018, a Resolution of Intent Proposing the Issuance of up to $200 Million in General Obligation Bonds
Trustees approved Resolution 240-018, a resolution of intent proposing the issuance of up to $200 million in general obligation bonds (additionally secured with pledged revenues), providing the manner, form and content of the notices and authorizing officers of the district to take other actions necessary to complete the issuance and related matters.
Explore the resolution.
Trustees Adopted the Negotiated Agreement Between the District and the School Psychologists Association of Washoe (SPAW) for a Term of Agreement from 2024-2027
SPAW representatives presented the terms of the 2024-2027 agreement. SPAW consists of 51 licensed school psychologists who serve all WCSD schools. The agreement includes an aggregate 16.75% COLA over four years, eliminating BRP and added it to longevity, a new problem-solving process, and a clear and fair grievance process. SPAW ratified the agreement, with 42 members eligible to vote, 41 responses gathered, and 40 voting “Yes” on ratification.
Explore the presentation and the agreement.
Trustees Discussed School Attendance Data and a Plan for Improvement to Include Information Pertaining to a Community Task Force Supporting District Efforts to Reclaim Instructional Time
Trustees received a presentation on chronic absenteeism and school attendance data. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year (18+ days in a 180-day school year). In 2022-23 on average, non-chronically absent students missed 6.8 days of school; chronically absent students missed 32.5 school days. For each student moved off the chronically absent list, the District reclaims approximately 25 days of instruction. Districtwide, for every 1% drop in chronic absenteeism, the District reclaims approximately 15,750 days of instruction.
Trustees reviewed trends in chronic absenteeism, which have been elevated since the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven high schools, 13 middle schools, and 45 elementary schools have reclaimed instructional days from SY 22-23 to SY 23-24.
Causes of absenteeism include transportation, housing instability (including homelessness), mental health concerns, and academic frustrations. Critical themes to address chronic absenteeism include building relationships, systems, structures and effective use of data, daily attention, and engagement.
Actions taken include training school leaders on reclaiming instructional time, training and coaching from the intervention department, school performance planning, and data monitoring and analysis every 1-2 weeks.
A community task force, started in 2024, has engaged in an attendance campaign, a middle school engagement project, expansion of Communities in Schools, and an education alliance fundraiser.
Metrics so far for the 2024-25 school year includes a 22% chronic absenteeism rate, down 4%, and leading metrics indicate success on 20-day monitors and the number of schools receiving support and coaching.
Explore the presentation and the District’s comprehensive plan to address chronic absenteeism.
Trustees Discussed the Entry Plan for Joe Ernst, New Superintendent of Schools for the District
Trustees discussed the entry plan timeline and phases for Superintendent Ernst. A Summary report will be provided at the January 28, 2025 Board meeting, and a comprehensive update will be provided to the community during the State of the Education Address in February 2025. There will be a full schedule of opportunities for feedback and engagement, and the Superintendent is developing plans to conduct thorough evaluations of key strategic plan efforts, as well as a system for reporting on progress.
The plan has been divided into three phases: Center on Hope (July – September), focusing on listening, learning, and strengthening relationships; Center on Excellence (October – December), focusing on analyzing progress and leveraging strengths; and Center on Reflection (January – June), focusing on celebrating accomplishments and refining practice and process.
Superintendent Ernst also reviewed progress to date, including devising a plan to address chronic absenteeism, establishing monitoring structures, expanding early childhood education, and collaborating with the Board on a bill draft request for the 2025 Legislature.
Review the presentation and the entry plan.
Trustees Approved the Updated District Legislative Platform for the 2025 Legislature
Staff and members of the Pinyon Public Affairs team reviewed updates to the District’s legislative platform for the 2025 session. The platform has several priority items:
- Support our local communities
- Create space for students to thrive
- Empower our personnel
- Advocate for smart, strategic funding
Key topics of testing and charter schools, and trustee compensation were also discussed.
Next steps include team turning to board with a more finalized legislative platofrm
Explore the legislative platform here.
Student Representative Report
Report highlights included:
- Small group helping with CCSD on “Flip the Script”
- Growth in student voice
Superintendent’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Recognition of the magnitude of the situation with the Davis fire and how well the community is reacting
- Addressed the issue of the threats and ongoing investigation regarding school safety.
Public Comment
- Letter regarding zoning tool
- Issues that relate to chronic absenteeism and wondering about students leaving school and loitering
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for September 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
