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, February 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?
Items 3.01 and 3.02, regarding bond issuances, and 4.01, regarding a presentation from the Nevada Association of School Boards, were pulled from the agenda and will be heard at a future meeting.
Trustees Approved the Consent Agenda
Consent agenda highlights include:
- Several charter school performance monitoring reports
- Approval of hiring retired employees for subject areas which have been designated as critical labor shortages
- Several purchasing agreements and bid awards
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Recognized Public Schools Week in Washoe County
Trustees adopted Board Resolution 24-006, recognizing February 26 – March 1, 2024, as Public Schools Week in the District.
Explore the resolution.
Trustees Directed McPherson & Jacobson Regarding Timing and Activities for the Finalist Phase of the Superintendent Search
Trustees directed representatives from McPherson & Jacobson, the search firm currently vetting candidates for the superintendent role, on specific activities and timing related to the finalist phase of the search. These activities include announcing finalists, district visits, community engagement, small group meetings with Trustees, and finalist interviews, deliberations, and selection.
Interview questions for candidates will be developed by Trustees. The scoring rubric for candidates was also reviewed.
A community stakeholder survey was conducted, receiving 545 responses. The survey was four narrative questions on why candidates should consider applying for the superintendent position, most desirable traits, challenges, and opportunities within the District. That report will be presented at the March 12 board meeting. Trustee and leadership conversations have taken place, and will also be summarized at the next board meeting. Applications for the position close March 19.
Finalists will be recommended about April 15, with interviews April 24-26, which includes public events (both live-streamed and recorded), in-person interviews with Trustees, and a variety of events with community members.
Explore the update.
Trustees Reviewed Strategic Plan Goal 5: Empowering All Learners for their Future, and Key Strategies Used to Improve Outcomes
The presentation began with a celebration of the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology and high school senior Joseph Sandusky as a WCSD Superstar Student.
Highlights of the presentation included:
- 2023’s graduation rate was 81%, reflecting a change of -3 percentage points over a five-year period, and a change of +11 percentage points over a ten-year period.
- 55% of the Class of 2023 enrolled in college fall semester after graduation, reflecting an increase year-over-year since 2020.
- The strategic plan’s Goal 5 includes increasing access to advanced coursework, dual credit, and career and technical education classes; every high school student adding a post-graduation plan to their Student Success Plan, beginning in ninth grade; and expanding district partnerships with local businesses and community organizations to increase internships and out-of-school learning opportunities.
- 57% of the Class of 2023 completed AP/IB coursework; 26% passed an AP/IB exam; 28% completed two years of a CTE pathway; and 26% completed a dual credit course.
- Disparities among different student groups persist among students earning credit in advanced courses.
- 19% of the Class of 2023 did not receive a diploma. Mitigating measures for this include goal setting, preparation, and support for educational milestones and transitions, as well as coordinated and timely support for students “off-track” to graduate.
- The District is also prioritizing expanding district partnerships to provide internships and other learning opportunities.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Discussed the District’s 2024-25 Budget Process and Status, and Approved Recommendations Regarding English Learner and Nutrition Services Budgets
Staff reviewed what items from the strategic plan budget had been approved in January 2024. Trustees discussed possible changes to the District’s budget, including a per-pupil increase, enrollment decrease of 1,150 students, and the end of ESSER funds, as well as cost changes due to inflation, salaries and benefits, and an estimated health insurance increase. The District also faces revenue pressures from the opening of Debbie Smith CTE Academy High School and decreased enrollment.
The Board approved English Learner weighted funding proposals, including reducing the EL student to teacher ratio from 70:1 to 60:1, restructuring EL facilitator services, adding new Pre-K programs and teacher assistant positions, EL programming coordinators, and a translation/interpretation coordinator, as well as four translation/interpretation specialists. These requests totaled 69 new full-time employees. An additional request proposed maintaining Newcomer Center Staffing, maintaining ESSER-funded Pre-K programming, and shifting some teacher assistants to weighted funding, as well as additional cost shifts, totaling 76 additional positions. Cumulatively, the cost of the requests is $11.3 million.
Nutrition Services has a fund balance of $13.9 million as of June 30, 2024. The current fiscal year is the last year of universal free meals, and the cost to the District to continue this service is $6.7 million per year. The District has expanded the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) to schools at a 40% ISP rate. The recommendation to expand CEP in FY 2024-25 by including schools at an ISP rate of 35% or more (seven additional schools, and 2,700 students) was approved.
These considerations will be included in the budget presentation in May, with updates on strategic plan implementation in March.
Explore the presentation.
Public Comment
- Support for upcoming student speech and debate tournaments
- Concerns regarding content in school libraries
- Concerns regarding removing content from libraries
- Concerns regarding Change of School Assignment policies
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for March 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
