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, April 24, 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 the quarterly report of Average Daily Attendance and Class Size Report
- Approval to award an RFP for independent therapists and related special education services
- Approval of professional educational services with Jobs 4 Nevada Graduates
Consent Agenda Item 2.12, a bid award for playground and landscape repairs at Brown Elementary School, was pulled from the agenda and will be heard at a future meeting.
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Honored Public School Volunteer Week
Trustees proclaimed April 22-26, 2025 as Public School Volunteer Week at the Washoe County School District.
Explore the item.
Trustees Waived the Requirements of Board Policy 7710 and Approved the Renaming of the Baseball Fields at Damonte Ranch High School
Trustees waived the requirements of Board Policy 7110 – Naming of Schools and Other District Facilities – and approved the renaming of the baseball fields at Damonte Ranch High School in honor of baseball coach Jon Polson.
Explore the letter of support.
Trustees Received an Update from McPherson & Jacobson on the Superintendent Search Process
Representatives from McPherson & Jacobson reviewed the finalists selected for the role of Superintendent: Mr. Joe Ernst, Dr. Elizabeth Fagen, Dr. Paul LaMarca, Dr. Charles McNulty, and Dr. Troy Parks. Information about each finalist can be found on the District’s website. There will be a community meeting on April 25 at Wooster High School at 5:00 p.m. A finalist feedback survey will be open from April 25 – May 3. A report of the survey results will be released on May 8. Additional events include school visits, meals with Trustees, neighborhood tours, and a business community welcome reception. Finalist interviews with Trustees will take place on April 26.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Discussed the Bailey Charter Elementary School Annual Monitoring Follow-Up Report
The District’s annual monitoring of Bailey Charter Elementary School resulted in reporting four internal control deficiencies among the school’s audited financial statements, including board of directors oversight, expenditure substantiation, potential conflicts of interest, and segregation of duties. Recommendations for each were presented in the report, linked below.
Explore the report.
Trustees Discussed the Process Used to Determine the Washoe County School District Allocation Process
Projected enrollment is used to determine staffing for the upcoming school year; allocations are shared with schools to begin the spring hiring process. Staff continue to review and monitor enrollment to address areas of need. Count Day adjustments are made after the school year begins, with adjustments made after Count Day, as well.
District enrollment is projected to decrease by 1,150 students for the 2024-25 school year, bringing the total student decrease from 2019-20 to 5,217 (or 8.1%). Eighty-eight percent of General Fund revenues are based on enrollment, and 81% of General Fund positions are based at schools. A loss of 10 students District-wide results in a revenue loss equal to the cost of one teacher position.
Changes made to the process include modifications to the Count Day process, such as 1- and 2-star schools with a loss of enrollment getting to keep their allocation, and making adjustments to address areas of need where enrollment has increased following Count Day.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Approved the Purchase of High School ELA Instructional Materials from Houghton Mifflin Hardcourt
Trustees approved the purchase of high school English Language Arts instructional materials from Houghton Mifflin Hardcourt in the approximate amount of $2,900,000.
Explore the proposal from Houghton Mufflin Hardcourt.
Trustees Approved the District’s FY2025-29 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan, As Recommended by the Capital Funding Protection Committee
Trustees approved the District’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan, which provides the timeline for forecasted capital projects and equipment purchases, and identifies options for financing the plan. The Plan includes facility modernization projects, as identified by the Facility Modernization Plan approved by the Board, the Capital Renewal Program, and other major projects, including the Debbie Smith CTE, the central transportation and central admin offices. For more detailed information on the Plan and specific projects, explore the presentation below.
Explore the presentation.
Board Reports
Highlights from board members’ reports include:
- School visits and attending various community and school events
- Gratitude for school volunteers
- Participation and support for sports and school extracurricular activities
Interim Superintendent’s Report
Highlights from the interim superintendent’s report include:
- Attending a student advisor counseling meeting at Hug High School and student projects for a student voice symposium
- School visits and other school-related activities
Public Comment
- Concerns about mining activity near Gerlach K-12 School
- Improving test scores
- Public comment periods
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for May 14, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
