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 24, 2024
Washoe County School District Board of Trustees Meeting
Click here to see the meeting agenda.
Watch the meeting playback.
Trustees Approved the Consent Agenda
Consent agenda highlights include:
- Approval of grant applications to the Department of Agriculture
- Approval of the 2024-25 Class Size Reduction Plan
- Appointment to the Audit Committee
- Final approval of Board Policy 5720, prohibiting hazing
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Recognized Recent WCSD Police Department Special Commendations
Trustees recognized several members of the WCSD Police Department for their recent special commendations: Sergeant Beau Lorentzen, Officer Sean Saulnier, Officer Marlayna Baca-Holley, Officer Scott O’Brien, and Detective Richard Miranda.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Approved the Grant Application to the Gillemot Foundation for an Aviation Technology Program at the Academy of Arts, Careers, and Technology High School
Trustees heard a presentation on and approved a grant application to the Gillemot Foundation for a new aviation technology program at the Academy of Arts, Careers, and Technology High School. The program received 60 applications for students in 9-11 grade, and will deliver industry- and standards-aligned aviation education, practical skills training, and will build a pipeline of skilled aviation professionals. The grant application totals $1,009,350.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Presented a Proclamation Honoring Constitution Day
Trustees presented a proclamation honoring Constitution Day in the District on September 17, and Constitution Week September 17-23, 2024.
Explore the proclamation.
Trustees Presented a Proclamation Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month
Trustees presented a proclamation honoring Hispanic Heritage Month in the District from September 15 – October 15, 2024.
Explore the proclamation.
Trustees Presented a Proclamation Honoring Attendance Awareness Month
Trustees presented a proclamation honoring September as Attendance Awareness Month in the District.
Explore the proclamation.
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 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 from the September 10 meeting. Updates include new language relating to local control of trustee compensation, school police jurisdiction, and compensation.
The platform also includes an item to “ensure taxpayer-funded educational opportunities follow a consistent set of rules, standards, and oversight that demand the protection of public resources, discontinue the use of for-profit educational management operators, and that opportunities that may arise from Charter schools be available to all students.” Trustees added language to include special education and approved a modified District Legislative Platform for the 2025 Legislature.
Explore the updates to the legislative platform here.
Trustees Discussed a Summary of the Activities for the District’s Energy and Sustainability Program
Staff provided an overview of Board Policy 7400, adopted in 2017, related to sustainability and energy around school district facilities, transportation, nutrition services, and IT. Highlights included:
- Dialogue of successful practices from the District’s Energy and Sustainability program
- Shared the McKinstry-Dashboard that tracks historical utility data for all schools in WCSD
Student Representative Report
Report highlights included:
- Progressing the initiative of college and career readiness
- Discussions around bringing on more school therapists, physical therapists and councilors
Trustee Report
Report highlights included:
- Various back-to-school events and activities
- Participation in school visits for various board members
- Urge to discuss the issue of opioid abuse in future meetings
Superintendent’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Participation in parent-teacher home visits
- Continued participation in school visits
- Pleased to announce seven new 5-star schools for WCSD
Public Comment
- Discussion of teacher toolkit for supporting museums
- Concern for the role of family or guardians not being involved in academics and it not being discussed
- Gender-related policies in WCSD locker rooms
- Concern for cyberbullying
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for October 22, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
