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, January 14, 2025
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 Voted on the 2025 Officers
Trustees voted Beth Smith to be Board President for 2025; Adam Mayberry to be Board Vice President for 2025; and Alex Woodley to be Board Clerk for 2025.
Trustees Approved the Consent Agenda
Consent agenda highlights include:
- Approval to appoint Danielle Vaillancourt to the Student Attendance Advisory Council
- Adoption of District Board Resolution 25-001 to augment the fiscal year 2024-25 budget
- Several facilities items
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Conducted a Public Hearing on and Approved the Proposed Change of Location and Use for Stead Elementary School
Trustees approved a proposed change of location and change of use for Stead Elementary School, from 10580 Stead Blvd. to 926 Cloudburst Dr. The school will be located within a community, rather than on Stead Blvd., for student safety. The old building would be repurposed, once vacant, for district or community partner use. Staff and families of Stead Elementary received notice, per regulation protocols.
Explore the site map and Administrative Regulation 7087 – School Closures.
Trustees Received a Presentation on Safety and Belonging in School Environments
Trustees received a presentation on safety and belonging, as it is part of the District’s strategic plan goals.
Relating to school facilities: single point of entry was implemented in Sparks, Damonte Ranch, and McQueen High Schools in 2024-25, with additional upgrades planned for 2025-26. Over 30 elementary and middle schools received security film in 2024-25. The Facility Modernization Plan has several schools slated for security upgrades through its five-year plan, and through the District’s Capital Renewal Program, several improvements and partnerships are fostered to improve safety and belonging.
Relating to the Centegix system: The system allows for instant alerts and real-time notifications, and benefits for schools include improved response time, comprehensive safety, and increased awareness. The first full semester of district-wide utilization took place August-December 2024, with 154+ drills conducted and 28 incidents.
Relating to school police: 75 sites have received a total of 450 radios since the start of the 2024-25 school year, and by the end of the school year, all XG emergency radios will be converted to XL radios. The “Raptor” visitor management system has also been implemented.
The Safe & Healthy Schools Commission has made recommendations relating to e-cigarettes and vaping, mental health professionals, and acknowledgment of the “Phone Away, Learn Today” pilot. Additional school supports include expanding extracurricular activities and athletics and strengthening volunteer services.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Announced the Winners of the “Phone Away and Learn Today” Public Service Announcement
Trustees celebrated the winners of the “Phone Away, Learn Today” public service announcement contest:
- Isabella Bascunan Fernandez, Incline Middle School
- Gavin Cates, Jack Egan, Arek Engelke, Sonia Gustavson, and Gio Whittey, AACT
- Madeline Fisher, Wooster High School
- Sophia Anderson, Spanish Springs High School
- Liepa Etchegoyhen, Colin Pilcher, Bebe Slater, and Sophia Valdez, Reno High School
Explore the presentation.
Student Representative Report
Report highlights included:
- Attending an opioid summit with other students
- Student Voice meeting this week
Trustee Report
Report highlights included:
- Attending several school and district events, athletic games, and extracurricular activities, including the We the People competition
- Attending Nevada Association of School Boards training
- Welcome to the new members of the Washoe County School Board of Trustees
Superintendent’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Recognition of Trustees on appointments and elections in serving the district and the community
- Congratulations to the officers of the Washoe County Board of Trustees
- Recognizing School Board Appreciation Month
- Leadership and collaboration between District staff and Board members
- Recognizing District staff
- Recognizing Hug High School culinary students
Public Comment
- New prom closet program available to District students
- The impact of social media and screen time on students
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for January 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
