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, October 24, 2023
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 to upgrade clock, intercom, and public address systems at 10 sites
- Approval to purchase Lexia Learning Systems for professional development for staff to support EL students
- Approval of several grant applications to the Nevada Department of Education for the Early Childhood Innovative Literacy Program and progressive discipline training
- Approval of the FY 2023-24 first quarter report of average daily attendance and pupil-teacher ratios for grades K-3
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Heard a Presentation from Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada
Junior Achievement presented a summary of their work with students in the District. Highlights include:
- Junior Achievement serves students in K-12th grade, as well as young adult up to 25 years old, with the goal of empowering youth to their own economic success.
- Annually, over 10,000 students in Northern Nevada take part in JA activities, including JA in a Day, the Career Speaker Series, JA Inspire Nevada, and Career Success programs.
- The next phase is incorporating a JA BizTown, which combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated town, where students learn money management skills, develop soft skills and understanding of business practices, discuss the importance of civics, and demonstrate understanding of the free enterprise system.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Approved and Adopted a Memorandum of Agreement to Extend the Negotiated Agreement between WCSD and the Washoe County School Police Officers Association (WCSPOA) from 2024-2025
The previous WCSPOA collective bargaining agreement covered from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024. Both parties agreed to reopen the agreement on a limited basis to take advantage of the provisions of Senate Bill 231, as well as similar cost of living adjustments (COLAs) being afforded to other associations.
Changes include:
- Extended the term of the agreement to June 30, 2025
- COLA renegotiated from 2% to 13.2%, retroactive to July 1, 2023
- 2% COLA in FY 2025
- WCSPOA employees will also receive up to approximately 4% match in FY 2024 and FY 2025, from SB 231
- Total compensation package is approximately 19.2% over two years
Explore the amended contract and the presentation.
Trustees Received an Update on Strategic Plan Goal 3: Safety and Belonging
A school spotlight celebrated Billinghurst Middle School students, staff, and achievements, as well as their dedication to safety and creating a sense of belonging.
Trustees discussed the results of the School Climate Survey 2022-23. There were 25,865 participants in Grades 5-12. Findings include:
- An increase in students reporting bullying at their school
- Students’ sense of belonging is high in elementary school but declines in middle and high school
- Students’ perceptions of their own social and emotional competencies (i.e. social and self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills) declined in 2021-22 but increased in 2022-23.
The presentation also addressed chronic absenteeism. In 2022-23, the District had an overall chronic absenteeism rate of 28%, an increase from 2021-22. Chronic absenteeism in more prevalent in Black, Pacific Islander, and American Indian populations, as well as children in transition, among other student groups.
Staff also discussed how they are addressing school climate issues, including social and emotional curriculum aligned to state standards, and implementation of the pillars outlined by the new strategic plan: consistent standards-aligned curriculum and instruction; strong partnerships among families, community and school; commitment to elevating educators; and a culture of excellence and accountability.
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Approved and Adopted Changes to the Negotiated Agreement Between WCSD and the Washoe Education Association from 2023-2025
Trustees approved changes to the collective bargaining agreement between WCSD and the Washoe Education Association. Changes include:
- Two-year agreement
- 14% COLA in Year 1 (offsets made to reach this number)
- Additional 2% COLA in Year 2
- SB 231 match (of up to approximately 4% in FY2024 and FY2025)
- Streamlining and consistency in wording
- Special educator signing bonus ($5,000 with two-year recoupment agreement), and retention bonus for existing WEA-represented special educators ($5,000, split evenly between the end of the 2023-24 school year and the end of the 2024-25 school year)
- New restructuring of pay scale
- IEP meeting compensation
- Extension of dean contracts
- Incline staff geographic allowance
- Doubling of prep time each week for educators
Explore the contract changes and the presentation.
Student Representative Report
Report highlights included:
- New cell phone policy feedback provided to Superintendent Enfield
- Student Advisory Council submitting interview questions for police chief interviewees
- Mental Health Subcommittee’s focus on placing a mural on Reno High School
- College and Career Readiness Subcommittee’s focus on freshmen and sophomore students to ensure they are on the right track
- Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee’s focus on extracurricular participation
- Participating as a panelist on the student town hall segment of a national conference
Trustee Reports
Report highlights included:
- Several school visits and activities
- Meeting regarding the potential closure of Incline Middle School
- The loss of two students due to a house fire
- Participating in conference and development opportunities
- Student forums on voting and civic participation
- Participating in Career Construction Day
- Attending UNR State of the University address
Superintendent’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Gratitude to Trustees, staff, and the Washoe Education Association for the ratification of the new agreement
- Celebrating National Principals Month
Public Comment
- Relationship-building with school psychologists by Trustees and leadership
- Student-teacher ratios
- Providing adequate technology for students in classrooms
- Public comment periods for Board of Trustee meetings
- Sex education programs
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for November 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.
