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 8th, 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 Approved the Consent Agenda
Consent agenda highlights include:
- Final approval for proposed revisions to Board Policy 5250 – Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances – Student Prevention and Intervention
- Final approval for Board Policy 9055(5)(G) related to the legislative representative
- Approval of the FY 2026 Career and Technical Education grant application
- Several facilities items
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Approved the District’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tentative Budget
Trustees approved the District’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 tentative budget, to include staff recommendations in the following areas:
- Initial district-wide options to reduce the budget deficit, including ending of other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund contributions, ending of the Medicaid payment to the state, rebasing department budgets, and defunding stormwater utility fees
- Changes related to the academic area organizational assessment previously conducted, including position conversions, creation of new positions, and the transfer of positions to the General Fund and position reductions
- Additional staff recommendations regarding budget requests relating to funding PBS Reno, additional special education and transportation positions, additional construction management and project coordinator positions, and funding of a tuition reimbursement program for certain certifications and endorsements
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Appointed a Trustee as a Legislative Representative
Trustees approved Alex Woodley as the District’s Legislative Representative, pursuant to Board Policy 9055(5)(g).
Trustees Discussed High School Pathways and Supports to Help Students Graduate Prepared for the Future
Trustees received a presentation on high school pathways and supports and non-traditional school options. Highlights of the presentation included:
- Several anecdotal stories of success for Adult Leaners in High School Pathways and Support programs
- Multiple school of choice options: Innovations High School, NorthStar Online, Washoe Inspire Academy, RiSE Academy for Adult Achievement
Explore the presentation.
Trustees Discussed Volunteer Services and Their Benefits
Trustees discussed and recognized volunteers for the District. Highlights of the presentations included:
- Showcased four volunteer entities or organizations: Reno Rodeo Foundation, Volunteer Coach, PBS Reno, and Paws for Love
- WCSD reported 11,864 volunteers
Explore the presentation.
Student Representative Report
Report highlights included:
- Students expressing excitement for the upcoming graduation
- Working on an opinion article for the topic of students on school boards
Trustee Report
Report highlights included:
- Various back-to-school events and activities
- Trustee Phoenix attended the Nevada Indian Education summit in Northern Nevada
- Trustees Phoenix, Nicolet, Westlake, and Smith attended the groundbreaking at the Transportation Yard to witness the upcoming improvements
Superintendent’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Deputy Superintendent McMaster and Superintendent Ernst recognized Tierney Cahill from Incline High School at the Governor’s Gala and celebrated Area Superintendent Melinda Baker for her contributions in the field of education
- Deputy Superintendent McMaster put together the district’s Academic Leadership team to align on upcoming work
Public Comment
- The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is facilitating a new program for school boards to spectate and learn new strategies from each other.
- Concern regarding legislative policies in youth sports
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for April 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
