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, May 14, 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 grant application for the Early Childhood Innovative Literacy Program Option 2
- Approval of the grant application for the One-Fifth Public Employees’ Retirement System Service Credit for retirement incentives for eligible licensed education personnel
- Several facilities items
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Issued a Proclamation Honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Trustees recognized May as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, encouraging members of the community to engage in activities and events that celebrate the heritage, culture, and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Explore the proclamation.
Trustees Approved the Guaranteed Maximum Price from Clark/Sullivan Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk for the E. Otis Vaughn Middle School Replacement Project
Trustees approved the Guaranteed Maximum Price 1 from Clark/Sullivan Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the E. Otis Vaughn Middle School replacement project in the amount of $94,677,079, and an owner’s contingency in the amount of $3,757,989 for a total amount of $98,435,068. Trustees also approved the District’s Owner-CMAR Construction Agreement.
Explore the Washoe County School District Owner-CMAR Construction Contract.
Trustees Selected Joe Ernst for Washoe County School District Superintendent
Five finalist candidates have undergone interviews with the Trustees, as well as met with staff members, students, families, community stakeholders, and members of the community at-large. These finalists were Joseph Ernst, Elizabeth Fagen, Paul LaMarca, Charles McNulty, and Troy Parks. Feedback from the community was gathered via survey, the summary of which is available below.
After board discussion and public comment, Joe Ernst was selected as the next superintendent of the Washoe County School Distict.
Explore the stakeholder feedback summary.
Student Representative’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Highlighting the Student Voice conference this Friday, May 17
Trustee Reports
Report highlights included:
- Attending several school and community events
- Several committee meetings relating to WCSD in June
- Attending the home visit conference
- Commemorating the WCSD team during staff appreciation celebrations
- Celebrating career and technical education pathways available in WCSD schools
- Addressing the issue of child trafficking
- Nevada Association of School Board potential legislative priorities
Interim Superintendent’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Check presentation from the Educational Alliance
- Several school visits
- Highlighting JROTC programs and instructors
- Announcing Doug Owen as Chief Human Resources Officer for the District
- Presenting to the Interim Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Education
Public Comment
- Public comment periods at Board meetings
- Superintendent selection
- Concerns regarding book bans in school libraries
- Need for civility and conversations in the community
- Reading materials available in schools
- Students and technology
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for May 28, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
