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 9, 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:
- Acceptance of the Budget Transfer Report for July
- Several facilities items
- Approval of grant applications to the Nevada Department of Agriculture
- Approval of STEM classroom devices
- Approval of agreement with PBS Reno for Curiosity Classroom workshops
Explore the consent agenda here.
Trustees Heard a Presentation on Chronic Absenteeism During the 2024-25 School Year, Washoe County School District Attendance Campaign, and a Proclamation Recognizing Attendance Awareness Month
Highlights of the presentation included:
- Most chronic absenteeism came from students who were within walking distance (walking zone) of the school, which inspired the new “Walking School Bus” program to mitigate this issue.
- Using language that is not “truancy” or punitive actions is essential, as it aids in reducing chronic absenteeism rates.
- School-based efforts that worked the most successfully were focused on attendance on a daily basis.
Explore the presentation and the proclamation.
Trustees Heard a Presentation on District Programs and Supports Provided to Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Recognized Deaf Awareness Month at the District
Highlights of the presentation included:
- Sharing stories and experiences of navigating the education system and the necessary supports from Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
- Demonstrating support not just for students but also for staff members who identify as Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
- Focusing on improving individualized language access through ASL (English bilingual supports), auditory-oral strategies, and total communication (aligned to each student’s IEP/504).
Explore the presentation and the proclamation.
Trustees Preliminarily Approved the Amendment of Board Policy 4500 – District Employee Speech, and Initiated the 13-Day Public Review and Comment Period
Trustees gave preliminary approval to the amendment of Board Policy 4500 – District Employee Speech. This initiates the 13-day public review and comment period. Changes include:
- Defining “Private Capacity”, which refers to speech as a private citizen versus speech not part of the performance of an official duty
- Adoption of policies aligned with the U.S. & Nevada Constitution rather than the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA).
- Amendments to clarify protected and unprotected speech, and to move the reporting process to Administrative Regulations.
Explore the revised policy.
Student Representative’s Report
Report highlights included:
- On August 27th, the student voice committee held a retreat to discuss current issues, including restroom safety.
Trustees Report
Report highlights included:
- Trustees Nicolet and Westlake attended National Board Training for school board members.
- Trustee Mayberry attended the Milk and Honey Jewish Cultural Event, thanking the WCSD recruiters for their attendance.
- Several trustees attended the Mariposa Language and Learning Academy Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Superintendent’s Report
Report highlights included:
- Shared the promotional video for the Teaching and Training program, which enables students to gain firsthand experience as educators in a pre-school setting.
- Appreciation for the presenters earlier in the meeting who demonstrated the ability to overcome adversities in the education system.
Public Comment
Public comments included:
- Indivisible Northern Nevada presented the focus of their organization, regarding accountability in public servants, and their appreciation for the WCSD school board.
- A potential WCSD educator is expressing concern about the honoring of international teaching licenses transferring to the WCSD.
The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for September 23, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
