March 20th, 2025 Board Meeting Recap

​We are awaiting the recording of this meeting.  Once it is posted, you can access it HERE if you want to watch any parts yourself.

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PLEASE NOTE: Some items appear to be out of chronological order, but we've listed the items as the board discussed them, as the board approved a flexible agenda.

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Item 3: Douglas High School Leadership Presentation

Principal Mike Rechs outlined steps the school was taking to achieve five-star status (currently at four-star); reduce overall failure rates, address chronic absenteeism, and accreditation. The student body is 1,469 students with an attendance rate of 93.3 percent. Athletic director Dan Senger profiled the school sports programs, and assistant principal Kelly Winter took the board through efforts and challenges to improve algebra proficiency. Ms. Winter said Nevada is one of nine states that mandates 100 percent participation in ACT testing. She said DHS students perform well compared to the other eight states.

Item 4: Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate

Grants coordinator Ashley Mitchell reported that for the 2024 cohort of 569 seniors, the graduation rate was 88 percent, representing a 3 percent increase over the 2023 cohort. Ms. Mitchell said there were fewer dropouts and a big increase in career-ready and college-bound graduates.

Item 2: Special Recognition

Performances by the Carson Valley and Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School choirs.

Item 6: Public Comment

Board reinstatement of the 3-minute public comment time limit continues to be positively received. Areas of concern raised by speakers at the meeting included the scheduling of ACT tests immediately after spring break and what effects may be felt at the local level by the potential changes in the U.S. Department of Education.

Item 13: School Bus Advertising

District marketing director Haley Sebahar outlined the program for businesses to purchase advertising on Douglas County school buses. She said each business will produce its own magnetic sign, subject to school district guidelines and policies. Advertisements will cost $64 for small signs and $150 for large ones. Superintendent Alvarado said the district reserves the right to determine whether the ad is appropriate. Funds from the sales will go to offset fuel costs. He said the program is first come-first served, and not restricted to Douglas County businesses. Participants may also choose which bus route to place their ads.

Item 10: Proposed Cell Phone Tower On School Property

Trustees spent about three hours on the item, including a presentation by the developers of the project, board discussion, and public comment. The item was in response to a suggestion by Douglas County commissioners that the Douglas High School football stadium might be a feasible alternative for the Verizon cell phone tower site. Trustees Katherine Dickerson, Susan Jansen, and David Burns strenuously objected, citing too many unknowns as to how the proximity to the tower could affect the health and safety of students and staff. Concerns also were expressed as to liability and regulations affecting the project. Trustees Erinn Miller, Yvonne Wagstaff, Melinda Gneiting, and Markus Zinke, while not endorsing the proposal, pointed out that cell phone coverage at the high school and the intersections of Highway 88 and 395 is spotty at best, expressing concerns that students and parents can be out of communication with disrupted service during emergencies. During public comment, members of Minden for Safe Technology said they spent $50,000 to commission a study outlining the dangers of such a project and urged trustees to reject the proposal. Douglas County Commission Chairperson Sharla Hales told trustees the county is under a legal obligation to allow the utility to build a tower. She suggested that trustees take a “middle ground” and seek more information from independent sources. Other speakers agreed that more information is necessary from a third party and suggested that having a cell tower at Douglas High School is not part of the core mission of the school. Trustees Jansen, Burns, Dickerson, and Gneiting voted to turn down the request; trustees Miller, Zinke, and Wagstaff abstained, citing a need for additional information. The matter is before Douglas County Commissioners on April 3rd.

Item 11: Student Representative Report

Student representative Olive Hamner-Jillson reported on spring semester activities at Douglas and George Whittell High School. Ms. Hamner-Jillson said she was working to bring a compost program to Whittell High School, similar to the program at Zephyr Cove Elementary School.

Item 12: Curriculum Adoption of "My Perspectives" Instructional Material

Executive Director of Education Services Shannon Brown and Assistant Director Leslie Peters reviewed the recommendation to purchase the core English Language Arts reading program “My Perspectives” for 6th through 12th-grade students, at a cost of $411,767.60 for a seven-year investment. The materials include digital applications and textbooks. Ms. Peters said teachers want hardcover textbooks for students “who get enough screen time” and not just digital materials. Approved 7-0.

Item 14: Graduation Requirements

Second reading, without changes. Approved 7-0.

Item 15: Public Records Request

Second reading, without changes. Approved 7-0.

Item 16: Complaint Policy

Second reading, without changes. Approved 7-0.

Item 18: Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Alvarado singled out Gardnerville Elementary School second-grade teacher Vivian Michalik who was named Tahoe-Douglas Elks Citizen of the Year. Ms. Michalik also was honored as the George W. Gillemot Foundation Northern Nevada STEM Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Alvarado said student enrollment has dropped by 7 students.

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