Feb 27th, 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.

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. Additionally, six out of seven board members were in attendance at this meeting, as Trustee Dickerson departed early due to not feeling well.

Item 2: Public Comment

The board instituted the new public comment policy, which restores up to 3 minutes per speaker per action item. Public comment at the beginning of the meeting may address “any matter within the authority of the board.” In addition, public comment is invited after discussion of each action item on the agenda. There is no longer any public comment at the end of the meeting. During public comment, Board President Yvonne Wagstaff told a community member that a special meeting will be held on March 13th at 4 pm to discuss the proposed Verizon towers near Douglas High School and Pinion Hills Elementary School.

 

Item 6: Approval of Contract for Board Training on Governance

Superintendent Frankie Alvarado said he met facilitator Dr. Philip Gore in January at the Nevada Association of School Boards training. The governance training focuses on the district and the board. Supt. Alvarado said Dr. Gore would be “calibrating how the board does business.” Other components are setting up an evaluation system for the superintendent and coaching trustees. Training includes “Working Together for Student Success,” “Goal Setting with Progress Measures,” and “Adopting a Superintendent Evaluation Process.” The consulting also includes coaching and follow-up with trustees and the superintendent. Supt. Alvarado said the $37,000 cost would come from the superintendent's budget. Approved 6-0.

 

Item 7: Approval of Contract for Board Training on Balanced Governance

Presenter Thomas Alsbury, on speaker phone, said the cost is $10,000 for the remainder of the 24-25 school year and $25,000 for the 25-26 school year. Alsbury said his work focuses more on board evaluation. The cost comes out of the superintendent’s budget. Approved 6-0.

 

Item 8: Leadership Presentation Jacks Valley Elementary School

Principal Pamela Hill-Gilmartin and Vice Principal Veronica Griffith made the JVES presentation. Principal Hill-Gilmartin said there are 384 students at the school, 163 of whom she described as living in poverty. There are 85 students with disabilities. Principal Hill-Gilmartin said the school is addressing absentee rates with multiple attendance incentives. The elementary school is also working to bring up math and language scores with positive results. The administrators highlighted efforts to involve parents, families, and the community as volunteers and visitors.

 

Item 9: Student Representative

Olive Jillson Hamner, a George Whittell High School senior, is the board’s new student representative. Olive said her goal is to unite the Lake and Valley schools and make sure students’ voices are heard. She is captain of the GWHS academic team and girls golf team, and vice president of the senior class. She plans to push an initiative to introduce recycling and composting at Whittell.

 

Item 11: Superintendent Report

Superintendent Alvarado said district enrollment is less than 5,000 students, with about 185 fewer students than a year ago. He reminded the board that a loss in enrollment means a loss in revenue. In the past month, Superintendent Alvarado said he made trips to the Nevada Legislature and is proceeding with his “chat with the Superintendent” at all the district’s schools. He also met with the Washoe Tribe educational director to better serve the Native American students. He praised the district’s participation in welcoming Modern Learning Conference attendees. The superintendent and the board also held an Open Meeting Law training with legal counsel.

 

Item 12: Annual Calendar Approval

Grants Coordinator Ashley Mitchell presented survey results that indicated parents and staff favored holding the district’s learning forum during the first week of the start of the second semester. Calendars for the 25-26 school year were also introduced. Approved 6-0.

 

Item 17: Political Activities, First Reading

It was announced at the beginning of the meeting that the board wouldn't be discussing this item. Board President Wagstaff stated that the policy would be discussed at a future meeting.

 

Item 18: Graduation Requirements, First Reading

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Leslie Peters and Graduation Coach Kira Brown presented updates to align changes in the district and state graduation requirements with existing policy. Approved 6-0.

 

Item 14: Credit by Exam and Mastery Exams, First Reading

Executive Director Shannon Brown explained that credit by exam is for secondary students to show proficiency in a course in which they’ve never been enrolled. A mastery exam is administered to a student for credit who failed a class but completed 20 hours of remediation. Students must fill out an application for either exam and pay fees. Approved 6-0.

 

Item 16: Homework Policy

Board President Yvonne Wagstaff said there was a wide discrepancy on homework policy, from “busy work” to graded output. She added that some of her children were sent home for school breaks with packets of homework, while others were not, negating the benefits of a school break. The board directed staff to look at district-wide homework practices and

bring back a report. The motion was approved 6-0.

 

Item 19: Public Records Request, First Reading

Superintendent Alvarado said the district policy for public records requests

was being updated “out of necessity, ” shifting fulfillment of such requests to site principals as well as the superintendent. The district will charge 10 cents per page and $20 per hour after the first 30 minutes of staff time. A request form is available on the district website. The district will continue to comply with public disclosure laws as to what information needs to be redacted.

 

Item 20: Complaint Policy, First Reading

Human Resources Director Jeannie Dwyer said the district realized it needed to “do better” in filing, addressing, responding, and logging complaints. After working with legal counsel to ensure compliance with state law, the district posted a complaint form on the website for addressing concerns raised by students, parents, staff, and community members.

 

Item 21: Request For Future Agenda Items

Superintendent Alvarado said the board was updating its policy for future agenda item requests. Any trustee who is not an officer should email the board president or the superintendent with an agenda item request. The board will discuss the item at an officers' meeting before placing it on the agenda.