CONGRATULATIONS TO KORI JOHNSON, BETHANY MOORE AND JULIANA CARMONA AS LEADERS AND ACADEMIC SCHOLARS!
CONGRATULATIONS TO DAWN MILLER AND TOM THOMPSON THE NEW BOARD CHAIR AND CLERK
90% OF ALL THE JUMPSTART STUDENTS PASSED THEIR COURSES…SOME WITH A’S
DRAFT OF THE SURVEY FOR THE 4 DAY SCHOOL WEEK WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD FOR COMMENTS, IT WILL GO OUT TO PARENTS AFTER APPROVAL
ACT PREPARATION SESSIONS ARE UNDERWAY AS ARE THE PRACTICE TESTS
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEGISLATURE MAY SHIFT SCSD GENERAL FUND CASH TO OTHER LARGER NEEDIER DISTRICTS
By Sharon Snell
The following is a summary of the last two Storey County School Board meetings. The current Board Packet is available on the Storey County School District website in the dropdown menu under “Community.”
Following opening routines, Consent Items approved included paying warrants and Board meeting minutes. At the January meeting, Dawn Miller asked that the 2nd Quarter Class Size Reduction Report be moved to February.
Reports and Presentations
Superintendent Todd Hess reported that two VCHS students, Aiden Gamble and Juliana Carmona, had participated in a conference in Mexico called Global Voice coordinated through Community Chest. He also recognized senior students, Kori Johnson, Bethany Moore, and Juliana Carmona, as leaders and academic scholars. They spoke to the Board about VC weather, snow days, and school delays.
Todd reported that the District was looking to partner with the County to get video cameras set up in Miners Park.
Presentation – Middle School and Hillside Principal Brent Judy complimented the middle school boys’ basketball team and was grateful for the shuttle which transported the team members and cheer squad. He reported that bleeding control kits were being distributed throughout the District and on buses. Mr. Judy stated that the company likely working on the Safety Grant projects would be Baldwin Electric.
Mr. Judy and Karen Staffen, teacher appointed to research the 4-day school week, spoke about the creation of a survey to obtain feedback from families and community members. A draft of the survey, presented to the Board in January, was briefly discussed. It was decided to table the item until at least February. That would give Board members time to make suggestions. It was emphasized that the goal is not to rush this but to determine if there is an interest in pursuing the idea of a 4-day school week in VC.
Presentation – High School Principal ShawnMarie Chapman stated that Finals Week ends Jan.16. She reported that 90% of the high school Jump Start students (taking courses at WNC) passed all their classes, some with straight A’s.
Principal Chapman told the Board that ACT preparation sessions and practice tests are scheduled and ongoing. (For those unfamiliar with the ACT, it is the most important test for acceptance at Nevada Universities and many other schools.) All Storey County high school juniors take the test at no cost to them. Gary Hames inquired whether the District could offer seniors with low scores another opportunity to raise their scores when the juniors are tested. Ms. Chapman will look into that. Currently students may sign up individually to retake the test on their own time at a different site and at their own cost.
Board Members were appreciative of the presentations made by principal Brent Judy (December) and principal ShawnMarie Chapman (January). They congratulated the schools’ fall sports teams on their efforts and successes.
Colleen Conley talked about some students at the high school who started a Santa letter-writing project with the elementary schools.
Gary Hames inquired about possible changes in sewer and/or water hookups at SCSD sites. Todd stated that were some changes coming and that it is likely the District will see a drop in the water bill soon, possibly by as much as a third. More specific discussions will take place at a future Capital Projects meeting.
Tom Thompson reported on the high school boys’ basketball team facing tough competition at the Las Vegas Tournament.
Dawn Miller reminded all Board members that Financial Disclosure reports were due to the State by Jan. 15. She also stated that she had attended an interesting presentation on safety. A serious suggestion was made to not limit drills to the inside of buildings or classrooms. Consider planning and practicing outside! Think about playgrounds, ball fields, parking lots, or Miners’ Park, all places that our students use regularly.
Jeff Nevin enjoyed attending the local NASB conference and is happy to have the students back in school.
New Business
Approved Supt. Hess’s goals. They center around student achievement, student safety, District communication and creating partnerships for student internships and job mentoring.
Approved 2020 Board Meeting Dates and Times. These can be found on the District website. There will now be a meeting held in the Virginia City Highlands and one in Mark Twain as well as VCHS and Hillside.
Approved 2019-2020 Amended Final Budget. The Budget includes employee raises of 2% and a PERS increase of 1.25%
For 2020 Dawn Miller was elected President of the Board and Tom Thompson was elected Clerk.
Approved Repaying Outstanding Bonds in an amount up to $5000. The concern is that future school funding changes will likely make their way through the legislature making it possible for the State to shift substantial SCSD General Fund cash to larger needy Districts. (Sounds a little like what the County may be facing, too.)
Approved the following new or updated District policies
*Safe Exposure to Sun
*Placement of New Children
*Attendance Policy
*Student Residency Verification Process for Enrollment
*High School Credit for Non High School Students
*Home Schooling Diploma Policy
The next Board Meeting will be held on Feb. 19, 2020 at 5:30pm in the VCHS Training Room