Churchill County School District

The meeting began with the call to order and confirmation that the agenda was posted according to open meeting law. Public comment procedures were outlined. The board subsequently reviewed and unanimously approved the posted agenda. Key new business involved the Superintendent search consultants, Honor and Educate HR, who briefed the board on the application review team's work. They presented information on five recommended finalists for preliminary interviews: Natalie Burgess, Levi Collins, Blake Cooper, Michael Walker, and Brett Zanto. The consultants detailed the backgrounds, experience, and academic qualifications of all applicants considered, noting that the recommended finalists most closely aligned with the district's specific leadership profile and needs. Discussion ensued regarding the next steps for the interview process, with board members expressing strong support for comprehensive site visits, including interactions with students and staff, which may necessitate scheduling the subsequent interviews and site visits over multiple days.

This plan outlines Churchill County School District's commitment to creating and maintaining safe, modern, and welcoming campuses. It details current capital improvement projects and demonstrates the use of taxpayer funds for facility upkeep, ensuring building longevity, energy efficiency, and community pride. Key areas of focus include full fiscal transparency for expenditures, alignment with district initiatives (safety, asset protection, and community pride), a 5-year Capital Improvement Project schedule, and a tiered prioritization of facility needs, coupled with community engagement strategies.

The board meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by two students who discussed effective communication. Public comment included support for retaining Coach Tristan Johnson as the CCHS head volleyball coach, citing her leadership, integrity, and commitment to athletes' character development. The agenda was reviewed and adopted. The superintendent update featured reports on high school events, including girls' basketball advancing to the semifinals and a wrestler achieving a four-time state champion title. A student representative detailed recent school activities, such as a blood drive and ASVAB testing results. A significant discussion focused on a CTE month project involving the redesign of the front grassy area into an inviting space featuring plant boxes for culinary herbs/vegetables, handicapped-accessible walkways, and potential community involvement for maintenance, including seeking guidance from Master Gardeners.

The meeting commenced with a student presentation from EC Best Elementary focusing on collaborative learning and teamwork skills developed through small group activities, Physical Education, Music, and Art. Following this, the Board proceeded with the election of officers, unanimously confirming Greg Malovich for a third term as President. The Vice President election involved nominations for Wendy Bulock and Jill McFaden, resulting in Wendy Bulock's election. Wendy Bulock was subsequently nominated and elected as Clerk. Committee appointments were discussed extensively, resulting in confirmations or changes for various committees including NASBY Director (Joe McFaden retained), NASBY Legislative Committee (Celeste, Julie, and Katherine retained), Debt Management (President Malovich retained), Parks and Recreation Commission (Amber retained), Budget Advisory Committee (Katherine stepped off, Amber, Celeste, and Julie retained), Audit Committee (Wendy and the President retained), Discipline and Attendance (Joe retained), Master Plan Task Force (President Malovich retained), and Safety and Security (Celeste and Joe retained). Negotiations committee assignments were also finalized for licensed and classified positions. The agenda was approved unanimously. Recognition was given to students from Churchill County Middle School for participation in the Northern Zone Honor Band, All State Band, and Northern Zone Honor Choir. The Superintendent provided updates on student enrollment data, Human Resources, and district-related matters, including progress on Assembly Bill 398 concerning recruitment and retention funds for critical needs positions.

The special board meeting commenced with the confirmation of all trustees being present and verification that the agenda was posted according to open meeting law. Key discussions centered on New Business items. The first item involved the discussion and possible approval of an augmented budget (Resolution Number 25-04). This augmentation included funds from a higher-than-anticipated ending fund balance for FY25 and proceeds from the sale of a high school house, indicating the district is on track financially. The second major topic concerned the superintendent search process, with external consultants presenting information regarding the desired characteristics, salary range, stakeholder survey input (including student input), and the superintendent profile. The board discussed the proposed timeline, which aims for candidate selection by mid-March and contract finalization by the March 31st regular meeting. Salary analysis was presented comparing the current superintendent's compensation against 15 comparable rural school districts, noting that the current base salary is below the rural median of $187,000. Recommendations were made to set a competitive starting salary range between $175,000 and $180,000, potentially with an annual step increase. Finally, the process for transition planning support for the new superintendent was reviewed.