School trustees hear security plan

A proposed security plan for the Churchill County School District was unveiled Thursday night before the board of trustees during their regularly scheduled meeting.

Bus Scharmann, interim superintendent, and Steve Russell, director of Transportation and chairman of the Safety Committee, presented a proposed plan to trustees that was developed by a safety sub-committee comprised of district and local law enforcement personnel.

“This is just getting the security plan formulated ... setting the foundation on how we’re approaching security in the school district,” Russell explained. “We do want to take it to town hall. We need a lot of people involved. We need the community to get involved in this; a thousand eyes are better watching the schools than 500.”

Trustees also discussed or took action on the following items:

• Discussed the Human Resources director’s position, including a possible change to assistant superintendent/H.R. director. The district’s H.R. position was vacated in May when trustees voted to terminate the contract of Diane Peters.

Steve Nunn, the board’s vice-president who filled in as president (Ron Evans was absent after having back surgery earlier in the week), indicated this was an initial discussion that will be brought back for future consideration.

• Proposed changes to the job description and evaluation for the superintendent of schools were discussed. Dr. Sandra Sheldon is scheduled to take over her duties as the district’s new superintendent on Monday.

• Approved a floor plan for the West End facility bond project remodel, including use of the adult education program scheduled to begin Fall of 2013.

• Agreed to relinquish the old district offices at 545 E. Richards St. to the city of Fallon.

• Approved Geney/Gassiot, Inc.’s requests to change carpentry subcontractors on the Churchill County Middle School gymnasium renovation project and to change carpentry subcontractors on the E.C. Best Elementary School renovation project.

• Trustees will meet in closed session and then return to open session to consider the annual evaluation and contract reviews for Dawn Whitten, Food Services director; Sue Chambers, Federal Programs coordinator; and Brian Byrd, Maintenance director.

• Unanimously approved renewal of contracts for Dawn Whitten and Brian Byrd. Trustees also created a contract for Sue Chambers, changing her title to Federal Programs director (a motion to increae her work schedule from 230 to 260 days was denied).

A motion to provide Whitten a 2 percent salary increase was denied by a 3-3 vote (a majority was needed for approval). Byrd was also denied a 2 percent pay increase.

“They’re three very talented and valuable school district employees, and the board regrets we’re not in a position to give them a pay raise at this time,” Nunn said.

• Eleven retiring employees were recognized for their years of service to the district: Jeannette Foster, library specialist, 22.8 years; Barbara Solinski, instructional assistant, 27.9 years; Jean Lawson, instructional assistant, 34.3 years; Mary Lou Lehman, warehouse/inventory clerk, 17.3 years; Teressa Ellis, teacher, 14.2 years; Suella Williams, teacher, 20.2 years; Vicki Melrose, teacher, 26.1 years; Katherine Giomi, teacher, 26.1 years; Courtney Dahl, teacher, 14 years; Ella Jean Southfield, teacher, 32 years; Cynthia Boyd, teacher, 27.2 years.

• An item to consider approval of a contract with AVC Fire in the amount of $29,190 to retrofit the existing fire suppression system at Lahontan Elementary School was deferred to the board’s next meeting, which has been rescheduled from July 11 to July 25 at 7 p.m. in the district office.