School board discusses bullying, tentative budget Tuesday

The Carson City School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday will hold a workshop and roundtable discussion on district procedures to review changes in discipline law, including bullying and cyberbullying.

District legal counsel Ann Alexander is expected to speak on student discipline issues addressed in the 2019, 2021 and 2023 sessions of the Nevada Legislature, according to CCSD spokesman Dan Davis. Trustees will receive information on updated statutory requirements, guidelines and protocols related to student behavior policies and disciplinary procedures. A question-and-answer session will offer dialogue on the updates.

Tasha Fuson, associate superintendent of educational services, will bring back for a second reading CCSD Policy 517, which addresses proposed changes to CCSD’s high school graduation requirements to come into compliance with the bill granting students the right to wear traditional tribal regalia during school events and graduation ceremonies. The policy is being updated to align with Assembly Bill 73. The board heard the first reading on March 26.

Trustees will discuss and take possible action to designate critical labor shortages for substitute positions including teachers, school nurses and custodians as allowed under Nevada Revised Statute 286.523. In a separate item, they’ll also designate critical labor shortages for certified elementary teaching staff, secondary teaching staff, special education staff, custodial staff, English learner paraprofessionals, speech language pathologists, deaf and hard of hearing interpreters, school psychologists, special education paraprofessionals, school nurses and school bus drivers, also under NRS 286.523. Board action is necessary as employees submit for retirement and to expedite recruitment as vacancies occur.

Finally, Chief Financial Officer Spencer Winward will present the tentative budget for fiscal year 2024-25 for discussion only. The district is required to submit its tentative budget by April 15. In recent weeks, Winward showed the district’s deficit dropped from $1.1 million to $950,000 after finding savings through its early retirement program, the reduction of four teaching positions and showing an increased interest earnings of $500,000.

CCSD continues to show a gradual enrollment decline, and its average daily enrollment of 6,935.2 is down slightly from the previous year. Reports indicate this impacts the district’s special fund and staff expects changes to its capital projects and bond projects funds.

The board meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Robert Crowell Board Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.