Churchill County Middle School student Colbie Keller is recognized by the school board for her participation in the Northern Zone Nevada Music Educators Association Honor Choir. From left: Trustee Julie Guerrero-Goetsch, Keller and Trustee Celestia Blakey.
Sara Dowling | NNG
The Churchill County School Board unanimously approved a tentative budget for next fiscal year April 10 during a special public hearing.
Trustees had also discussed the district’s proposed base budget, expenditures, revenues and priorities March 26 during their regular meeting. Comptroller Christi Fielding and Superintendent Derild Parsons facilitated both discussions in preparation for approval of the final budget May 28.
“Just so everyone is aware, we are looking at, in preparing the budget, very significant challenges,” Parsons said. “Often times, the normal cycles are in place with people that are newer lowering the salary schedule. We know we’re not in normal times. We’re filling positions with critical needs instructors and long-term substitutes, so there’s not anything really normal happening at this point.”
The challenges are caused by a combination of a possible 12% increase in insurance premiums, a 3.25% increase in the Public Employees' Retirement System of Nevada and personnel salary step increases. At-risk funding is decreasing by $326,000, while the funding per pupil has only increased by $39 per student.
“The General Fund budget is based on the revenue projections that we’re provided by the Department of Education that are reflecting the governor’s recommended budget,” Fielding said. “Legislature has not finalized yet, so we don’t have any numbers other than those to work with at this time.”
The general fund budget was adjusted by removing unlikely expenditures, including reworking vacancies for the remainder of the current school year and also removing the full contingency fund amount. The calculations utilize the current year’s indirect cost revenue numbers, but that amount is likely to decrease because a lot of the grants are going away.
The district “will likely incur a budget deficit in fiscal year 2026-27 of at least $5 million given inflation, using only current contracted expenses and not increasing any wages with steps or anything,” Fielding said. “Cautious spending will be paramount, but layoffs are absolutely a concern for fiscal year 2026-27.”
All filled positions were examined for accuracy and all positions were given their annual step increase for 2025-26. Fifty-nine vacancies districtwide were evaluated for current need, urgency and how likely they will be filled in the near future.
Many positions were staffed with long-term substitutes and critical needs teachers this year, resulting in only a partial savings that can be rolled over into next year’s budget.
Possible reductions include not filling the current vacancies of one first-grade teacher at Lahontan Elementary School, one third-grade teacher at E.C. Best Elementary School, four teaching positions at Churchill County Middle School and three teaching positions at Churchill County High School. Class sizes would be evenly distributed next year according to actual enrollment. An art teacher position at Numa Elementary School also could be temporarily eliminated following the current instructor’s retirement this summer.
The previously approved reorganization of the CCHS counseling department could be put on hold along with an elementary school Safe School professional position, an inclusive services director position and a technology trainer position in favor of keeping reset room teachers.
Human Resources Manager Cameron Sorensen said a recommendation from Transportation Supervisor Natasha Domes to downgrade a driver specialist/dispatcher position to a driver would not result in any savings because of contract language that requires the position to stay at the current salary level for one calendar year.
Domes also said the department would soon be hiring a driver trainer. A qualified candidate recently applied for the position which has been a critical need for several years to offset the extensive amount of driver turnover and shortages.
Fielding said Parsons is closely monitoring the budgets at all schools as the year winds down, but he trusts the people that are in the supervisory positions to make good choices when it comes to spending.
“This is just the tentative budget,” Trustee Julie Guerrero-Goetsch said ahead of the vote. “I fully expect, with this being a legislative year, that we’re going to be sitting down again and making more changes because we have no idea what’s going to roll down.”
Trustees also:
• Approved an assistant superintendent contract for Michael Walker.
• Heard an update on the implementation of K-8 iReady math curriculum presented by Curriculum Associates Sarah Swallia and Morgan James with Assistant Superintendent Stacey Cooper.
• Recognized Churchill County Middle School student Colbie Keller for earning a spot in the Northern Zone Nevada Music Educators Association Honor Choir.
• Heard a report by Parsons on the status of 2025-26 school instructional minutes.
• Reviewed the Churchill County School District Organizational Chart with Parsons.
A video livestream and replay of school board meetings are available on the YouTube channel “ChurchillCSDBoardMeetings.” The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the District Office, 690 S. Maine St.