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The Churchill County School Board approved hiring incentives and elected new board officers Jan. 22.
Trustees unanimously approved to continue with the current hiring incentives for the 2025-26 school year of a $2,500 Licensed Teacher Relocation Incentive, $7,000 Licensed Teacher New Hire Incentive and $12,000 Special Education Licensed Teacher Incentive. New hires must remain employed for specific time requirements to earn the full incentives.
Human Resources Manager Cameron Sorensen said the district will be recruiting for 14 elementary teachers, 14 middle school teachers, 12 high school teachers, one teacher on special assignment, one speech-language pathologist and two counselors this year.
Sorensen said he would also like to focus more on advertising, social media and online recruitment services because personal recruitment opportunities have been unsuccessful.
In a series of unanimous votes Gregg Malkovich will be the board president for a second year. Other positions include Joe McFadden, vice-president; Julie Guerrero-Goetsch, clerk; and Wendy Bullock, acting clerk.
Trustees also discussed and/or took action on the following agenda items:
• Heard a presentation by Emma White, Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention, on support provided to Churchill County School District. White said this program operates in conjunction with Churchill County’s Suicide Prevention Plan. She also said the district has held multiple training sessions to recognize suicide warning signs and to provide prevention and postvention support.
• Heard that the National Council on Modern Learning has named Ryann Kulbeth as a finalist for High School Personalized Learning Classroom of the Year and Lahontan Elementary School Principal Kimi Melendy as a finalist for Change Management District Leader of the Year. The awards banquet will be held at the end of February in Reno.
• Heard a report from the student representative to the board Jacquelinne Vilchiz Mondragon. One highlight mentioned the Churchill County High School JROTC Drone Team finishing in the top 10 of its first aerial drone competition. The students competed in the teamwork mission, autonomous flight mission, piloting skills and communications mission events.
• Heard a presentation from CCHS Physical Education teacher Anne Hale-Smith and several students about the high school’s outdoor adventure program.
• Approved the annual investment report as presented by Comptroller Christi Fielding.
• Approved the fiscal year 2025 augmented budget as presented by Fielding.
• Approved to fund four $600 scholarships, two for college students and two for trade school students, for the 2025 senior class.
• Heard a first reading of modifications made to the district’s attendance policy and regulation 5119.1.
A video livestream and replay of school board meetings are available on the YouTube channel “ChurchillCSDBoardMeetings.” The next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the District Office, 690 S. Maine St.