Carson City School District Board of Trustees Meeting – January 27, 2026

The Carson City School District Board of Trustees held a workshop at 5:30 PM followed by a regular meeting at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. The workshop focused on the district’s budget funds, specifically adult education and prison education funds. The regular meeting included presentations on capital improvement projects and the proposed 2026-27 school calendar, a detailed fiscal year 2027 budget update, approval of policy second readings, and other routine items. Significant discussion centered on the proposed calendar changes and the district’s financial outlook.

Consent Calendar

• Adoption of the agenda (motion by Trustee Varner, second by Trustee Roberts, passed unanimously).
• Approval of the consent agenda (motion by Trustee Peterson, second by Trustee Ramirez, passed unanimously).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Elise Monroy (Carson City Health and Human Services) announced a social service needs assessment running January 20 to February 6, 2026, and encouraged community participation in surveys and focus groups to improve social services in Carson City.
• Kimberly Shepherd (Adaptive Physical Education Teacher) expressed concerns about being the sole adaptive PE teacher for the district for four years, serving 61 students across multiple sites with only 7 hours per week of aide support. She noted she has received no professional development since 2014 and has worked over 60 hours of uncompensated overtime to meet compliance. She asked for appropriate staffing and support.
• Maita Sanchez (via email) submitted public comment on behalf of Patty Zacharias regarding safety concerns with the Carson High parking lot (letter placed in permanent record).
• Several members of the public commented on the proposed academic calendar.
  • Lisa Partee opposed weekly early release Tuesdays, stating it disrupts learning and places undue burden on families for childcare.
  • Darby Beckwith (Carson High School teacher) supported the proposed calendar, emphasizing consistency and the value of weekly PLC time for teacher collaboration and student outcomes.
  • Dr. Jennifer Ward (Administrators Association President) voiced strong support for weekly early release, citing the need for consistent, contract-embedded professional development and collaboration time.
  • Brian Wallace (OCA President) acknowledged the calendar changes are challenging but noted that consistency and effective PLCs are critical for closing achievement gaps and competing with charter schools.
  • Cara Torado (Carson Middle School teacher) shared her experience with effective PLCs from a prior district and urged adoption of weekly ERDs for meaningful collaboration.
  • Dan Karstens (Carson High School Principal) showed data demonstrating improved student growth from PLCs during current ERDs and stated that weekly ERDs would allow for more timely intervention.
  • Emily Dement (parent) appreciated the board’s careful consideration but expressed concern that weekly early releases would disproportionately impact families with less flexibility.
• Additional online public comment was submitted by Andrew Tescarino and Christian Maloney (names read into record).

Discussion Items

Workshop on Adult Education and Prison Education Funds

• Fund Overview: The district has 30 funds total. The workshop covered two state-funded funds: Adult Education (Fund 230) and Adult Education Correctional/Prison Education (Fund 235).
• Adult Education Fund: $395,000 in expenditures, primarily salaries and benefits for 25% of the director, 1.5 administrative assistants, and a custodian portion. State revenue is $368,000, plus a $27,000 carryover from the prior year. The fund self-augments, and any unused funds carry over.
• Prison Education Fund: $1,048,999 in state revenue, used for 75% of the director’s salary, the other half of an administrative assistant, and six prison program teachers. Expenditures net to zero. Superintendent Fueling noted that state funding has declined from about $1.7 million in 2003, and the number of teachers has dropped from 16 to six, reducing programming. The prison education program serves the Northern Nevada Correctional Center; programming at Warm Springs was discontinued during COVID.
• Questions: Trustee Roberts asked about student numbers; Superintendent Fueling estimated over 100 students served in adult education. Trustee Clapham inquired about the prison program schedule; a spouse of a teacher noted it runs into early July.
• Outcome: The board agreed to schedule future workshops on debt service, capital projects, bond projects (February), and the general fund, gifts/donations, and student activities (March).

Capital Improvement Projects – 2025 Calendar Year (Mark Johnson, Project Manager)

• Completed Projects: Major summer 2025 projects included Carson Middle School bathroom and office suite remodels, a new greenhouse, parking lot reconstruction, LED stadium lights, an athletic ticket booth (donated by Carson City Chamber of Commerce), slurry sealing of the teacher parking lot, Carson High band room refresh, main gym repaint and stage enclosure, ROTC and tech center painting, transportation bus lounge interior, Eagle Valley capstone repair, library refresh at Eagle Valley and Mark Twain, Fritsch parking lot and roof work, a new pavilion at Fritsch, Empire basketball court rebuild, and various district-wide floorings, roof repairs, and safety projects.
• Current and Upcoming Work: Carson High air handler replacement (summer 2026-2027), softball canopy (in progress), gym refurbish (continued), track resurfacing, single-point secure entry, elevator modernization at Bordewick, locker removal at Bordewick, Mark Twain bathroom remodel, Carson High countertops, and middle school carpeting (ongoing).
• Future Wants (unfunded): Interior refresh at Carson High, performing arts center bathroom remodel, Silver Campus and Eagle Valley projects, concession stand refresh, tennis court reseal/repaint, exterior paint at Carson Middle School and district office, and additional slurry seal.
• Board Feedback: Trustee Waltz thanked Mr. Johnson for the detailed report and photos. Trustee Roberts appreciated seeing the projects. Trustee Varner specifically requested the Carson High interior refresh remain on the radar. No vote was taken.

Proposed Academic Calendar for 2026-2027 (Brandon Bringhurst, Chief Academic Officer)

• Overview: The presentation outlined changes aimed at improving staff/parent experience and student outcomes. Key proposals:
  • Non-school days for parent-teacher conferences (two days in fall and spring) to allow flexible scheduling and avoid a full week of early release days.
  • Adjusted new teacher training: Three days before school, two days distributed throughout the year.
  • Semester one ends before winter break for a cleaner break; add a teacher work day on the last day before break.
  • Increase professional learning days from one to three (state allows up to five counting toward instructional minutes).
  • Lengthen early release days by 70–80 minutes to maintain instructional quality.
  • Weekly early release on Tuesdays (instead of 1–2 per month) to enable timely, effective Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
• Rationale: Research shows regular teacher collaboration improves student performance. The current schedule does not allow for consistent, data-driven PLCs. The proposal does not require new funding—only a reallocation of time.
• Impacts: Instructional minutes remain well above state minimums (elementary: 65,000 vs. 54,000 minimum). In a four-week span, instructional minutes are nearly identical (7,500 vs. 7,490) because early release days would be longer. The total annual reduction comes primarily from non-school conference days and the teacher work day, not from increased ERDs.
• Community/Staff Feedback: Board members fielded concerns about childcare, after-school activities (especially for middle school athletes), and the effectiveness of PLCs. Trustee Varner expressed concern about the lack of an MOU with the teachers’ association to preserve elementary collaboration time. Trustee Peterson noted that high school athletes would have a shorter gap between school and practice (approx. 1 hour 40 minutes) and that campus monitors can provide supervision. Superintendent Fueling and Mr. Bringhurst emphasized that discussions with associations are ongoing and that no final decisions have been made.
• Board Decision: The board unanimously (motion by Trustee Varner, second by Trustee Clapham) continued the item to a future date, directing staff to gather more input from parents, students, and staff, engage further with associations, and return with at least two calendar options. Trustee Ramirez requested consideration of a second parent conference for middle school students and moving random non-school days to June to end school before Memorial Day.

Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Update (Superintendent Andrew Fueling)

• Context: The district faces a significant structural deficit due to declining enrollment (enrollment now at 1993-94 levels), volatile per-pupil funding (a $5 increase in FY26 vs. anticipated larger increase in FY27 but lower than FY24-25), and increasing costs. The state's share of K-12 funding as a percentage of the general fund has declined from 46% in 1970 to approximately 20% in recent years.
• Current Year (FY26): Approved budget with ~$3.9 million deficit (excluding contingency and carryover). Reserves are strong, but this is not sustainable.
• Projected FY27: Revenue expected at $80.1 million vs. expenditures at $87.1 million (if no changes), creating a ~$7 million gap. Scenarios presented:
  • Tight (3.3 million in reductions): Eliminates several vacant district positions (~$370k), reduces 5 elementary teaching positions (class sizes 18.9–21.5), eliminates 12 intervention paraprofessionals (2 per elementary school), reduces 3 middle school teaching positions (average core class size up), and cuts operating budgets by 10%.
  • Tighter (6.6 million in reductions): Adds reductions from 4.12 TOSA positions, additional teaching positions at elementary, middle, and high school; eliminates a counselor and an admin assistant; cuts operating budgets by 20%; and addresses the end of grant funding for 12 social workers (~$1.3 million).
• Other Areas: Nutrition fund is experiencing a large deficit (~$900,000) due to post-COVID participation drops; reserves can cover one to two years. Special education is under review. The early notification incentive (29 resignations/retirements as of Jan. 9) will provide natural attrition savings (estimated $2.5–2.7 million) that can offset reductions.
• Board Discussion: Trustee Waltz noted that the board previously indicated comfort with a deficit of $2.9 million, and the tight scenario is close to that. She emphasized the need to find a middle ground. Trustee Varner urged considering cuts to vendors and outside contracts rather than staff. Superintendent Fueling confirmed that no decisions have been made and that staff will continue refining projections and discussing options with leadership. The board will receive a tentative budget in April and final approval in May.

Key Outcomes

• Workshop on Adult Education and Prison Education Funds: No action taken; the board reviewed the funds and scheduled future workshops on debt service/capital projects (February) and general fund/gifts/donations (March).
• Capital Improvement Projects Presentation: Informational only; board expressed appreciation.
• Academic Calendar 2026-27: Continued to a future date. Staff directed to gather additional input (parents, students, staff), discuss MOUs with associations, and return with at least two calendar options.
• Fiscal Year 2027 Budget: Informational discussion. No action taken; staff will continue to refine projections and explore reduction scenarios with a focus on minimizing impact on staff and students. The board will receive more detail in coming months.
• Policy Second Readings (Items 11, 12, 13, 14): Approved unanimously (motion combined by Trustee Varner, second by Trustee Roberts). Policies approved: 715 School Programs/Use of Facilities, 428, 408, and 403.
• Board Bylaws First Reading (Item 15): Discussed; staff will correct a 5-minute public comment reference to 3 minutes to align with current practice. The item will return for second reading and ratification at a future meeting.
• Superintendent’s Annual Evaluation Form (Item 16): A committee was formed (Trustees Waltz, Roberts, and Varner) to review and propose revisions, with a goal of streamlining the form.
• Future Agenda Topics: Trustee Peterson requested a presentation on Silver Campus. A budget workshop is planned for the last meeting in February.