May 21, 2019 at 4:00 PM - Regular Board Meeting

Description:  The Trustees reserve the right to take items in a different order to accomplish business in the most efficient manner.

Description:  The Board reviewed the Tentative Budget at its meeting held on April 9, 2019.  The District's Director of Business Services, Mrs. Susan Estes, has prepared the Tentative Budget inclusive of known estimated revenues and projected expenditures for the 2019-2020 school year and will present it for adoption as the Final Budget. 

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that following the public hearing, the Board adopt the revised Tentative Budget as Final for 2019-2020.

Description:  Information concerning the following consent items has been forwarded to each Board Member for study prior to this meeting.  Unless a Trustee or member of the audience has a question concerning a particular item and asks that it be withdrawn from the consent list, the items are approved at one time by the Board of Trustees.  
Note:  If one of the following items is removed for discussion, it will be heard at the end of the consent items.  

Description:  Attached are Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of April 9, 2019 for review and approval. 

RECOMMENDATION:  Approve the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of April 9, 2019.

Description:  Attached are Minutes of the Special Board  Meeting of April 11, 2019 for review and approval. 

RECOMMENDATION:  Approve the Minutes of the Special Board  Meeting of April 11, 2019.

Description:  A complete list of payments contained in Accounts Payable Special Vouchers numbers 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 , 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991  and Regular Run Voucher Number 1992 and 1993  are provided to the Board members via e-mail for review prior to the meeting.  Vouchers have been prepared in accordance to state law and copies of the Vouchers are available for review by the public at the Superintendent's office prior to the meeting.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve Special Run Voucher Numbers  1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and Regular Run Voucher Number 1992 and 1993.

Description:  Listed on the Personnel Report No. 19-5 are personnel actions presented for consideration by the Board of Trustees.  Salaries for individuals employed will be determined in accordance with salary regulations of the District. 
 
RECOMMENDATION:  Approve personnel actions in Personnel Report No.  19-5.

Description:  A complete list of budget adjustments made by the Director of Business Services during the recent course of business is provided for review and approval by the Board of Trustees as required by NRS 354.598005.

RECOMMENDATION:  Approve the Budget Voucher Adjustment for April 2019 as submitted. 

Description:  The Board will consider renewing a lease agreement with Western Nevada College for the use of the Minden WNC facility as the ASPIRE Academy campus.  Then new lease agreement continues  the current cost at $113,304.00 for the term of the lease.

RECOMMENDATION:  Approve the Lease Agreement extending the occupancy of the WNC campus for the ASPIRE Academy High School through June 30, 2021.

Description:  The Class Size Reduction Plan for Fiscal Year 2020 includes continued use of the Alternative Option (Elko Model) to staff Kindergarten at 25:1, grades 1-3 at 22:1, and grades 4-5 at 25:1.  The District's action steps include: 1) assigning CSR teachers first to lower performing schools, and 2) assigning CSR teachers to minimize need for multi-aged group classrooms.  The District will also provided the following additional supports: 1) a minimum of a part-time assistant principal assigned to all valley elementary schools, 2) 4.5 hour instructional para-educators assigned to each kindergarten classroom, 3) Learning Strategists at all elementary schools, 4) Read-By-Grade 3 Learning Strategists at two of our highest needs schools, and 5) continuation of Art, Music, and Physical Educations specials at all elementary schools. 

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the Class Size Reduction Plan for Fiscal Year 2020 be approved as submitted.

Description:  In order for efficient and timely processing of copier leases and maintenance contracts, the Business Services office is requesting board review and approval of all current copier contracts in order to align payment through Special Voucher runs in accordance with BP 614.

RECOMMENDATION:  Approve contracts as presented. 

Description:  The superintendent makes the recommendation that Mr. Blaine Spires be named as the new Principal of C.C. Meneley Elementary School.  Blaine grew up in Douglas County and is a DHS graduate.  He earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice and his Master's Degree in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno.  Blaine began teaching in the fall of 2009.  He hired on with Douglas County in the fall of 2015 as an Assistant Principal and has worked at Jacks Valley and Gardnerville elementary schools.  Mr. Spires has had assignments which included student discipline, teacher evaluation, staff professional development, and oversight of testing.  Blaine has 6 years of administrative experience and skill set that makes him a great candidate to lead our students at C. C. Meneley.

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the Board approve the recommendation of the Superintendent to hire Mr. Blaine Spires as the Principal of C.C. Meneley Elementary School.  

Description:  The superintendent makes the recommendation that Ms. Melissa Rains be named to fill the Executive Director of Area 4 vacancy created by the retirement of Mr. Brandon Swain.  Ms. Rains has worked for the Douglas County School District since being hired in 2014 as an assistant principal.  Ms. Rains is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Science in General and Special Education and a Masters Degree in Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley College.  Melissa most recently served as the Assistant Director of Special Services.  She has a broad skill set in the areas of behavior and differentiation.  She has worked in schools as a teacher for 12 years, a consultant to teachers for 5 years, and a Dean of Students or Administrator for 5.5 years.  Her wide array of experiences make her an excellent candidate for the Executive Director position.  

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the Board approve the recommendation of the Superintendent to hire Ms. Melissa Rains as the Executive Director of Area 4.

Description:  The superintendent makes the recommendation that the Board approve the appointment of Mrs. Jeanette (Jeannie) Dwyer tot he position of Assistant Director of Special Services.  Jeannie comes to the District from Washoe County where she has served as a special education teacher in many programs and levels for 14 years, as an Implementation Specialist for 2 years, and most recently as a high school special education teacher.  She holds an administrative endorsement and in her roles as Implementation Specialist and Department Lead, she has had the opportunity to coach an mentor teachers, provide training to staff, review IEPs for compliance and develop units of instruction.  Her background and commitment to serving students with special needs makes her an excellent candidate for the position.  

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the Board approve the recommendation of the Superintendent to hire Mrs. Jeannette Dwyer as the Assistant Director of Special Services.  

Description:  Monthly update on enrollment numbers for each school site is provided to the Board. 

Description:  Below is a summary of donations received by school sites over the last month.  The District wishes to acknowledge and thank the generosity of all donors on behalf of the students we serve.  

ASPIRE Academy
*Minden Fortnightly Club-$500 for graduation items for struggling families and for the "Compassion for Cancer Campain"  
Douglas High School
*Minden Fornightly Club-$1000 for graduation items for struggling families
*O'Reilly Auto Parts-$1000 to the automotive program
*Sierra Nevada Republican Women-$300 to the Culinary Arts program
*Round Table Pizza-$500 to the football program
*Two Stone Slab and Tile-$500 to the football program
*Elk's Club-$300 to the special education program
*Sertoma Club of Douglas County-$1000 to the Culinary Arts program
*A Gourmet Sewing Company-$187.95 for the 2019 prom

Description:  Karen Chessell, NASB Director,  will present details of NASB accomplishments, current issues, and goals.

Description:  Brief updates from the Board regarding District activities. 

Description:  Superintendent, Mrs. White, will report to the Board regarding activities of the past month and upcoming District events that may be of interest to them. 

Description:  The District, through agent Brandon Lewis of USI Insurance Services, has received a renewal quote through the Nevada Public Insurance Pool (NPAIP) for the District's Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance coverage.  Included in each Board members packet is a summary of the renewal coverage and rates from the Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool.  With no change in the current $5000 property and liability deductibles, there was an approximate increase in the renewal premium of just under 7%, and an increase of about 4.5% in overall property values.  The Property and Casualty premium would increase from $632,669.04 to $676,559.53.

RECOMMENDATION:  Direct staff to renew the District's Property and Casualty Liability coverage for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30,2020 as presented.  Funding of the insurance premium is through the General Fund.

Description:  TSK Architects, staff and the site team have worked to create a scope of prioritized work for improvements to Jacks Valley Elementary School.  The Board will consider approving the Guaranteed Maximum Price submitted by Q&D Construction, Inc. in the amount of $918,414.00 as allocated in the District's Five Year Capital Improvement Plan.

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the proposal for Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) from Q&D Construction, Inc. for the Jacks Valley Elementary School Improvement Project in the amount of $918,414.00.

Description:  The Health Insurance Advisory Committee will provide the Board with a brief update on the current status of the self-insured plan and its related funding.

Description:  The following principal's will present their reports on progress towards school performance goals: Shannon Brown-Gardnerville Elementary, Pam Gilmartin-Jack's Valley Elementary, Jason Reid-Pinon Hills Elementary, Ken Stoll-Minden Elementary, Bob Been-Carson Valley Middle School, and Guy Olguin-Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School. 

Description:  Comments from the public are invited at this time on topics not specifically addressed elsewhere in the agenda.  A sign-up sheet is provided and individuals who wish to address the Board are asked to indicate their desire to speak and the topic about which they will speak.  Individuals wishing to address the Board at this time will be limited to three minutes. The Board is precluded from acting on items raised during Public Comment that are not already on the agenda.  

Description:  Trustee Moore requested that the Board have a discussion about declining enrollment at he Lake schools. Trustee Chichester seconded the item.  The Board will engage in a discussion on how to proceed with a discussion about addressing declining enrollment at the Lake schools.   

Description:  The Board will recess to closed session in order to discuss matters with its management representatives pursuant to NRS 288.220(4).

Description:  Trustees Chessell and Byer requested a Future Board Agenda Item to discuss the possible development of a policy that would guide staff engagement with students on political views.  It is anticipated that the Board will discuss this item and direct staff. 

Description:  Sale of six square foot parcel to NDOT- The Board will consider an offer to purchase a six (6) square foot parcel from the Nevada Department of Transportation for improvements to the crosswalk and sidewalk at the corner of Highway 395 and High School Street in Gardnerville.  

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the Board authorize the superintendent to sign the purchase agreement between DCSD and the Nevada Department of Transportation for a permanent easement for Parcel U-395-DO-021.484PE - six square feet for $1000.00

Description:  The Board will consider approving $150,000 of the KMS revenue set aside for school and infrastructure improvements to fund an enhanced Audio-Enhancement system for Jacks Valley Elementary school as a pilot system.  The system incorporates cameras, bell-paging, amplified instruction, and a panic button that teachers may use in emergency situations. 

RECOMMENDATION:  Approve the expenditures to pilot a school-wide Audio-enhancement system at Jacks Valley Elementary School and authorize the superintendent to contract  with Audio-Enhancement in the amount of $150,000.00.

Description:  The Board will consider authorizing the superintendent to contract with Gardner Engineering in the amount of $53,044.00 for the replacement of multiple HVAC units at Douglas High School.

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the Board authorize the superintendent to enter a contract with Gardner Engineering, Inc. for $53,044.00 for the replacement of the HVAC units in the Science Wing and the Drama room.  

Description:  Board members have been asked to individually score the superintendent in 10 identified competencies in advance of the meeting.  Full Board summaries of ratings and comments will be reviewed as the Board determines the overall evaluation rating of the superintendent. 

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the Board review the individual ratings for the Superintendent and assign an overall rating for the performance of the superintendent. 

Description:  The Board will discuss and consider action regarding communications between the Superintendent and the Board.

Description:  The Board will seek requests from its members for items to be placed on future meeting agendas in accordance with its policies.  The Board will discuss all agenda items on the list and prioritize those it wishes to come forward at the next Board Meeting. 

Description:  Comments from the public are invited at this time on topics not specifically addressed elsewhere in the agenda.  A sign-up sheet is provided and individuals who wish to address the Board are asked to indicate their desire to speak and the topic about which they will speak. Individuals wishing to address the Board at this time will be limited to three minutes. The Board is precluded from acting on items raised during Public Comment that are not already on the agenda.  

Description:  (*) Times are estimated.  Items on the Agenda may be taken out of order.  The Board of Trustees may combine two or more agenda items for consideration, and may remove an item from the agenda or delay discussion relating to an item on the agenda at any time. Generally speaking, the item will be heard no earlier than the time indicated.

If copies of the complete agenda (and supporting materials) are desired in advance, they may be obtained at the District Office on the Friday or Monday preceding a regular Tuesday meeting of the Board.  Please contact Caryn Harper at 775-782-5134 or Charper@dcsd.k12.nv.us.

Notice to Individuals with Disabilities:  Members of the public who require special assistance or accommodations are asked to notify the District Administration at 1638 Mono Avenue, Minden, Nevada, 89423, or by calling 782-5134, so that such notification is received at least twenty four (24) hours prior to the meeting.  In conformance with the Open Meeting Law, it is hereby noted that the agenda for the meeting of the Douglas County School Board of Trustees has been posted at the following locations:

Gardnerville Post Office, Gardnerville, NV
Genoa Post Office, Genoa, NV 
Minden Post Office, Minden, NV  
Stateline Post Office, Stateline, NV
Zephyr Cove Post Office, Zephyr, NV 
Douglas County School District, Minden, NV
District website:  www.dcsd.k12.nv.us
State of Nevada website:  https://notice.nv.gov