1 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:41,360 Good afternoon everyone. Good to see you. 2 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:45,600 Welcome to the board of trustees for the WA County School District regular 3 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:52,320 meeting for October 25th, 2026. It is at 2:01 p.m. and we will go ahead and call 4 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:57,360 the meeting to order. Before we before I ask for roll call, I 5 00:01:54,479 --> 00:02:01,439 I do want to um point out that due to the continuing impact of the Hawkfire, 6 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:06,960 the superintendent and I have determined that we will only hear items that are 7 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:13,440 timesensitive today, we will only uh we will only be considering items in the 8 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:16,400 consent agenda and item 3.04 04 regarding consideration of the board 9 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:19,280 providing input to Nevada State Charter School Authority on the Doral Academy, 10 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:23,360 Northern Nevada's request for amendment of his charter contract. All other items 11 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:27,599 will be moved to a future meeting for those that have submitted public 12 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:32,239 comment. Um uh the board clerk has indicated to me, JJ's indicated to me 13 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:37,280 that we will make sure that those public comments uh get forwarded to the um to 14 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:44,319 the next meeting when those items uh that those comments pertain to uh will 15 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:50,480 be will be made public. Uh having that having said that item 1.02 is a roll 16 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:56,160 call. So I'll ask uh the cler cler call to provide the role please. 17 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:59,440 Um, I am here. President Mayberry >> here. 18 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:02,319 » Dr. Nichollet. >> Good afternoon. 19 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,040 » Trusty Phoenix >> present. 20 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:08,080 » Trusty Smith >> here. 21 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:11,200 » Sorry. Trusty Weslake >> here. 22 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,879 » My voice cracked there. Vice President Woodley 23 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:17,760 » here. >> And we have our trusty representative 24 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:20,720 Kaye with us today. Welcome, Kaylee. We're excited to have you. We have a 25 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:24,159 quorum. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. We'll move to 26 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:28,319 item 1.03, the pledge of allegiance. I see a very distinguished Neadan in the 27 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:34,519 audience, former Assemblyman uh Pat Hickey. Mr. Hickey, would you lead us in 28 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:34,519 the pledge of allegiance, please? 29 00:03:39,599 --> 00:03:51,120 » I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands. One 30 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:55,480 nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 31 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,760 » Thank you, sir. 32 00:04:02,159 --> 00:04:08,319 And at this time, item 1.04 is our land acknowledgement. Like to have uh Trustee 33 00:04:06,799 --> 00:04:13,280 Smith give us the pleasure of reading that, please. 34 00:04:10,879 --> 00:04:17,759 » Thank you, Mr. President. We acknowledge that the Wo County School District 35 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:22,479 schools and communities are situated in the traditional homelands of the three 36 00:04:19,840 --> 00:04:29,360 major tribes of the Great Basin Native American peoples, including the northern 37 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:33,360 Pyute, Wo, and Shosonyi tribes. We honor their ancestors, past and present, and 38 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:38,320 recognize these lands as a continued gathering place for communities. We 39 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:42,720 express our respect and gratitude for the opportunity to live, work, and learn 40 00:04:40,479 --> 00:04:48,400 here in Nevada. Thank you, Trusty Smith. 41 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:53,440 We will hold off on item 1.05 till a future meeting. Moving on to consent 42 00:04:49,919 --> 00:04:58,720 agenda items two. I haven't seen any um indication that 43 00:04:56,639 --> 00:05:02,800 any uh trustees want to pull any agenda items. So, I'm happy to entertain an 44 00:05:00,479 --> 00:05:08,440 item uh to approve the agenda items from 2.02 45 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,440 through 2.16. 46 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:14,639 Yeah, I do need that, don't I? Okay. Do we have a public comment? Okay. Uh my 47 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:19,280 apologies. We'll go to public comment first. 48 00:05:16,639 --> 00:05:26,520 » John Epalo for consent agenda items 2.06, 49 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:26,520 2.09, 2.11, and 2.14. 50 00:05:27,759 --> 00:05:35,759 » John Epileo. You can find 1500 of us on Facebook at protect Nevada children. Uh 51 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:39,440 thank you to the attorney. When the old attorney was here, we asked three or 52 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:44,240 four times, "How much money does the district spend on software and student 53 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:48,720 devices?" We never got an answer. But now with the new attorney, we finally 54 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:52,720 have an answer. Thank you. A few years ago, one of your teachers 55 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:58,000 told me, quote, "If it wasn't for all these screens, we wouldn't need so many 56 00:05:55,120 --> 00:06:02,479 school psychologists." End quote. I don't think it's quite that simple, but 57 00:05:59,759 --> 00:06:06,000 she had a very good point. Today you will approve that the district spend a 58 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:11,360 bunch of additional money for psychological services for students. 59 00:06:09,199 --> 00:06:17,360 Spending more money on screens, software, and psychologists is not the 60 00:06:13,759 --> 00:06:22,720 answer. As I said three years ago when I was the only one who spoke out against 61 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:27,360 spending 6.5 million for I Ready, quote, "Is it too late to go back to educating 62 00:06:25,199 --> 00:06:31,919 kids?" Maybe five or six years ago, after Katie 63 00:06:29,759 --> 00:06:36,319 Simon Holland was no longer this board's president, she told me something like, 64 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:41,520 quote, "Everything you've been saying is true." End quote. There was no 65 00:06:39,039 --> 00:06:47,280 substantial response when I asked her, "What are we going to do about it now?" 66 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:51,680 What bothers me the most is how many students have been harmed because the 67 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:55,520 district has ignored Protect Nevada Children and gave student devices and 68 00:06:54,319 --> 00:06:59,039 told them, "These are for your education. 69 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:04,639 It's all been documented. The inappropriate use of student devices, 70 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:09,759 the addiction to social media, at least one suicide, and a lot of WCSD students 71 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:14,240 who have been emotionally harmed because of screens. 72 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:19,440 In my opinion, instead of giving kids devices and more psychologists, you 73 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:24,880 should go back to educating students and use Parent University to educate parents 74 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:28,560 on the dangers of social media and screens. 75 00:07:26,479 --> 00:07:31,919 One of the first adapters of screens for education was the Scandinavian 76 00:07:30,319 --> 00:07:37,199 countries. Now, Sweden has completely eliminated 77 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:42,880 screens through 8th grade, and the other Scandinavian countries will soon follow. 78 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:48,560 Instead, Sweden has invested in, imagine this, books, papers, and pencils. The LA 79 00:07:46,479 --> 00:07:53,599 Unified School District has severely limited the amount of screen times for 80 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:59,039 young children. This starting this year, preK through first grade, no screens. 81 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:05,680 Second and third grade, max 20 minutes per day. Fourth and fifth grade, max 30 82 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:11,919 minutes per day. Middle school, around an hour a day, please. Less screens, 83 00:08:09,759 --> 00:08:18,440 more books, papers, and pencils. Pencils. You can find us on Facebook at 84 00:08:14,479 --> 00:08:18,440 Protect Nevada Children. 85 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:26,400 That's all I have. >> Okay. Thank you, JJ. We'll close public 86 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:33,360 comment on the consent agenda. There's no uh items to be pulled. I'm 87 00:08:29,039 --> 00:08:38,320 looking for a motion to approve items 2.02 88 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:42,560 through 2.16. Uh thank you, uh Mr. President. I move 89 00:08:40,399 --> 00:08:48,959 that the board of trustees approve consent agenda items 2.02 through 2.16. 90 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:52,720 And I'll second. >> I have a motion on the floor by Trust 91 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:59,040 Vice President Woodley, a second by Trustee Phoenix to approve the consent 92 00:08:54,640 --> 00:09:02,160 items 2.02 through 2.16. There's no further discussion. All in favor, please 93 00:09:00,560 --> 00:09:03,200 signify by saying I. >> I. 94 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:06,640 » I. I. >> Those opposed. 95 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:09,519 Motion carries unanimously. >> Can I Can I just mention? 96 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:14,880 » Yeah, sure. Go ahead, please. Um, I I just want to mention uh a couple of of 97 00:09:12,399 --> 00:09:18,320 our colleagues asked some specific questions about the playground equipment 98 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:22,160 and I I hope that everyone who's watching will take a look at those 99 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:27,519 attachments because that is something that we worked really really hard. Um, I 100 00:09:24,959 --> 00:09:31,920 know Trusty Smith brought that item to this conversation and I think it's 101 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:36,160 really important that we we share that this this item just approved several new 102 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:40,480 playground equipment and we're having a lot of conversations about outdoor 103 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:44,399 learning and more playtime for kids and we are we are fulfilling that promise 104 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:47,680 with this item and um there's some really I wanted to go play on those 105 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:52,959 playgrounds. They looked amazing and wonderful. So, I'm so excited for those 106 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:57,360 schools and I just wanted to um to share that we are we are fulfilling the 107 00:09:54,560 --> 00:10:02,959 promises uh of that. So, I think it's really important that we bring it to 108 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:07,760 light. Thank you. Okay. Items uh three items for 109 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:13,200 presentation, discussion, information, and our action item. We are going to 110 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:22,320 pull items 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 03 and those will be heard 111 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:28,399 at a later meeting. Um we will go on item 3.4. 112 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:31,920 Uh just some housekeeping items here before we begin. I do want to ask my 113 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:36,320 fellow trustees just to jot down any questions. It's a lengthy presentation. 114 00:10:34,399 --> 00:10:39,600 Make sure you indicate the slide numbers if you want to reference or revisit all 115 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:44,399 of the presentation. We'll hold all questions until staff has uh completed 116 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:47,680 their full presentation. This allows our staff to present the information in its 117 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,880 entirety. Ensures our community members are watching can hear the full context 118 00:10:49,279 --> 00:10:55,279 and respect the time and preparation of our presenters. In many cases, you may 119 00:10:53,360 --> 00:11:00,000 find that your questions are addressed as the pres presentation progresses. 120 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:04,440 We'll then open it up for questions and discussion at the end. Um 121 00:11:04,560 --> 00:11:07,560 item 122 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,839 » do you want to go ahead and make your disclosure now? Yeah. 123 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:19,440 » Yeah. Go ahead, please. >> Thank you. Um, before we begin, I would 124 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:23,600 like to um make a disclosure that I will not be participating in this 125 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:27,600 conversation. Uh, ethically, I do not feel that it is appropriate for me to 126 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:32,560 participate in this conversation. I have a close personal relationship with 127 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:36,959 several teachers and administrators at the Dural Academy. My children also 128 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:43,440 attended that school at one point in time and uh I work professionally with 129 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:46,880 many people at that school. Uh and I just I feel like it would not be ethical 130 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:51,040 for me to participate in this conversation. So I will be asking the 131 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:55,923 president to excuse me from the meeting. Thank you. 132 00:11:52,399 --> 00:12:00,800 » Thank you clerk call. Appreciate that. [snorts] 133 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:04,480 » Uh item 3.04 04 is a presentation, discussion, and 134 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:08,720 possible action regarding the Wo County School District Board of Trustees wishes 135 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:11,920 to provide input to the Nevada State Public Charter 136 00:12:10,399 --> 00:12:16,560 School Authority concerning a request from Dural Academy of Northern Nevada to 137 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:23,040 amend his charter contract. This item is before the board because on 138 00:12:19,519 --> 00:12:28,240 August 6, 2026, the state public charter school authority or SPCSA formally 139 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:31,839 notified the superintendent and myself as board president that Doral Academy of 140 00:12:30,079 --> 00:12:36,240 Northern Nevada has requested several significant amendments to its existing 141 00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:41,600 charter contract. According to the application submitted to SPCSA, Dor 142 00:12:39,519 --> 00:12:46,560 Academy seeking approval to establish a second campus on land owned by the 143 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:51,279 University of Nevada Reno, construct a new school facility, expand from its 144 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:55,920 current K through8 authorization to serve students in grades K through 12, 145 00:12:54,160 --> 00:13:01,440 and increases total enrollments by approximately 146 00:12:57,519 --> 00:13:05,200 1570 to 1755 students, resulting in a combined enrollment of roughly 2,500 147 00:13:03,519 --> 00:13:10,800 students across his campuses. By the fifth year of its operation, the SPCA 148 00:13:08,639 --> 00:13:15,360 has advised that it is expected to consider the amendment request at its 149 00:13:12,399 --> 00:13:18,959 October 9th, 2026 meeting and has invited Wo County School District to 150 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:24,959 provide comments or input regarding the proposal. The deadline for district 151 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:30,720 comments is September 8th, 2026. Hence, we're meeting today on this uh item uh 152 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:35,440 solely. The evening's discussion, I do want to be clear, is not a decision on 153 00:13:32,639 --> 00:13:38,720 the approval or denial of the charter amendment. That authority rests 154 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:42,160 exclusively with the state public charter school authority. Rather, this 155 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:46,160 agenda item provides an opportunity for board of trustees to review the 156 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:49,680 proposal, discuss its potential implications, and determine whether the 157 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:55,839 board wishes to submit comments or feedback to the SPCSA for consideration 158 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:59,199 as part of its review process. As we proceed, I encourage all my colleagues 159 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:03,120 to focus on their comments on matters relevant to the proposed amendment, 160 00:14:01,279 --> 00:14:07,279 including potential impacts on students, families, educational programs, 161 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:10,959 facilities, enrollment, transportation, and any other considerations the board 162 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:16,800 believes to be commun needs to should be communicated to the SPCSA. 163 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:20,160 At this time, I do want to ask uh our staff to provide an overview of the 164 00:14:18,399 --> 00:14:24,880 amendment requests and any related information before opening the item for 165 00:14:22,399 --> 00:14:28,240 trustee discussion and possible action. With us is Adam Cersei, our chief 166 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:32,800 operating officer, Chris Hackbush, chief academic officer, Jen Vantra is our 167 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:38,000 chief academic officer, and Cameron Dyer, our general counsel. 168 00:14:36,959 --> 00:14:42,480 Vice President Woodley. >> Uh thank you. I just want uh first I'd 169 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:46,639 like to uh uh express gratitude to you, President. I know we discussed this 170 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:49,839 initially back in June when uh the same topic was on the agenda for the board of 171 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:54,399 regents and since then I know we've had other board members that requested this 172 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:58,160 item as well to come before uh on the agenda. So, thank you for that. But I 173 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:02,000 just wanted to uh start to set the record straight because I received many 174 00:14:59,839 --> 00:15:06,000 phone calls from representatives in the community and some community leaders. 175 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:12,160 And I just want to state for the record that we have this today because we have 176 00:15:09,279 --> 00:15:18,000 a fiduciary responsibility to our constituents, to our voters, to our 177 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:24,480 students, to their families, to the neighborhoods, and the taxpayers that 178 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:30,959 approved WC1 and approved everything that we do. Our intent is not to vilify 179 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:34,959 any entity or to vilify any individuals that are doing their jobs. That is not 180 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:41,279 our intent. And I want to make it clear, nor do we engage in any type of what I 181 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:46,160 was asked um from several individuals was if we were threatening entities or 182 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:50,720 businesses because if they were to do business with any other entity that it 183 00:15:48,959 --> 00:15:55,839 would we would hold it against them and I want that to be known that we do not 184 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:59,199 engage in that type of of interaction. We're here as a community and we want to 185 00:15:57,759 --> 00:16:03,440 do what's best for our kids and our students and that's why we're having 186 00:16:01,199 --> 00:16:05,120 this item on the agenda today. Thank you. 187 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:10,399 » All right. Thank you, Vice President Woodley. We'll go ahead and uh have 188 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:13,440 staff present. Thank you for coming. >> Of course, I'll lead it off. Good 189 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:18,399 afternoon. Uh thank you, President Mayberry, Superintendent McMaster, Board 190 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:23,680 of Trustees. I'll introduce myself and let my colleagues introduce themselves. 191 00:16:20,399 --> 00:16:27,279 I'll be joined um as the slide suggests by others. Uh good afternoon. My name is 192 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:32,240 Adam Cersei. For the record, I'm the chief operating officer. And honestly, 193 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:38,639 uh, President Mayberry, your intro did a good job of summarizing really what's on 194 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:44,880 the agenda here today. Um, the, uh, charter school expansion request, um, I 195 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:51,440 should note is included as a part of this item's uh, attachment A, the full, 196 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:55,680 um, proposed amendment. And that's really uh what what is summarized here 197 00:16:53,680 --> 00:17:00,160 on this slide and what we're here to to summarize throughout this presentation. 198 00:16:57,839 --> 00:17:04,720 So just sort of a vicinity exhibit to help everyone geographically orient 199 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:10,319 themselves to the proposed location as well as some of the most immediately 200 00:17:07,679 --> 00:17:16,240 present school district facilities. The overview of our presentation today is a 201 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:21,600 a summary of facts as we understand them. really a summary of the 202 00:17:18,959 --> 00:17:27,520 information that was presented to us for consideration. Um, you know, a thorough 203 00:17:24,319 --> 00:17:31,840 over 150 page document with lots of information we're going to try to go 204 00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:37,919 through and distill into a handful of slides as well as some related facts 205 00:17:35,120 --> 00:17:41,840 from the school district. As you uh alluded to, Vice President Woodley, we 206 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:47,520 are going to stop short of any conjecture or conclusions, rather a 207 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:52,640 summary and illustration of the proposal and uh with the intent of facilitation 208 00:17:49,919 --> 00:17:57,120 of a board a public board conversation on this proposal. So, starting off, this 209 00:17:55,120 --> 00:18:01,360 is kind of the table of contents or the order that we're going to uh try to 210 00:17:59,679 --> 00:18:06,640 present this to the board in. And starting off, we're going to go through 211 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:11,840 basically a process overview of how this amendment may proceed. So, I'll 212 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:18,000 transition over to uh Senior Deputy Council Cameron for the next several 213 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:21,120 slides. Thank you. >> All right. Good afternoon, President 214 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:24,799 Mayberry and members of the board. My name is Cameron Dyer, senior general 215 00:18:22,559 --> 00:18:28,960 counsel with the district. Uh thanks for allowing me to speak this afternoon. 216 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:33,600 This first slide uh starts off with kind of the operative law behind the request 217 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:38,960 for amendment that we um were notified from Durell Academy. I might refer to 218 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:45,280 Dural Academy as DANDN for keeping it short. SPCSA I think we already have 219 00:18:41,039 --> 00:18:49,120 that one covered. Um the first uh piece on this slide is requesting an amendment 220 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:54,720 under the relevant uh statutory framework here NRS 388276 221 00:18:52,559 --> 00:18:57,280 and that just says a govern a chart a charter school's governing body must 222 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,960 submit a written request for an amendment to its sponsor. I think it's 223 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:04,320 fairly straightforward that they have to go to their sponsor. In this case the 224 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:10,880 sponsor is SPCSA and the uh charter school is uh Dural Academy Dan. Um, next 225 00:19:07,919 --> 00:19:15,200 we have the regulatory structure, uh, NAC 388A.400. 226 00:19:13,919 --> 00:19:18,480 This kind of goes into more of the details. The statute kind of is broad. 227 00:19:16,799 --> 00:19:23,280 The regulatory regulations are a little more specific. In this case, it talks 228 00:19:20,559 --> 00:19:26,799 about requiring the a written notice of intent to submit the request for 229 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:30,640 amendment. That needs to be filed not less than 45 days prior to submitting 230 00:19:29,039 --> 00:19:35,440 the request for the amendment. And then the SPCSA in this case may upon request 231 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:40,080 and for good cause shown accept a request to amend the charter school 232 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:44,320 contract at any time. Can we do the next slide? Thank you. Um we're going to back 233 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:47,440 up a little bit to kind of another statutory structure that looks at 234 00:19:45,679 --> 00:19:51,840 amendments. This one calls out five specific categories for amendments. Um 235 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:55,760 you can see them on the slide. One's expansion of instruction, one is 236 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:59,280 increasing enrollment, one is reducing total enrollment, another one's 237 00:19:57,360 --> 00:20:02,559 acquiring an additional facility, and the final one's consolidating the 238 00:20:01,039 --> 00:20:08,880 operations of multiple charter schools into a single location. 239 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:12,320 Um, in this case, the uh proposed request for amendment hits on three of 240 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:15,679 these, which is the expanding instruction, increasing total 241 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:20,880 enrollment, and acquiring an additional facility to expand enrollment. Um D and 242 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:26,640 E are a slightly different color here because under those two pieces the 243 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:30,480 sponsor must deny the request if the school that's asking for the amendment 244 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:35,280 doesn't mean it's performance framework um which is includes academics finances 245 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:39,919 or organizational structure um under a separate statute or the 246 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:44,159 governing body lacks a comprehensive and feasible plan to operate the additional 247 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:48,000 facilities. Uh the performance framework as 248 00:20:45,919 --> 00:20:52,640 indicated is here. You have three pieces academics, finances, and organizational 249 00:20:49,919 --> 00:20:57,480 structure. Um my co-sponsor or co-presenters today will go over those 250 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,480 in more detail. 251 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:06,080 So there's an additional process required pursuant to the NAC 38A400 252 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:12,240 I hit on earlier. Um in this case, I'm going to focus on good cause. Um Dan 253 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:18,000 submitted its RFA for good cause based on anticipated opening dates in 2028 254 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:21,760 landly's negotiations with UNR and uh the board of regents in a pending due 255 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:25,440 diligence period. That's what they provided in their notice in their 256 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:30,159 application. What they haven't shown is there's any specific need to actually 257 00:21:27,679 --> 00:21:32,720 open a school in 2028. They haven't shown that there's any pending 258 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:38,080 agreements or contracts that would result in this hardship or harm if the 259 00:21:35,039 --> 00:21:43,600 amendment is not granted. now in the short term or whatever time frame um 260 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:47,440 applicable and they haven't shown that time's of the essence given that Dan's 261 00:21:45,679 --> 00:21:52,000 been working on this amendment for over 18 months it seems like there's not 262 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:57,039 really a rush it feels a little hurried that's me maybe prognosticating a little 263 00:21:53,760 --> 00:22:01,280 bit but next page please um an extra layer for our SPCSA 264 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:07,440 sponsored schools is that 45day notice of intent I hit on earlier 265 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:12,000 um as I noted they are required to submit 45 days prior to the amendment 266 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:15,840 request itself goes to the sponsor in this case SPCSA. 267 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:22,080 Um we have included into the record a 268 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:26,159 supplement um I think is updated already indicating an exchange that we had with 269 00:22:23,919 --> 00:22:31,039 the SPCSA trying to get the information around this 45day notice of intent. Uh 270 00:22:29,679 --> 00:22:34,880 when we asked for that we did not receive copies. We did not receive any 271 00:22:32,799 --> 00:22:41,919 indication that that intent had been filed prior to us receiving this um RFA 272 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:47,280 that was filed in mid June. Um once the meeting materials went up on this for 273 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:51,440 today's uh uh board trustees meeting we were informed informally that that 274 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:54,480 notice had come in. So we are um unaware of what that notice looks like. We have 275 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:57,440 not received a copy but there is some documentation that you can take a look 276 00:22:55,919 --> 00:23:01,280 at that's posted as part of the uh meeting materials relating to that. 277 00:23:00,100 --> 00:23:05,919 [clears throat] Um the second piece after that 45day 278 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:10,720 notice of intent is there is a required hearing. Uh this one specifically 279 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:17,919 applies to the SPCSA for their sponsored schools and the statute uh NRS 388279 280 00:23:15,679 --> 00:23:23,520 requires the SPCSA to hold a public hearing regarding an amendment. 281 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:28,000 Based on what we've seen um especially with the the lacking 45 notice that we 282 00:23:26,159 --> 00:23:32,880 were unaware of until potentially recently and 283 00:23:30,559 --> 00:23:39,360 possibly insufficient showing of good cause. Um it doesn't appear that we can 284 00:23:37,039 --> 00:23:45,120 hold a hear or the SPCsa can hold a hearing in line with our own regulations 285 00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:49,600 and laws at this point. Um however, it's been put on the agenda for the SPCSA. As 286 00:23:48,159 --> 00:23:54,520 far as we know, this was in the notice and the attached materials for October 287 00:23:51,120 --> 00:23:54,520 9th, 2026. 288 00:23:55,440 --> 00:24:01,919 Um NAC 388A400 has a lot of subp parts. We're going to 289 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:08,400 skip to number nine because this one looks at um multiacampus uh facilities. 290 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:14,000 Currently Dan operates a single campus and this request for amendment looks to 291 00:24:11,039 --> 00:24:18,400 expand it to a multiacampus situation. Um this regulation imposes five specific 292 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:21,520 conditions on exactly this kind of conversion. 293 00:24:19,919 --> 00:24:26,159 And if those conditions aren't met, the SPCSA cannot approve the amendment. 294 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:30,559 Those requirements are listed below. One, two, three, four, five, an academic 295 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:35,279 leader, metriculation policy, an application lottery pro process for each 296 00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:40,159 of the campuses are separate name, grade levels, and location of the new campus, 297 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:44,480 and then authority to uh reconstitute, restart, or close each campus 298 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:49,039 separately. On the next slide, you'll see that four 299 00:24:47,679 --> 00:24:53,360 of those five requirements were not addressed in the amendment. Um, it 300 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:57,840 doesn't describe who the distinct academic leader is with at each campus. 301 00:24:56,320 --> 00:25:02,720 There's no discussion about the metriculation policy. It says it will be 302 00:25:00,559 --> 00:25:08,559 determined later. There's no per campus lottery that's been set up. It just uh 303 00:25:05,120 --> 00:25:13,039 suggests that the um lottery at the new campus would mirror the one at the 304 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:18,240 existing campus. And then there's no um reconstitution, restart or closure of 305 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:22,919 each campus plan. Uh the RFA does cover name, grade levels and location of each 306 00:25:19,919 --> 00:25:22,919 campus. 307 00:25:23,039 --> 00:25:29,039 So putting it together, we have a road map um left to right. Uh the whole 308 00:25:27,679 --> 00:25:32,720 process starts with the public meeting. And this is this is kind of simplifying 309 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:37,200 the kind of statuto regulatory structure into something that's a little more 310 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:41,360 digestible, if you will. So it starts on the left. There's a public meeting to 311 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:46,480 talk about whether the request should be submitted. Then a notice of intent goes 312 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:50,960 to the uh sponsor. Then the submit the request is submitted and the district 313 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:54,799 would be notified. That's us and we were notified. That's why we're here today. 314 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:59,120 We got that notice from the SPCSA of the proposed RFA. 315 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:02,960 Uh the sponsor would review the SPCSA will review the uh request for amendment 316 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:08,279 and then they can choose to approve or deny it at in this case a required 317 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:08,279 public hearing. 318 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:14,720 And the last two slides look at the timeline of where things stand. Um, this 319 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:19,200 first one is completed to date. We are at the in between the two bottom dots 320 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:26,720 there between August 6th and September 8th. Uh, we have the notice and we have 321 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:32,159 the opportunity to submit um informal uh input to the SPCSA before they take 322 00:26:29,039 --> 00:26:36,400 this to a hearing. The next page uh shows the upcoming steps. These are 323 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:39,600 based on what's in the uh request for amendment. 324 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:44,159 There's obviously room for these things to move, but this is kind of where the 325 00:26:41,679 --> 00:26:49,919 prognosis stands right now um from a process standpoint. And with that, um I 326 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:53,480 will wrap up my portion and pass it back to Mr. Cersi. 327 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:59,679 » Thank you, Cameron. Again, Adam Cersi for the record. I'm going to take you 328 00:26:57,120 --> 00:27:04,720 through the next several slides. Um this bullet point is roughly a table of 329 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:09,840 contents. um reflecting how the application is structured um and roughly 330 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:15,360 how we're going to go through its summary. This is based on the link on 331 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:20,400 this slide um the uh template provided by the SPCSA for the purposes of as it 332 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:24,799 says there requesting an amendment for charter school applications and whatnot. 333 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:30,240 So you can see the different basically chapters of the full amendment request 334 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:35,520 that uh we're going to break down now. So starting off really a statement of 335 00:27:32,559 --> 00:27:40,559 request as somewhat Cameron touched on many of these points. These four 336 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:45,760 elements primary elements are listed and detailed and described in the amendment 337 00:27:43,039 --> 00:27:49,919 request um associated with you know their their reasoning the addition of a 338 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:54,480 new campus the expansion of their enrollment and then both the affiliation 339 00:27:52,159 --> 00:27:58,640 agreement and the land lease associated with the university. 340 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:03,200 Next several chapters go into more detail regarding the statement of need, 341 00:28:01,039 --> 00:28:07,840 a statement of purpose and proposed rationale. And while there are a lot of 342 00:28:05,679 --> 00:28:14,080 paragraphs and narrative around these points, the two primary uh pillars of 343 00:28:12,399 --> 00:28:20,480 their statement of need, purpose, and rationale is a sustained unmet 344 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:25,520 enrollment demand and a need for more innovative and career connected learning 345 00:28:22,799 --> 00:28:30,720 opportunities. These are the exact language that are used repeatedly in the 346 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:35,520 application. Um, as I said, lengthy explanations and narrative around these 347 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:40,240 points. Uh, we're unable to provide any analysis. There's no data or sources 348 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:45,360 provided in the application regarding these two primary points. 349 00:28:43,279 --> 00:28:51,760 But just breaking it down now into the proposed scope and timeline somewhat as 350 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:58,559 has been described. Um the timeline is such that uh they propose to cause the 351 00:28:55,120 --> 00:29:03,120 school to open the 2829 school year. So breaking that down, they talk in some 352 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:07,760 depth about how due diligence and preliminary design would ensue 353 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:13,840 throughout the balance of 2026 and that the entirety of the design and 354 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:19,200 permitting would uh be completed throughout 2027 355 00:29:16,399 --> 00:29:24,559 uh culminating in the beginning of construction. the start of construction 356 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:30,000 in the fall of 2027 um August 2027 with again a completion 357 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:35,840 stated in the application of July 2028 ahead of an August 2028 opening and 358 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:41,600 we'll we'll come back in more detail and talk about that scope approximately 25 359 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:47,760 acres of land and a new building of approximately 100,000 square ft. Um 360 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:53,600 there is some lengthy narrative in the application around various agencies that 361 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:57,039 would uh need to be satisfied and provide approvals for such a 362 00:29:54,960 --> 00:30:03,120 construction project. Many of those agencies are noted on this page. Um 363 00:29:59,919 --> 00:30:08,640 there are a number of agencies that may likely also require some degree of 364 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:16,080 consultation or approvals that are also noted on this slide uh that were not 365 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:21,600 mentioned in the application. But uh as someone who has led now every project is 366 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:27,840 different that comes with a variety of twists and turns. But as someone who has 367 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:33,760 led many projects of a similar nature through these types of uh processes, 368 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:39,520 uh it is fair to state that this is a highly aggressive timeline and accepts a 369 00:30:36,799 --> 00:30:45,440 great deal of risk. That alone is certainly not a failure, uh but 370 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:50,000 something that is to be noted. The next section of the application, as 371 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:55,760 outlined by the SPCSA, deals with stakeholder notice and stakeholder 372 00:30:52,799 --> 00:30:59,679 impact. Um, and so the application does a good job of detailing various 373 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:04,640 stakeholders, how and when they were communicated with, and to some degree 374 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:09,679 what level of impact they might expect or are anticipated uh from the 375 00:31:07,039 --> 00:31:15,520 applicant's perspective. So, of course, uh, existing students, families, and 376 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:20,159 staff at Dural Academy, um, uh, have been communicated with in various forms 377 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:25,200 and fashions, including minutes from their board that were included in the 378 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:30,480 application, uh, dating back into early 2025. 379 00:31:27,039 --> 00:31:38,559 Also uh well detailed in the application is uh engagement and ultimately publicly 380 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:43,840 approved formal agreements between uh Dural Academy and the University of 381 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:48,080 Nevada and she um as recently as June 2026. 382 00:31:45,679 --> 00:31:54,960 Community industry and partners uh is noted and discussed at some length. Um 383 00:31:51,519 --> 00:32:00,399 again uh a lot of nar narrative and then also a number of letters of support were 384 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:05,120 included in the application from various local and community industry partners. 385 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:11,440 Um and of course the county school district is noted as a stakeholder. uh 386 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:16,960 there is one mention in July 2025 regarding a meeting uh with limited 387 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:24,159 detail associated with it and then within the separate impact portion of 388 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:31,279 the application WCSD is not mentioned. Um as detailed in the staff report, a 389 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:35,440 simple uh extrapolation of the projected enrollments 390 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:41,799 um and the associated per pupil revenue funds um are also detailed on this 391 00:32:38,799 --> 00:32:41,799 slide. 392 00:32:42,159 --> 00:32:51,360 The next section uh several slides uh summarize the financial impact and uh 393 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:56,799 projections associated with this application. So this slide really just 394 00:32:53,760 --> 00:33:02,080 goes over the the contents of the application and some of these major 395 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:06,320 assumptions. Again, we're looking at enrollments, 396 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:12,080 capital cost, upfront capital costs, operating expenses, ongoing costs, and 397 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:17,200 the debt financing. So these at the bottom of this slide um breaks down the 398 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:22,640 projected enrollments into a year-by-year projection. So obviously 399 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:29,279 they're looking to grow from 800 and some students in year 1 to570 400 00:33:25,919 --> 00:33:34,640 plus in year five. Uh the construction costs are detailed in the application to 401 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:38,000 range for from between $400 and $500 per square foot. That's just the 402 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:44,240 construction costs with the total project costs estimated at 50 to 55 403 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:49,200 million for the total project. and then uh a number of details around their 404 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:55,039 proposed debt financing appearing to assume a term of 30 years. That's really 405 00:33:51,840 --> 00:34:00,559 the highle summary of those revenues or pardon me the financial impact analysis. 406 00:33:58,159 --> 00:34:07,120 Um these are these are some takeaways that our business office put together. 407 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:12,240 Um most of these revenue assumptions appear to be within a a range of 408 00:34:09,839 --> 00:34:18,240 reasonleness. Um there were a couple of questions noted uh by our business 409 00:34:14,879 --> 00:34:23,760 office specifically large increases in interest income associated uh with some 410 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:29,359 of their bond financing. So that was something that we had questions on um 411 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:35,520 that that uh wasn't readily answered in the application. Um as well as some 412 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:39,679 revenues attributed to prek enrollments um which wasn't fully detailed in the 413 00:34:38,079 --> 00:34:45,119 application. We weren't sure exactly what that was referring to, but the per 414 00:34:41,679 --> 00:34:50,159 pupil funding is noted to uh be projected to increase 2 and a.5% a year 415 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:54,879 and other per pupil funding are noted and appear reasonable. 416 00:34:52,639 --> 00:35:00,000 Similar on the expenditure side, you can see that the application suggests that 417 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:04,240 teacher staffing would remain constant, that uh appropriate levels of 418 00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:09,920 administrative staffing and associated costs are assumed, modest uh cost of 419 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:13,920 living increases are assumed and retirement costs and inc modest 420 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:19,480 increases there are also assumed all appearing to be within a range of 421 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,480 reasonleness. 422 00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:29,200 debt financing is noteworthy um in no small part because of its size. 423 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:35,520 This is a large factor associated with such a large undertaking. And so um that 424 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:42,480 was noted at an estimate estimated amount of 3.8 million annually. Um so 425 00:35:39,040 --> 00:35:48,640 again some questions remain on that. Uh they did highlight uh a bit about their 426 00:35:46,240 --> 00:35:55,040 uh bond category. um which conflicted with some publicly 427 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:58,880 available information but again overall uh given the information that was 428 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:03,520 provided in the application this appears to fall within a range of reasonleness. 429 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:08,720 So kind of in summary regarding the financial projections, uh limited 430 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:14,720 questions from our business team regarding the projected revenues on as I 431 00:36:11,839 --> 00:36:20,000 mentioned prek funds and um interest incomes. No obvious areas of significant 432 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:26,160 concern regarding the projected operating costs going forward. 433 00:36:23,359 --> 00:36:30,560 The largest variables however in this or most projects and therefore the largest 434 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:34,880 areas of risk uh really include the total initial 435 00:36:32,720 --> 00:36:40,240 project costs and the immediate and ongoing 436 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:45,760 enrollments or revenues associated with those. So really no matter how we slice 437 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:50,880 it to summarize this while the uh financial impact and assumptions appear 438 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:57,200 to be reasonable uh we wanted to at least highlight um that should those 439 00:36:53,920 --> 00:37:02,079 assumptions around total project costs or projected enrollments change that 440 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:06,400 that really exacerbates any risk associated with the project. 441 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:11,520 So moving on to a little bit more about the facilities. We touched on this 442 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:17,599 earlier. Proposal suggests a campus estimated to occupy 25 acres on which 443 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:22,640 they anticipate constructing a new building of approximately 100,000 square 444 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:28,160 feet. Again, in that application, it's suggested that the total broad budget 445 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:32,880 pro total project budget um is anticipated to be between 50 and 446 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:38,400 55 million. That equates to about $500 to $550 per square foot. Um, I think 447 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:43,520 it's always important to just sort of overemphasize. Often times we look at a 448 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:48,079 construction bid, for example, divide that by the project square footage to 449 00:37:46,079 --> 00:37:51,839 come up with a construction square footage. There are many additional 450 00:37:49,839 --> 00:37:55,359 costs. Of course, that is the largest component of a total project cost, the 451 00:37:53,599 --> 00:38:00,240 construction of the building. But there are design costs, 452 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:05,599 uh, permitting costs, um, and furniture, furniture, fixtures, 453 00:38:03,599 --> 00:38:09,359 and equipment costs that add to the total project cost. But just by way of 454 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:15,760 reference, and we'll talk about this more later, uh, the district's recent 455 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:22,160 actual total project costs have been between $650 and $750 a square foot. Of 456 00:38:19,839 --> 00:38:26,400 course, every project is unique in its own way, but just by way of uh point of 457 00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:32,720 comparison. Also detailed in the facility section 458 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:38,480 and appended to the application are an affiliation agreement with the 459 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:44,000 University of Nevada and a land lease um executed by the Nevada Board of Regents 460 00:38:41,359 --> 00:38:50,160 with the University of Nevada. So, um, in summary, the lease includes all 461 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:54,720 rights for the tenant, Dural Academy, to construct this new building on UNR 462 00:38:52,480 --> 00:39:02,160 property with an initial term of 20 years. That lease includes up to three 463 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:08,880 10-year options, and there's a specific section in the in the agreement um 464 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:14,800 providing that the university has no obligation to extend those options. So 465 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:20,880 they are they are optional um options I guess. Um so just just again by way of 466 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:26,320 orienting you to the highle terms of the lease agreement. Also in the lease 467 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:31,359 agreement um there are several different um scenarios considered by which the 468 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:36,240 tenant may be found to be in default. For example, if they fail to uh if they 469 00:39:34,240 --> 00:39:40,720 pause construction for more than 90 days, things of that nature. But 470 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:45,200 fundamentally um there is a completion date uh certificate of occupancy like 471 00:39:43,359 --> 00:39:51,359 the actual construction of the building must be completed on or before August 472 00:39:47,839 --> 00:39:58,079 31st 2029 or the tenants may be found in default. Um within the lease agreement 473 00:39:54,160 --> 00:40:03,440 the rent is set at a flat $75,000 per year. Um there are various escalators um 474 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:10,240 associated with that, but basically that's what the the uh rent finance 475 00:40:07,119 --> 00:40:15,599 looks like with annual 2% increases baked in. 476 00:40:12,240 --> 00:40:21,839 Um and then lastly, uh the university at the end of the term will own all of the 477 00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:28,880 on-site improvements or upon default or when the lease is retired. Um and then 478 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:35,119 at such time there is no option to purchase by uh Dural or anyone else 479 00:40:32,720 --> 00:40:40,800 unless amended. So that's kind of a highle summary of the lease itself. 480 00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:46,160 Continuing on with facilities, I mentioned some of our recent um actual 481 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:52,079 costs per square foot for some of our projects. We wanted to include this 482 00:40:48,240 --> 00:40:56,720 larger exhibit um again for uh regional orientation. We talk often about 483 00:40:54,800 --> 00:41:03,200 enrollment zones and and kind of vertical alignment within our district 484 00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:07,839 ecosystem. Others speak in terms of zip codes and things of that nature. I think 485 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:11,200 we all know this part of our community quite well with the various roadways and 486 00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:17,760 things like that, but I thought it was helpful to just sort of see it on a map 487 00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:23,119 like this. Um, we also talk at length about all of the various projects that 488 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:29,280 have been completed, have been approved in some form or fashion by this board, 489 00:41:26,079 --> 00:41:34,480 um, or are approved as a part of our five-year capital improvement plan. So 490 00:41:31,599 --> 00:41:39,040 that is an a listing including but not limited to of all of the various 491 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:44,880 projects associated with many of these schools and their approximate completion 492 00:41:41,200 --> 00:41:49,760 timeline and approximate total project budgets. 493 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:58,000 I uh additionally included just a listing for awareness of nearby WCSD 494 00:41:54,960 --> 00:42:04,240 schools you see listed on the bottom um as well as nearby WCSD sponsored charter 495 00:42:02,319 --> 00:42:09,400 schools. All of those schools are depicted on the map as well. 496 00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:17,520 The next section talks a little bit more about enrollment. 497 00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:23,839 As we mentioned previously, this is the primary revenue assumption and a primary 498 00:42:21,599 --> 00:42:29,599 element uh underpinning their statement of need. Um just to uh reiterate and to 499 00:42:27,599 --> 00:42:34,560 be clear, there are no changes requested in this application to the enrollment 500 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:40,000 cap associated with the current um Geral Academy campus which is capped at uh an 501 00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:48,480 enrollment of 996. Uh the new application requests an 502 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:52,400 enrollment proposal cap of 1570 or 1596. There's two different numbers in the 503 00:42:49,839 --> 00:42:55,920 application. So it's right in there. I just want to [clears throat] you know 504 00:42:54,079 --> 00:42:59,760 make note that there were two different numbers. So we're kind of um 505 00:42:57,599 --> 00:43:06,160 highlighting both. And then further in the meeting minutes uh included in the 506 00:43:02,720 --> 00:43:14,880 application um it is indicated that the enrollment caps approved by the SPCFSA 507 00:43:09,359 --> 00:43:22,960 typically come with a 10% um variation. Um that the caps are allowed to operate 508 00:43:17,760 --> 00:43:29,680 at up to 110% of that ceiling or in this case up to 1755 students. If you take 509 00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:35,440 that 1596 student uh cap also the exhibit there is uh a 510 00:43:33,839 --> 00:43:40,000 part of the application showing kind of the breakdown I mentioned earlier 511 00:43:37,410 --> 00:43:45,680 [clears throat] how they anticipate uh initially filling their school roles and 512 00:43:42,319 --> 00:43:49,000 then growing into that maximum cap in five years 513 00:43:49,920 --> 00:43:58,880 regarding enrollments. Uh I wanted to illustrate this graphic again because 514 00:43:56,000 --> 00:44:04,240 this the the enrollment is such a primary part of the statement of need 515 00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:10,800 regarding sustained enrollment demand. Uh we have no data regarding uh weight 516 00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:16,480 lists or other uh factors of demand associated with uh the Geral Academy, 517 00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:22,880 but we do know how many children have been born to Wo County resident mothers 518 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:28,240 for the last 20 plus years. This is a graphic illustrating the total number of 519 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:33,440 births to Wo County mothers uh going back to 2004. I can tell you 520 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:41,520 that that we have data beyond that and that it has been 25 years since we have 521 00:44:37,520 --> 00:44:46,160 seen the same number of births in Wo County as we saw in the year 2025 522 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:52,000 despite the fact that there are approximately 185,000 more humans living 523 00:44:49,760 --> 00:44:56,800 in Wo County today than there were 25 years ago. This is to belabor a point 524 00:44:54,560 --> 00:45:01,680 that we've many we've made many times in this and many other meetings that this 525 00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:06,800 is a long-term regional and national trend of declining birth rates in our 526 00:45:04,720 --> 00:45:12,760 community. This is simply a fact. This is all historical information, not a 527 00:45:09,760 --> 00:45:12,760 projection. 528 00:45:12,880 --> 00:45:21,920 drilling into this uh historical information in a bit more detail to uh 529 00:45:19,359 --> 00:45:28,079 dive a little bit deeper on this variable of enrollment. The graphic you 530 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:35,440 see on your left are historic actual total enrollment numbers across WCSD 531 00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:41,839 enrollments, district sponsored charters, 532 00:45:37,359 --> 00:45:48,160 uh, Wo County area private schools, and area state sponsored charter schools all 533 00:45:45,040 --> 00:45:54,319 broken down on those uh, bar charts. And what I think the takeaway there is is 534 00:45:50,800 --> 00:46:00,319 the top line that for six consecutive years our entire region regardless of 535 00:45:58,079 --> 00:46:05,040 state sponsored, district sponsored, district operated, private schools for 536 00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:11,839 six consecutive years, the total number of K12 students in Wo County has 537 00:46:08,079 --> 00:46:18,480 declined. And that is uh historical fact. Drilling in to a little bit more 538 00:46:15,119 --> 00:46:25,920 detail still, we took a snapshot of the 24 nearest schools to this location. Of 539 00:46:23,119 --> 00:46:30,960 course, with any magnet school, there are a number of variables that might 540 00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:35,359 influence precise enrollment uh patterns. So, we're not going to get 541 00:46:32,960 --> 00:46:41,520 into that level of speculation or projection, but looking at the annual 542 00:46:37,920 --> 00:46:46,560 historic enrollments across the 24 WCSD schools nearest to this location, you 543 00:46:44,319 --> 00:46:50,640 see a similar trend of declining enrollment. 544 00:46:48,720 --> 00:46:54,800 So, this is about trends and not specific projections. 545 00:46:52,720 --> 00:47:00,480 This is not necessarily to draw conclusions with, but it is to provide 546 00:46:57,440 --> 00:47:04,079 additional context to historical facts relative to key elements of this 547 00:47:02,319 --> 00:47:07,520 application for all of our consideration. 548 00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:12,800 These are the elements associated with the financial, enrollment, and facility 549 00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:16,079 elements of the proposal. And now I want to transition it to my colleagues for 550 00:47:14,720 --> 00:47:21,720 more in-depth discussion about the academic elements of the proposal. 551 00:47:18,560 --> 00:47:21,720 » Thank you. 552 00:47:23,280 --> 00:47:29,282 Okay. Thank you, Adam. Good afternoon. Chris Hackbush, chief academic officer 553 00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:31,839 for secondary education. For the record, [snorts] 554 00:47:29,920 --> 00:47:36,720 um here to address some of the academic and other questions uh pertaining to 555 00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:41,440 unique and different offerings. Uh the proposed rationale for the 556 00:47:38,880 --> 00:47:47,200 charter uh expansion request states that there's a uh unmet unmet need for 557 00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:51,680 sustained enrollment demand and need for more innovative and career connected 558 00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:56,480 learning opportunities. I'm here to share what we do offer as a district uh 559 00:47:54,640 --> 00:48:01,520 which we pro which we provide substantial benefits to our students. 560 00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:07,040 From the proposal uh there's a mention of learning labs uh extensively. Uh it's 561 00:48:04,319 --> 00:48:13,200 not specified if that's CTE education or not. Uh likely maybe dual credit 562 00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:16,720 courses. Uh Wash County School District offers some of the most unique and 563 00:48:14,800 --> 00:48:21,440 different academic offerings including innovative and career connected learning 564 00:48:18,560 --> 00:48:26,400 opportunities. On this slide, you'll see uh some of those listed. So dual credit 565 00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:30,079 coursework through TMCC, UNR, and other uh higher educational partnerships 566 00:48:28,480 --> 00:48:34,240 throughout our high schools. comprehensive CTE pathways in 567 00:48:32,319 --> 00:48:40,400 engineering, health sciences, computer science, advanced manufacturing, 568 00:48:36,960 --> 00:48:45,040 business, uh, education, technology, uh, AP and honors coursework across all 569 00:48:42,720 --> 00:48:50,720 comprehensive high schools, STEM focusedmies and magnet schools and 570 00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:54,559 programs, early college opportunities for TMCC high school and existing 571 00:48:52,720 --> 00:48:59,760 university partnerships, and career exploration and work learning 572 00:48:56,960 --> 00:49:02,760 experiences through CTE and community partnerships. 573 00:49:03,200 --> 00:49:12,000 This slide shares specifically uh some of the uh CTE offerings that we uh 574 00:49:10,640 --> 00:49:15,839 provide in our district, which is extensive. We're proud of the growth of 575 00:49:14,160 --> 00:49:19,440 our career and technical educational offerings districtwide, 576 00:49:17,920 --> 00:49:24,000 not to mention the ever growing internships and workplace readiness 577 00:49:21,280 --> 00:49:28,000 opportunities for our students. Whether you want to be a future engineer, pilot, 578 00:49:26,079 --> 00:49:32,640 teacher, a career, have a career in healthcare, or work in the trades like 579 00:49:29,920 --> 00:49:37,119 diesel mechanics or manufacturing, Wash County School District provides those 580 00:49:34,079 --> 00:49:41,440 educational experiences districtwide. I want to highlight Wash County School 581 00:49:38,559 --> 00:49:48,160 District provides busing for our two CTEMI, AACT and Debbie Smith. 582 00:49:45,119 --> 00:49:54,480 Uh I want to further share that CT for all expands to all our schools and that 583 00:49:51,440 --> 00:50:00,079 initiative uh is leveraging the generous donation of Gilmont Foundation providing 584 00:49:56,880 --> 00:50:04,720 two pathway to aviation programs at AACT and the North Valley's high school 585 00:50:01,680 --> 00:50:10,400 vertical. This grant also includes drone clubs in all our middle schools uh in 586 00:50:08,079 --> 00:50:13,599 select elementaryaries which is truly a transformational opportunity for our 587 00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:18,240 community. Um the CT for all concept I wanted to 588 00:50:16,640 --> 00:50:22,160 kind of clarify is if you remember we had signaturemies 589 00:50:20,400 --> 00:50:28,160 uh in our district that's been a transition where we're we're offering uh 590 00:50:25,040 --> 00:50:34,000 advanced coursework in the CTE realm across our schools. Okay. Uh 591 00:50:32,480 --> 00:50:40,160 and that's I think that's an important point. I also want to uh explain as well 592 00:50:36,800 --> 00:50:45,680 that the offerings uh and the space in terms of ACC and Debbie Smith um are not 593 00:50:43,599 --> 00:50:49,680 exclusive to CT. I think a lot of people don't understand that that we do have 594 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:55,040 these courses in all our high schools and that the the school of choice uh 595 00:50:52,640 --> 00:51:01,440 open enrollment process provides families choice in these programs. I 596 00:50:57,599 --> 00:51:07,440 think that's important as well. Okay. I wanted to highlight some 597 00:51:04,400 --> 00:51:10,800 academics uh uh in terms of Vaughn Middle School. I wanted the 598 00:51:08,960 --> 00:51:17,119 reconstruction as a new three-story campus uh opened in uh this August, this 599 00:51:14,240 --> 00:51:21,440 past August, featuring advanced STEM labs, robotics areas, and dedicated 600 00:51:19,520 --> 00:51:26,720 creative maker spaces. The facility incorporates collaborative student hubs, 601 00:51:24,319 --> 00:51:32,559 a specialized deaf heart of hearing program with enhanced acoustics and 602 00:51:29,839 --> 00:51:37,280 integrated observation areas for partnership with UNR to train future 603 00:51:35,119 --> 00:51:39,839 educators. If you've uh been able to walk that building, you may have seen 604 00:51:38,640 --> 00:51:43,599 that in class where you have an observation uh space where it doesn't 605 00:51:42,079 --> 00:51:48,079 disrupt the learning going on, but student teachers can can view what's 606 00:51:45,680 --> 00:51:52,720 going on in the classroom. Uh not to mention it's a IB middle years program 607 00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:59,520 which we've uh come to our board and presented on uh a few uh months back and 608 00:51:56,000 --> 00:52:05,200 a dual language academy within Vaughn. Um also included here that not only our 609 00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:09,680 schools provide unique and innovative academic offerings, our district 610 00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:13,520 sponsored charters do as well. Just if you look at the titles of our district 611 00:52:11,920 --> 00:52:18,559 charters, you will see the array of offerings. You know, you've got this the 612 00:52:15,440 --> 00:52:24,480 Coral Academy of Sciences. You've got um Mariposa with the languages. Uh ACE 613 00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:30,240 again career exploration and a five-star school. Uh encompass high desert 614 00:52:27,040 --> 00:52:35,920 monastery and snacks. Those are all very diverse experiences 615 00:52:32,160 --> 00:52:40,680 for a community. And of these of this list, four of these schools are title. 616 00:52:42,480 --> 00:52:52,960 So with that, this next slide goes into what exactly do we offer. Uh we share 617 00:52:50,079 --> 00:52:58,559 five featured schools. Uh what extensive choices we offer within the proximity of 618 00:52:55,280 --> 00:53:02,800 the proposed charter request. Uh you can see here on the chart, if you 619 00:53:01,359 --> 00:53:09,440 can squint your eyes there a little bit, we have you know our CTE sections. These 620 00:53:05,599 --> 00:53:16,079 are number of courses. the uh in AP, the enrollment in AP, the dual credit which 621 00:53:12,079 --> 00:53:22,480 is growing across our district uh with those uh enrollments and then of course 622 00:53:18,160 --> 00:53:29,200 our IB offerings across uh AACT uh Demani Ranch and Reed Sparks and 623 00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:34,000 Wooster uh districtwide the line underneath the chart there are 624 00:53:32,160 --> 00:53:40,480 some numbers there in terms of overall numbers for AP and how many students 625 00:53:36,800 --> 00:53:47,359 that impacts dual credit again over 4,000 impacted students and then the IB 626 00:53:44,079 --> 00:53:52,240 program. Key highlights that we want to share from the data that we took on this 627 00:53:49,920 --> 00:53:56,000 districtwide again Reno High School leads across the district in terms of AP 628 00:53:54,480 --> 00:54:01,920 participation with over uh 1100 almost 1,200 students 629 00:53:59,599 --> 00:54:09,920 among the featured schools here. Worster offers the IB program with 46 sections 630 00:54:05,839 --> 00:54:16,640 impacting 589 students. the Monty Ranch and Reeds a close second provide uh the 631 00:54:13,520 --> 00:54:21,119 most dual credit uh opportunities and impact the most students in terms of 632 00:54:18,640 --> 00:54:26,400 dual credit currently and that's I think regionally something to note uh in terms 633 00:54:23,839 --> 00:54:32,400 when we look at at the proximity of this uh proposal uh the feature schools 634 00:54:29,680 --> 00:54:38,240 collectively uh over 331 advanced courses and pathway sections 635 00:54:35,040 --> 00:54:41,920 um again it's important to note families may apply for the Wash County School 636 00:54:40,000 --> 00:54:47,920 District School of Choice process to access specialized programs when 637 00:54:44,079 --> 00:54:53,599 capacity is available, including AP, IB, CTE, dual credit, concurrent enrollment, 638 00:54:50,880 --> 00:54:58,880 and signature academy pathways. These opportunities provide expanded access to 639 00:54:56,480 --> 00:55:02,720 rigorous coursework, college credit, career preparation, and specialized 640 00:55:00,720 --> 00:55:07,520 educational experiences across the district. featured schools were based on 641 00:55:05,760 --> 00:55:12,800 regional impact and do not include Debbie Smith CTE in all these offerings. 642 00:55:10,480 --> 00:55:16,800 So again, want to highlight that. At this point, I'm going to turn it over to 643 00:55:14,480 --> 00:55:19,800 Chief Vanress that will continue our presentation. 644 00:55:22,319 --> 00:55:29,520 » Thank you. Thank you. Uh Chief Hackbush, Jennifer Vaness, Chief Academic Officer 645 00:55:27,040 --> 00:55:34,240 for Wo County School District. So um on this slide we are comparing the 646 00:55:32,319 --> 00:55:39,920 demographics of students currently served in Wo County School District and 647 00:55:36,240 --> 00:55:46,480 Dural. Uh for our the most recent data that we can have is from the 2425 school 648 00:55:43,040 --> 00:55:50,480 year. So while enrollment patterns vary across the school systems there are 649 00:55:48,480 --> 00:55:56,319 several notable differences in the populations being served. In particular, 650 00:55:53,920 --> 00:56:00,240 WCSD serves substantially higher percentages of students eligible for 651 00:55:58,000 --> 00:56:06,480 free and reduced lunch, students with disabilities, and English learners. 652 00:56:03,839 --> 00:56:14,000 For example, WOO serves students with disabilities at approximately 16.7% 653 00:56:09,920 --> 00:56:22,480 compared to 10.3% at Dural. Similar similarly, EEL represents 15.2% 654 00:56:18,160 --> 00:56:27,119 of WCSD compared to 1.2 at Dural. 655 00:56:24,960 --> 00:56:33,599 There are also notable differences in racial and ethnic demographics. Hispanic 656 00:56:30,079 --> 00:56:39,280 students represent 44% of WCSD compared to 17 at Dural and white students 657 00:56:36,640 --> 00:56:43,680 represent approximately 40% of WCSD compared to 68% 658 00:56:41,760 --> 00:56:47,440 at Dural. Taken together, these demographic 659 00:56:45,599 --> 00:56:53,040 differences provide important context for us to consider whether the proposed 660 00:56:49,520 --> 00:56:57,599 campus is designed to attract and serve a student population that reflects the 661 00:56:55,119 --> 00:57:03,680 surrounding community. Um, the Dural application projects 662 00:57:00,559 --> 00:57:08,720 growth in both student groups as the new campus expands. However, with the 663 00:57:06,640 --> 00:57:14,160 projected growth, the anticipated percentages remain well below the 664 00:57:10,880 --> 00:57:19,760 current levels in WO. In comparison with the zip code area that Dural is 665 00:57:16,240 --> 00:57:23,280 proposing, WSDSD provides comprehensive continuum of services including 666 00:57:21,440 --> 00:57:28,000 specialized programs for students with autism, deaf and heart of hearing 667 00:57:25,359 --> 00:57:32,000 services, intensive behavior supports, intense EL services, and newcomer 668 00:57:30,319 --> 00:57:36,319 supports for our EL students and families. 669 00:57:33,920 --> 00:57:40,880 While the application references special education staffing and related services, 670 00:57:38,640 --> 00:57:44,640 the staffing plan does not identify any specialized programs, school 671 00:57:42,720 --> 00:57:49,040 psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, or even providing a 672 00:57:46,960 --> 00:57:52,359 continuum of services comparable to those in Wo. 673 00:57:54,319 --> 00:58:02,880 We also want to touch base on who is currently being served to served to how 674 00:57:59,680 --> 00:58:07,920 um Dural is proposing to recruit for the new campus. The application identifies 675 00:58:05,839 --> 00:58:12,480 several recruiting strategies including outreach to students on the current 676 00:58:09,520 --> 00:58:17,040 Dural weight list and as uh Chief um Cersei pointed out earlier, we have no 677 00:58:14,559 --> 00:58:21,760 idea as to who is on that weight list or what populations actually that um group 678 00:58:20,079 --> 00:58:26,240 represents. um families near the proposed campus and 679 00:58:24,319 --> 00:58:30,319 then students attending the surrounding areas. We know from our own demographics 680 00:58:28,720 --> 00:58:35,200 that the area they are proposing to build have higher e numbers than most of 681 00:58:32,799 --> 00:58:41,599 the county school district. Yet, they're only anticipating an increase uh of 682 00:58:37,760 --> 00:58:45,520 their e population by 89 students. It also references a weighted lottery 683 00:58:43,839 --> 00:58:51,440 intended to support underserved students. However, we did not find any 684 00:58:48,640 --> 00:58:55,359 details regarding how that lottery would um operate or whether specific 685 00:58:53,119 --> 00:59:00,079 considerations would be provided for EL learners, students with disabilities or 686 00:58:57,680 --> 00:59:04,319 students experience ex economic disadvantages. 687 00:59:02,240 --> 00:59:08,079 The application outlines services for special education and EL learners and 688 00:59:06,079 --> 00:59:12,000 how they would be provided. Yet, none of these services are above and beyond what 689 00:59:09,839 --> 00:59:17,520 are required under state and federal law and nothing unique to Dural. 690 00:59:15,200 --> 00:59:21,680 The primary question for consideration is not whether services will be provided 691 00:59:19,599 --> 00:59:26,319 as required, but whether the application offers sufficient detail regarding how 692 00:59:24,480 --> 00:59:32,240 these students populations will be recruited, enrolled, and provided 693 00:59:28,559 --> 00:59:36,160 appropriate services as they expand. We found limited information regarding 694 00:59:34,319 --> 00:59:40,000 how students requiring more intense services would be served through the 695 00:59:37,839 --> 00:59:44,319 proposed model, such as students with autism, deaf and hearty hearing, or 696 00:59:42,000 --> 00:59:49,440 behavior interventions which currently reside in the in the population in the 697 00:59:46,880 --> 00:59:52,400 area they're targeting. Ultimately, while the application projects increased 698 00:59:51,359 --> 00:59:56,079 enrollment for students with disabilities and English learners, it 699 00:59:54,240 --> 01:00:01,119 provides limited details regarding the strategies, staffing, and specialized 700 00:59:58,880 --> 01:00:05,119 programming that would be used to achieve the outcomes for the unique 701 01:00:03,040 --> 01:00:08,160 learners, thus limiting our understanding of how they would truly 702 01:00:06,720 --> 01:00:11,160 address the needs of the targeted population. 703 01:00:12,640 --> 01:00:19,599 » Thanks, Jen. So, that concludes the summary of this application. And I want 704 01:00:17,359 --> 01:00:24,880 to appreciate my colleagues here today and many others who spent a good deal of 705 01:00:22,240 --> 01:00:30,240 time over the last 10 days uh putting this analysis together. It's by no means 706 01:00:27,440 --> 01:00:35,520 comprehensive but intended to provide an informed foundation for the discussion 707 01:00:32,880 --> 01:00:41,200 of the board here today. Um, as noted originally, SPCSA provided a copy of 708 01:00:38,079 --> 01:00:44,880 this request to the district uh board president and superintendent 709 01:00:43,280 --> 01:00:50,240 offering the opportunity to provide input and requesting that if we chose to 710 01:00:47,599 --> 01:00:57,680 do so, uh, to do so prior to September 8th. Um, and in that notice, uh, SPCSA 711 01:00:55,200 --> 01:01:02,079 also highlighted that they anticipate considering this amendment request at 712 01:00:59,280 --> 01:01:07,359 their regularly scheduled October 9th, 2026 board meeting. 713 01:01:04,319 --> 01:01:10,400 So, with that, I'll uh return the mic to the president and uh open it up for any 714 01:01:09,599 --> 01:01:13,280 questions. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Cers. Appreciate 715 01:01:11,839 --> 01:01:15,520 it. And Mr. Dyer, I do want to welcome you to the Washington County School 716 01:01:14,319 --> 01:01:18,960 District. I think this is your for your first time behind the the podium, so 717 01:01:17,359 --> 01:01:20,559 it's good to see you and wish you good luck. 718 01:01:19,440 --> 01:01:23,440 » Absolutely. Thank you, President Mayberry. 719 01:01:20,960 --> 01:01:27,760 » You're welcome. Um so, colleagues, let's let's do this. I know there's there's a 720 01:01:25,280 --> 01:01:33,520 lot to talk about. Uh let's really stick to clarifying questions first if we can 721 01:01:30,480 --> 01:01:38,480 and um then we will open it up to public comment uh for those in the audience. So 722 01:01:35,680 --> 01:01:43,440 are there any clarifying questions for our staff 723 01:01:40,960 --> 01:01:45,520 and there we go. Trusty Smith, you're up. 724 01:01:43,920 --> 01:01:52,559 » You know you can count on me, Mr. President. Um okay, couple clarifying 725 01:01:48,799 --> 01:01:57,200 questions. Um, also based on some public comment, 726 01:01:54,079 --> 01:02:00,640 can you please clarify the number of district sponsored charter schools we 727 01:01:59,119 --> 01:02:03,640 have here in the Wo County School District? 728 01:02:05,920 --> 01:02:13,119 So, while you look at that, and I don't just mean in this area, um, I'll start 729 01:02:10,559 --> 01:02:16,880 with the clarifying statement to the public that the Wo County School 730 01:02:14,720 --> 01:02:23,240 District does sponsor charter schools. And can you state for the record how 731 01:02:18,480 --> 01:02:23,240 many charter schools we do support? 732 01:02:23,920 --> 01:02:30,319 » Yeah. So if we go to slide 29, we'll have the the list there for you. I did 733 01:02:28,000 --> 01:02:34,760 include all of them right there. >> Okay. So is that like 11? 734 01:02:35,839 --> 01:02:42,400 » Well, the multiple campuses. >> There's the multiple Coral Academy uh 735 01:02:40,480 --> 01:02:48,400 campuses. Yeah. Which there are five. >> Thank you so much. And then can you also 736 01:02:45,920 --> 01:02:54,720 clarify if the WO County School District is the largest sponsor of charter 737 01:02:50,640 --> 01:02:59,440 schools in all of Wo County? >> Yeah, I believe so. Yes, I I believe so. 738 01:02:57,599 --> 01:03:05,280 » Thank you. I [snorts] thank you for that. I appreciate that. Okay. Um, so 739 01:03:02,960 --> 01:03:11,680 going to the percentage of students, which I think is shown really well on 740 01:03:08,160 --> 01:03:15,920 that slide 31. Um, I do have some questions. Thank you for this 741 01:03:13,119 --> 01:03:21,119 information. I find this to be helpful. What percentage of at risk students does 742 01:03:19,039 --> 01:03:26,799 the Wo County School District serve? I noticed that that demographic was not 743 01:03:23,280 --> 01:03:31,839 here roughly. >> So, uh, when you think about to be able 744 01:03:29,119 --> 01:03:35,039 to compare for, um, Wo County School District's enrollment, really, we're 745 01:03:33,119 --> 01:03:43,400 looking at our free and reduced lunch. Um that also could include their CIT 746 01:03:37,440 --> 01:03:43,400 students. Um and um our um 747 01:03:43,599 --> 01:03:47,760 I don't want to call them homeless. There's another word for it. Our un 748 01:03:46,880 --> 01:03:52,880 rehomed owners. >> Yeah. Yeah. Children in transition which 749 01:03:49,680 --> 01:03:55,280 are foster children in between unstable housing. Yeah. 750 01:03:53,680 --> 01:03:59,839 » Yes. The the free and reduced numbers the 38,000 is approximately how many we 751 01:03:57,920 --> 01:04:02,319 have in our district that are considered at risk. 752 01:04:00,720 --> 01:04:06,960 » Okay. Thank you. I really appreciate that. And is there a different 753 01:04:04,240 --> 01:04:11,359 designation for children in transition? Because I know that has a slightly 754 01:04:08,799 --> 01:04:17,200 different definition than at risk. >> Yes. So the children in transition are 755 01:04:13,680 --> 01:04:21,839 children who are in transition. Um I may phone a friend on this one because I 756 01:04:18,960 --> 01:04:24,640 know Dr. Lamar is in our the audience at the moment. 757 01:04:22,400 --> 01:04:25,839 » I I do I don't know if he's if he's here. 758 01:04:24,799 --> 01:04:31,599 » Oh, did he sneak out of >> That's okay. Um and and so I appreciate 759 01:04:29,440 --> 01:04:36,960 that because we we do have so a very large number of at risk um children who 760 01:04:33,760 --> 01:04:42,079 are designated at risk and within this immediate area I for example Libby Booth 761 01:04:39,680 --> 01:04:46,160 Elementary School once upon a time um maybe still now actually serves the 762 01:04:43,839 --> 01:04:50,359 largest number of children in transition in the Wo County School District. 763 01:04:51,200 --> 01:04:56,480 Uh yes. Okay. Yes, they um yes and it is also title and 100% free and reduced 764 01:04:55,920 --> 01:05:00,799 lunch. >> Thank you. I very much appreciate that. 765 01:04:58,480 --> 01:05:04,499 Just straight data. And the reason why I was asking this is the point of 766 01:05:02,880 --> 01:05:09,359 clarification that goes with it [clears throat] since these schools are 767 01:05:06,400 --> 01:05:15,039 in not the immediate area but within the zip code being referenced. Did I look at 768 01:05:12,640 --> 01:05:18,960 the application correct for the projected 769 01:05:16,559 --> 01:05:24,640 fran the multiacampus franchise school and I saw that zero at risk students are 770 01:05:23,039 --> 01:05:27,920 anticipated. Correct. >> That that is correct. 771 01:05:25,920 --> 01:05:30,000 » Okay. So we're in the tens of thousands and I have zero. 772 01:05:29,520 --> 01:05:37,119 » Correct. >> That is correct. Okay. Um moving on from 773 01:05:33,680 --> 01:05:42,559 that roughly how many title one schools does WC1 have either by quantity or 774 01:05:39,760 --> 01:05:46,559 percentage? And if it's possible, please consider our district sponsor charters 775 01:05:44,480 --> 01:05:50,880 because my role here, I'll speak individually. I'll let my colleagues 776 01:05:48,160 --> 01:05:55,039 speak for themselves. My fiduciary responsibility is not just to the public 777 01:05:53,119 --> 01:05:59,680 schools that we have, but also the charter schools um whose charters we 778 01:05:57,359 --> 01:06:04,160 hold for them. So, if it would be possible to just get a rough number, we 779 01:06:01,839 --> 01:06:07,359 have about 115 schools, right? Give or take. And how many of those are title 780 01:06:05,839 --> 01:06:12,240 one? >> I'm trying to count on the page. Um it's 781 01:06:09,839 --> 01:06:16,640 two and a half pages worth of the numbers um 782 01:06:14,480 --> 01:06:23,520 off roughly we know there are four charters that are title and um I'm going 783 01:06:22,640 --> 01:06:25,440 » we'll work to get that >> we'll yeah we'll have to get that number 784 01:06:24,880 --> 01:06:26,880 for you >> exactly 785 01:06:26,480 --> 01:06:28,319 » okay >> one 786 01:06:27,440 --> 01:06:33,839 » but it's lots >> it's a lot it's lots like upwards of 787 01:06:31,200 --> 01:06:38,480 over 60ish of our schools it's a lot okay 788 01:06:34,640 --> 01:06:42,160 » great is Doral a title one school No. 789 01:06:38,960 --> 01:06:45,359 » Okay. Does this application project the new multiacampus franchise to be a title 790 01:06:44,559 --> 01:06:49,200 one school? >> No. 791 01:06:45,839 --> 01:06:52,640 » Okay. Is is this land located in an area that is surrounded by title one schools? 792 01:06:51,680 --> 01:06:56,319 » 100%. >> Okay. And I'm going to come back to that 793 01:06:54,480 --> 01:07:01,039 later because I think that there's there's a way to look at this regionally 794 01:06:58,720 --> 01:07:06,880 versus just zip code, but I'll come back to that. Thank you for that. Um, 795 01:07:04,720 --> 01:07:11,280 in the application, I just want to make sure that I have this correct. The 796 01:07:08,880 --> 01:07:17,599 combined student size is projected at, we'll say around 2700. 797 01:07:13,680 --> 01:07:25,119 Um, in the proposed system budgets, I think it's 6-2 in the application. Can 798 01:07:21,520 --> 01:07:31,920 you confirm that the Doral franchise would only employ one single reading 799 01:07:27,280 --> 01:07:34,720 interventionist for about 2700 students >> based on the application that they've 800 01:07:33,520 --> 01:07:40,720 submitted? That's correct. >> Excellent. And also with the student 801 01:07:37,680 --> 01:07:45,680 size of about 2700 students, can you confirm that there would only be one 802 01:07:43,039 --> 01:07:49,680 English language learner coordinator for the entire system 803 01:07:47,359 --> 01:07:52,880 » based on their application? Yes. The coordinator not necessarily a direct 804 01:07:52,319 --> 01:07:57,200 teacher. >> Correct. But that coordinator is only 805 01:07:55,200 --> 01:08:00,960 half their job because the other half of the English language learner coordinator 806 01:07:59,280 --> 01:08:04,799 is their community involvement coordinator. So it's kind of like a 0.5. 807 01:08:03,440 --> 01:08:10,799 Okay. >> Um another point of clarification here, 808 01:08:08,480 --> 01:08:14,880 what is the corporate revenue being generated by this new school system for 809 01:08:13,200 --> 01:08:22,799 Academica? Because I looked in the the numbers here 810 01:08:18,159 --> 01:08:28,440 and it looks like 1.24 24 million. That would be on page 6-2. 811 01:08:29,199 --> 01:08:36,719 Okay. >> Thank you. 812 01:08:32,640 --> 01:08:42,960 Um Okay. Um near to the end here. So, I was also very um interested in and this 813 01:08:40,560 --> 01:08:48,400 might be a phone a friend for our legislative representatives here. We've 814 01:08:46,000 --> 01:08:55,239 got about $600 million worth of taxpayerowned and funded WC1 projects in 815 01:08:51,520 --> 01:08:55,239 the immediate vicinity. 816 01:08:57,520 --> 01:09:04,239 This worries me quite a bit. Maybe this is more of a question for the 817 01:09:02,000 --> 01:09:09,520 superintendent with the money that we have committed 818 01:09:06,000 --> 01:09:14,000 for WC1, which are taxpayer assets. So, just as a little side note for anybody 819 01:09:11,279 --> 01:09:19,520 following along, um, Wo County School District schools are funded by taxpayer 820 01:09:16,560 --> 01:09:24,640 money. They're also owned by taxpayers, unlike charter schools, which are paid 821 01:09:22,159 --> 01:09:29,279 for with taxpayer dollars, but they're privately owned. And by the way, that's 822 01:09:27,440 --> 01:09:34,400 completely legal. That's exactly how the law is. Nobody's doing anything wrong 823 01:09:30,799 --> 01:09:41,359 with that. But what I see here is I look at the number of projects we have and 824 01:09:37,199 --> 01:09:47,440 the amount of money So, COO Cersi, considering the facil's modernization 825 01:09:43,600 --> 01:09:52,159 plan, if about 1,700 students were to come out of these schools, would we have 826 01:09:50,239 --> 01:09:55,840 to redo the facility's modernization plan or reconsider things like 827 01:09:53,920 --> 01:10:02,280 rebuilding Worster High School based on the enrollment numbers? Is that just is 828 01:09:58,640 --> 01:10:02,280 that even a possibility? 829 01:10:03,840 --> 01:10:12,320 So, as this board well knows, we annually re-evaluate the needs and 830 01:10:09,760 --> 01:10:19,600 priorities of our capital improvement plan. Uh, a material variable on the 831 01:10:16,159 --> 01:10:23,600 scale of a new high school in this vicinity, K12 school in this vicinity 832 01:10:21,840 --> 01:10:28,719 would most certainly warrant a re-evaluation of our uh distribution of 833 01:10:27,040 --> 01:10:33,520 investments. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. So I have 834 01:10:31,040 --> 01:10:37,920 a question. Does the state public charter school authority have the do 835 01:10:36,159 --> 01:10:43,199 they have the authority I know they are named the authority. Do they have the 836 01:10:40,000 --> 01:10:48,120 authority to destabilize over $600 million worth of taxpayer assets 837 01:10:49,280 --> 01:10:54,120 or do we not know? Okay. 838 01:10:55,120 --> 01:11:04,320 And if the school was approved um by the 839 01:11:02,080 --> 01:11:13,199 state public charter school authority and it would take about $17 million 840 01:11:08,960 --> 01:11:18,159 worth of state funding for it, would the school district be in danger of having 841 01:11:15,120 --> 01:11:22,920 to do a reduction in force or to lay anyone off? Is that a possibility? 842 01:11:25,199 --> 01:11:32,800 Um I will just say that a reduction in the number of students um would have a 843 01:11:30,080 --> 01:11:37,920 huge impact on the school district and our funding is really based on per pupil 844 01:11:35,360 --> 01:11:42,960 funding. So for every student that we are under anticipated um population size 845 01:11:41,440 --> 01:11:45,920 would have a significant financial impact. 846 01:11:43,760 --> 01:11:50,719 » Thank you. I appreciate that. Um just a couple more. Mr. President, this might 847 01:11:48,320 --> 01:11:57,040 be a question for our senior legal counsel or chief legal counsel. Is it 848 01:11:53,040 --> 01:12:02,880 legal for UNR to have a building built on university land that it would own 849 01:12:00,320 --> 01:12:05,880 that was actually funded by state K12 dollars? 850 01:12:08,480 --> 01:12:16,719 based on um our our research, it appears that it is legal under um man, I can't I 851 01:12:15,040 --> 01:12:20,480 don't have off the top of my head, but I can follow up with you on the the bill 852 01:12:18,239 --> 01:12:24,480 and the statute, but it does appear that it is a legal arrangement to have them 853 01:12:22,640 --> 01:12:27,280 build on there at least to the charter school. 854 01:12:25,520 --> 01:12:31,679 » Thank you for answering that. I think that's a real creative way for you and 855 01:12:29,280 --> 01:12:37,520 our to be able to build new buildings. Um, okay. This one's really important, 856 01:12:34,800 --> 01:12:43,520 and this is in reference to a lot of the completely well-meaning public comment 857 01:12:39,760 --> 01:12:46,719 we've gotten. Um, I am personally very sensitive to how concerned people are 858 01:12:45,360 --> 01:12:52,000 when they worry about what's going to happen to their school. And I don't want 859 01:12:48,880 --> 01:12:56,480 anything to happen to Dorell. They're a great school in South Reno. A lot of 860 01:12:54,000 --> 01:13:02,000 people go to school there. There's so much concern about regardless of what 861 01:12:59,440 --> 01:13:08,320 happens with this other campus, would anything affecting this new 862 01:13:05,120 --> 01:13:13,679 campus, would that would that negatively impact any of the students there? Would 863 01:13:10,960 --> 01:13:18,800 they not be able to go to Doral in South Reno? Would any of those students have 864 01:13:16,960 --> 01:13:24,640 to leave their school? Is there any negative impact to the students who are 865 01:13:21,440 --> 01:13:27,640 already attending the campus in South Reno? 866 01:13:30,239 --> 01:13:36,239 » Um, as far as we know, the South Campus would continue um to run as it does 867 01:13:35,520 --> 01:13:40,000 currently. >> Okay, that that's important to me. So, I 868 01:13:38,400 --> 01:13:44,080 really appreciate that. I don't want anybody to have to leave the schools 869 01:13:41,520 --> 01:13:51,199 that they're at. And then the last question I had is actually on page 18 of 870 01:13:47,679 --> 01:13:55,600 the application. Um here, let me pull that up because it's another legality 871 01:13:53,600 --> 01:13:58,600 question with it that I wasn't sure about. 872 01:14:01,360 --> 01:14:08,080 So it says that the school will utilize existing unrestricted capital reserves 873 01:14:06,320 --> 01:14:13,280 to support the construction of the campus expansion. These reserves were 874 01:14:10,880 --> 01:14:17,280 generated over time in part through the school's internal management of its 875 01:14:15,120 --> 01:14:23,280 before and after school enrichment programs during the past eight years. Is 876 01:14:20,640 --> 01:14:28,640 that legal for a school to effectively overcharge or like do they not have end 877 01:14:25,520 --> 01:14:34,719 fund balance rules like we do? Like is that legal for schools to be able to do 878 01:14:31,040 --> 01:14:40,800 that to save money over eight years for for capital funding? I I genuinely 879 01:14:37,360 --> 01:14:40,800 don't know. That's why I'm asking. 880 01:14:43,520 --> 01:14:49,679 I I don't have an answer for that as far as the legality and it gets into a 881 01:14:48,080 --> 01:14:52,719 accounting area region that I'd have to like [laughter] 882 01:14:50,640 --> 01:14:55,520 go talk to a CPA on to actually get a good answer on. But if that's something 883 01:14:54,000 --> 01:14:58,400 you would like a follow-up on, we can do that. 884 01:14:56,080 --> 01:15:02,560 » Um maybe for on the other side of public comment, but that caught my eye and I 885 01:15:00,400 --> 01:15:07,199 found that to be unusual, so that's why I was curious. Okay. 886 01:15:03,920 --> 01:15:11,760 » Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Trusty Smith. Uh, any other 887 01:15:09,360 --> 01:15:16,400 questions or clarifying questions for our staff? Trusty Weslike. Yes, ma'am. 888 01:15:14,159 --> 01:15:22,080 » Thank you, President Mayberry. So, being a fifth generation Neadan, I'm pretty 889 01:15:19,199 --> 01:15:28,480 familiar with this area and having as a young child grown up on a ranch um very 890 01:15:25,280 --> 01:15:33,920 familiar with uh the other ranches that are around surrounding um my family's 891 01:15:32,239 --> 01:15:39,840 ranch. Uh 892 01:15:35,840 --> 01:15:44,320 my recollection is the the land over on Pembrook 893 01:15:41,440 --> 01:15:52,000 was agricultural in nature and um grazing cattle, but it 894 01:15:48,880 --> 01:15:58,400 is technically marsh land. Do you know of any studies that 895 01:15:54,320 --> 01:16:05,440 have been done for the soil? um impact studies, uh compaction studies, things 896 01:16:01,199 --> 01:16:10,880 of that nature in that area because I'm thinking that cost uh could go up 897 01:16:08,000 --> 01:16:13,880 considerably if that hasn't been looked into. 898 01:16:15,120 --> 01:16:21,600 » So, there's no specific information included in the application regarding 899 01:16:18,960 --> 01:16:26,000 like what we would call um property due diligence. Um that's really proposed to 900 01:16:24,000 --> 01:16:31,840 take place throughout the rest of 2026. The property is noted in the application 901 01:16:28,719 --> 01:16:37,440 as being located within some degree of a sensitive flood plane area and other 902 01:16:35,040 --> 01:16:42,640 developments, most notably the Veterans Parkway had to go through extensive 903 01:16:40,239 --> 01:16:49,280 environmental clearances um and mitigative construction 904 01:16:45,360 --> 01:16:53,760 endeavors. Um so, well, we'll just leave it at that in terms of expanding on what 905 01:16:52,000 --> 01:16:59,520 might be required at this property. And that's why I kind of noted on one of 906 01:16:56,640 --> 01:17:03,679 these slides that you know uh approvals such as the Army Corps of Engineers, 907 01:17:01,760 --> 01:17:07,520 Trucker, Truckucky Meadows Regional Planning Agency and the Truckucky 908 01:17:05,360 --> 01:17:13,199 Meadows Regional, uh Flood Management Authority may also be approvals that are 909 01:17:10,480 --> 01:17:18,320 required, but it's unclear and they've stayed as much that due diligence is 910 01:17:15,440 --> 01:17:24,480 still impending in the coming months. >> Okay. Um thank you. Uh the the other 911 01:17:22,000 --> 01:17:33,520 thing is um the we have a very unique symbiotic 912 01:17:31,040 --> 01:17:39,440 relationship with our construction partners, 913 01:17:35,280 --> 01:17:45,920 uh contractors, electricians, welders, um all of those wonderful people that I 914 01:17:43,840 --> 01:17:52,640 kind of think that Wo County School District is one of their biggest 915 01:17:48,960 --> 01:17:57,199 supporters. ers for them to be employing a lot of individuals 916 01:17:55,040 --> 01:18:04,480 and WC1 with the taxpayers approval. We have 917 01:17:59,920 --> 01:18:13,120 this very delicate balanced ecosystem where our construction is in great 918 01:18:08,719 --> 01:18:20,239 health. We're able to build um beautiful new schools and support our families 919 01:18:17,120 --> 01:18:26,560 with that. I just would like it stated for the record um framed in how I'm 920 01:18:23,679 --> 01:18:32,000 putting this. It's more of a personal more of a personal how we take care of 921 01:18:28,560 --> 01:18:37,760 our people here in Wo County School District. Would that support be in 922 01:18:35,440 --> 01:18:43,199 jeopardy with taking away the funds from Wo 923 01:18:40,400 --> 01:18:49,280 County School District and the need for new schools and modernization? 924 01:18:46,480 --> 01:18:56,679 The money that we would be losing, would that affect that delicate ecosystem that 925 01:18:52,000 --> 01:18:56,679 we have with our construction industry? 926 01:18:57,679 --> 01:19:06,159 » I'll give this one a shot. uh appreciate the sentiment. Um as I mentioned 927 01:19:03,760 --> 01:19:10,320 previously, a project of this magnitude, especially one that's on been 928 01:19:07,600 --> 01:19:15,840 unanticipated in our recently approved uh fiscal and capital programs, would 929 01:19:13,280 --> 01:19:22,080 necessitate a re-evaluation of our resources and deployment of those 930 01:19:19,040 --> 01:19:27,679 resources. Precisely how that plays out would absolutely remain to be seen. I 931 01:19:24,640 --> 01:19:31,920 also want to uh take a little liberty with uh your comments and somewhat 932 01:19:30,080 --> 01:19:36,000 aligned with Vice President Woodley's comments before. These similar questions 933 01:19:33,679 --> 01:19:40,560 and comments have been uh posed to me recently and I want to emphasize that 934 01:19:38,159 --> 01:19:46,800 the county school district conducts all of our procurement that is hiring of 935 01:19:44,480 --> 01:19:54,480 professionals and hiring of construction partners with the utmost professionalism 936 01:19:50,800 --> 01:20:00,000 and takes that uh responsibility incredibly seriously. As someone who has 937 01:19:57,440 --> 01:20:05,040 administered these and sat across the table from successful and unsuccessful 938 01:20:02,000 --> 01:20:09,120 proposers of the highest quality, I want to state on the record how seriously I 939 01:20:07,040 --> 01:20:16,239 take that responsibility. Um, and furthermore, the vast majority 940 01:20:12,880 --> 01:20:20,800 of our construction contracts are by law awarded to the lowest responsive and 941 01:20:18,800 --> 01:20:25,760 responsible bidder, and we have zero discretion as to who or whom that those 942 01:20:23,679 --> 01:20:29,080 contracts are awarded to. Thank you, 943 01:20:31,199 --> 01:20:37,199 » Vice President Woodley. >> Thank you. I'm gonna follow up on uh uh 944 01:20:34,560 --> 01:20:42,880 my colleague um Trusty Westlake's question because I did um I recognize 945 01:20:40,080 --> 01:20:51,280 that area. I'm aware of that area. I've worked floods in that area. So, um I'm 946 01:20:47,679 --> 01:20:56,800 surprised that at the uh um projection of costs considering I know at one point 947 01:20:54,880 --> 01:21:02,719 we were trying to do uh soccer fields and that required hundreds of thousands 948 01:20:58,480 --> 01:21:06,320 of cubic yards just to raise a soccer field and that was in the hundreds of 949 01:21:04,640 --> 01:21:14,000 thousands of dollars. So, I'm I'm really surprised at it. Much lower. But um my 950 01:21:09,679 --> 01:21:21,280 question is um being the fact that this project would use funding from uh per 951 01:21:17,199 --> 01:21:27,239 pupil and it's also on uh university property. Would this project require 952 01:21:23,760 --> 01:21:27,239 prevailing wage? 953 01:21:31,120 --> 01:21:39,520 I think that's a complicated question that um many people at the state level 954 01:21:36,239 --> 01:21:45,920 are still asking. Uh I believe uh somewhere in the application it refers 955 01:21:41,679 --> 01:21:49,360 to uh a statement or a commitment um to adhere to the prevailing wage 956 01:21:47,440 --> 01:21:56,480 requirements, but speaking more as a a legal trigger. Um that is a a topic of 957 01:21:53,520 --> 01:22:01,520 ongoing discussion in terms of who actually the 958 01:21:58,480 --> 01:22:06,719 uh contracting entity is, if it is a public entity or whether it is not a 959 01:22:04,480 --> 01:22:12,800 public entity. despite the fact that future revenues are being received in 960 01:22:09,199 --> 01:22:18,400 the form of uh taxpayer dollars. So I can't answer that clearly but I 961 01:22:14,480 --> 01:22:21,920 acknowledge that is an uh ongoing question. 962 01:22:19,600 --> 01:22:26,639 » So my follow question >> my followup question to that is would 963 01:22:24,080 --> 01:22:32,840 that not have a significant um fiscal impact on any projection for 964 01:22:29,840 --> 01:22:32,840 construction? 965 01:22:33,280 --> 01:22:39,360 Look, when we talk about construction, uh, Vice President Woodley, you know 966 01:22:37,040 --> 01:22:43,679 better than most um just how complicated and how many variables there are to 967 01:22:41,040 --> 01:22:47,199 that. I think a honest and simplistic answer to your question is that it's not 968 01:22:45,360 --> 01:22:52,880 going to move the needle significantly. that uh the wages that are being 969 01:22:49,840 --> 01:22:58,239 commanded in uh our region for all manner of work are rather a function of 970 01:22:56,000 --> 01:23:04,000 supply and demand and that prevailing wage versus the actual uh cost of doing 971 01:23:01,760 --> 01:23:10,239 business is actually not that far apart. A far greater variable and therefore 972 01:23:06,320 --> 01:23:15,679 risk is the time and the miscellaneous variables of uh the terrain and things 973 01:23:13,360 --> 01:23:21,679 of that nature. So that's why I choose to characterize it as a general category 974 01:23:18,719 --> 01:23:26,960 of risk without really trying to specify which one is going to go which way etc. 975 01:23:24,159 --> 01:23:31,440 But with respect to prevailing wage it's my understanding having not you know 976 01:23:28,960 --> 01:23:37,199 contracted for work um as a as a contractor directly that um the the the 977 01:23:35,360 --> 01:23:41,199 wages and rates that are being commanded just in this industry in general are at 978 01:23:39,440 --> 01:23:45,360 or above prevailing wage rates in private and public work today. 979 01:23:43,280 --> 01:23:49,760 » Okay. Thank you so much and a great presentation. Amazing. Thank 980 01:23:47,679 --> 01:23:53,280 » Okay, I think uh Superintendent McMaster has uh some answers. 981 01:23:51,840 --> 01:23:56,880 » Yeah, I just have um one of the questions you had asked earlier. Trustee 982 01:23:55,280 --> 01:24:02,880 Smith, thank you for the opportunity to share. Um we did some calculations. It's 983 01:23:59,199 --> 01:24:07,120 52 total um title one schools, both charter and non-charter in Wo County 984 01:24:05,040 --> 01:24:11,199 School District. So approximately just under half. 985 01:24:10,320 --> 01:24:15,040 » Justin Smith. >> Thank you. Um Mr. President. So, Vice 986 01:24:13,280 --> 01:24:18,800 President Woodley, I got the same question about this and um I'll just, 987 01:24:17,600 --> 01:24:23,040 you know, read this because I immediately went looking for this exact 988 01:24:20,960 --> 01:24:27,760 point. Um there's nothing in the application it proper that has any 989 01:24:25,840 --> 01:24:35,040 reference to prevailing wage but in the minutes of Doral's um meeting minutes 990 01:24:32,480 --> 01:24:41,040 from it looks like their July meeting um one of the members of their board um 991 01:24:37,920 --> 01:24:46,800 mentioned that a firm that they're talking to has experience with charter 992 01:24:44,159 --> 01:24:49,679 schools and prevailing wage. And then it goes on to say, however, that they 993 01:24:48,400 --> 01:24:53,360 emphasize that they have no predetermined preferred contractors and 994 01:24:51,840 --> 01:24:57,920 they're open to community connected firms. That was the only reference I 995 01:24:55,360 --> 01:25:01,920 could find in the entire application was just some minutes about they're talking 996 01:25:00,159 --> 01:25:05,760 to a few people and some of them have prevailing wage experience, but I didn't 997 01:25:04,159 --> 01:25:10,639 find anything else in the application that indicated one way or the other. And 998 01:25:08,400 --> 01:25:15,400 so I just wanted to anchor us back to the factual information in the packet. 999 01:25:15,920 --> 01:25:23,280 The question I have is, and I know there's been some discussion about the 1000 01:25:19,920 --> 01:25:29,199 Worster Von Elementary vertical. I'm curious what what would suggest that 1001 01:25:27,040 --> 01:25:33,040 that students would be pulled from that vertical, particularly given that 1002 01:25:31,040 --> 01:25:36,679 charters don't provide bus service. 1003 01:25:38,719 --> 01:25:47,440 So, at the opening and on the uh vicinity exhibit, everyone's oriented to 1004 01:25:44,560 --> 01:25:53,679 the location of the proposed school. Um, technically that location is within the 1005 01:25:50,320 --> 01:26:00,400 Vaughn and Worster enrollment zones as we understand them. Um and while I'm not 1006 01:25:57,679 --> 01:26:06,400 going to speculate as to where the students uh who future students of this 1007 01:26:03,040 --> 01:26:10,239 school might originate from uh nor do we have detailed information as to where 1008 01:26:08,800 --> 01:26:17,199 the students who attend the current Dorado campus uh live and reside. Our 1009 01:26:14,080 --> 01:26:23,760 experience at other magnet schools or nonzone schools such as AACT and Debbie 1010 01:26:20,400 --> 01:26:30,480 Smith CTE Academy are that geographic proximity to the campus is the strongest 1011 01:26:27,199 --> 01:26:36,000 predictor of intendance attendance concentration. So you know I mean 1012 01:26:32,400 --> 01:26:39,840 logically uh speaking and also our experience has demonstrated that the 1013 01:26:38,080 --> 01:26:44,239 closer you live to a school the more likely you are to attend it. That's 1014 01:26:42,719 --> 01:26:46,880 about as deep as we can go on that. >> Okay, fair enough. Thank you, sir. 1015 01:26:45,679 --> 01:26:50,159 Trusty Nichollet, >> thank you. I just want to ensure that 1016 01:26:48,320 --> 01:26:54,080 there'll be discussion after public comment. I have no questions, but I have 1017 01:26:52,080 --> 01:26:56,480 some salient points. >> And we'll uh 1018 01:26:55,520 --> 01:27:01,840 » thank you >> process uh to to get there. Uh if there 1019 01:26:59,280 --> 01:27:04,000 aren't any trusty Phoenix, please go ahead. 1020 01:27:02,239 --> 01:27:10,159 » Yes. Uh just to make it quick there again. Uh uh great presentation, very 1021 01:27:06,719 --> 01:27:13,760 detailed. Uh we all appreciate that. uh some good points about the need about 1022 01:27:12,000 --> 01:27:18,239 the great deal of risk in the timeline and the financial impacts and the 1023 01:27:15,760 --> 01:27:23,280 factual trends and in academics uh talked a lot about enrollment 1024 01:27:19,760 --> 01:27:27,040 recruitment. So if we go to page 31 uh which is going to be Jennifer 1025 01:27:24,639 --> 01:27:30,880 Vantress uh you know I just have one general specific question for the entire 1026 01:27:28,800 --> 01:27:35,840 staff here or the staff here you know does the the staff believe based on the 1027 01:27:33,760 --> 01:27:40,880 facts of what you have there Duro has provided enough detailed on recruitment 1028 01:27:37,840 --> 01:27:45,280 transportation staffing and uh student supports to make those projected 1029 01:27:42,719 --> 01:27:49,920 demographics changes realistic and again I'm sticking to the framework of uh you 1030 01:27:47,760 --> 01:27:53,440 know the law the facts the data the risk the student impact any accountability. 1031 01:27:52,239 --> 01:27:58,960 So, >> it's um thank you for the question. It's 1032 01:27:56,000 --> 01:28:02,000 very vague uh as far as how there's no they just say that they're going to 1033 01:28:00,239 --> 01:28:07,679 recruit. It could be they hand out flyers at the 1034 01:28:04,159 --> 01:28:11,360 grocery store. Um we have no idea as to actual what their recruitment um will 1035 01:28:09,679 --> 01:28:17,360 look like or how they will actually provide the services. So, uh there was 1036 01:28:14,400 --> 01:28:23,280 no details at all. And then just for the legal sir uh just for legal sir uh on 1037 01:28:21,120 --> 01:28:28,239 that there you know on that part that you had up there on your slide about the 1038 01:28:24,880 --> 01:28:33,280 four of the five and that there a lot of that which just to clarify some of those 1039 01:28:30,400 --> 01:28:36,159 weren't answered only one was right. Is that right? 1040 01:28:33,679 --> 01:28:39,840 » Correct. Only one >> only only one was addressed directly in 1041 01:28:38,159 --> 01:28:43,120 the application. The other four were not addressed. in that um amendment 1042 01:28:41,920 --> 01:28:46,521 language. I don't know if you can go back to 1043 01:28:44,880 --> 01:28:48,541 slide [laughter] 1044 01:28:48,880 --> 01:28:51,880 15ish. 1045 01:28:52,400 --> 01:28:57,760 » And while he's doing that, I just wanted to make sure for clarification for point 1046 01:28:55,679 --> 01:29:01,120 for clarification that it was only four of the five. It was only one that was 1047 01:29:00,239 --> 01:29:07,679 » one. >> Yeah. So this is um yeah NAC38849 1048 01:29:04,800 --> 01:29:12,639 that does have those five pieces for um what needs to be addressed when a 1049 01:29:10,159 --> 01:29:15,840 charter school opens up another campus. >> Yeah, I have no more 1050 01:29:14,080 --> 01:29:19,679 » and so sorry. Correct. Yeah. So only four or five four of those five are 1051 01:29:18,239 --> 01:29:23,280 addressed in the application. >> Uh thank you for for answering all those 1052 01:29:21,679 --> 01:29:27,600 things and president I have no more further questions. 1053 01:29:25,840 --> 01:29:33,280 » Okay. Thank you. Anything else before we go to public comment? Outstanding. Um we 1054 01:29:31,040 --> 01:29:36,880 will now uh move it to public comment. I want to remind our excuse me our 1055 01:29:35,120 --> 01:29:41,199 commenters that uh public comments are limited to three minutes. They must 1056 01:29:38,800 --> 01:29:44,159 pertain to the agenda item. Uh if you have comments that are not on topic they 1057 01:29:43,040 --> 01:29:49,679 can be provided during the general public comment period at the end of the 1058 01:29:46,960 --> 01:29:54,960 meeting. So with that we will open up public comment. 1059 01:29:51,520 --> 01:29:58,000 » Robert Mson. >> Hello Mr. Mson. 1060 01:29:56,239 --> 01:30:01,000 » Good afternoon President. 1061 01:30:02,800 --> 01:30:10,320 Good afternoon, Superintendent McMaster. Good afternoon, President Mayberry. And 1062 01:30:07,840 --> 01:30:14,560 good afternoon, trustees. My name is Robert Mson, and as most of you know, 1063 01:30:12,239 --> 01:30:20,719 I've been a teacher here in Wo County as a public school teacher going on my 29th 1064 01:30:17,360 --> 01:30:25,760 year. Most of us recognize the role that the district sponsored charter schools 1065 01:30:23,040 --> 01:30:32,320 play in our community. Whether we're talking about ACE, Mariposa, or Coral 1066 01:30:29,040 --> 01:30:37,520 Academy of Science, however, the Wo County, excuse me, the WO Education 1067 01:30:34,880 --> 01:30:43,199 Association and Nevada State Education Association have long opposed for-profit 1068 01:30:40,560 --> 01:30:50,239 charter schools such as Matter Academy and Dural Academy because of their 1069 01:30:45,920 --> 01:30:55,679 connection to academia academica. While the schools themselves may be 1070 01:30:52,560 --> 01:31:01,520 nonprofit, the out ofstate real estate development firms behind their 1071 01:30:57,760 --> 01:31:05,360 facilities are forprofit businesses. They purchase land. They build schools 1072 01:31:03,679 --> 01:31:10,960 knowing that they will have guaranteed tenants with taxpayer dollars funding 1073 01:31:08,400 --> 01:31:17,600 their investments through rent payments that may continue for generations. 1074 01:31:14,719 --> 01:31:23,280 The EMOs that manage these schools also operate for profit. 1075 01:31:20,000 --> 01:31:28,320 So, while the school may be nonprofit, the infrastructure and management 1076 01:31:25,199 --> 01:31:33,280 surrounding it are not. And that distinction matters when we're talking 1077 01:31:30,080 --> 01:31:37,760 about public education dollars. Additionally, as our district continues 1078 01:31:35,360 --> 01:31:42,719 to make major investments in infrastructure, building new schools, 1079 01:31:40,159 --> 01:31:48,639 and remodeling or rebuilding older ones such as Worooster High School, the 1080 01:31:45,120 --> 01:31:54,400 playing field isn't necessarily equal. The district pays prevailing wages on 1081 01:31:51,199 --> 01:31:58,800 its construction contracts while these private investment firms have argued 1082 01:31:56,560 --> 01:32:04,400 that they are not required to do so because they are private companies. And 1083 01:32:01,520 --> 01:32:08,960 in fact, they are private companies that are for profit. 1084 01:32:06,560 --> 01:32:14,880 That creates a different financial model and raises questions about where our 1085 01:32:11,040 --> 01:32:18,239 taxpayers money ultimately goes. Changing the rules to allow these 1086 01:32:16,719 --> 01:32:23,280 arrangements deserves careful consideration of the 1087 01:32:20,320 --> 01:32:28,159 long-term consequences for our entire public school system. These investors 1088 01:32:25,760 --> 01:32:32,880 may be immunable today. But what happens to rents and EMO costs if they 1089 01:32:30,960 --> 01:32:37,920 eventually expand enough to gain significant market power? 1090 01:32:35,440 --> 01:32:42,560 And if a nonprofit school becomes financially dependent on companies that 1091 01:32:40,080 --> 01:32:47,840 develop and manage it, how realistic is it for the school to walk away if a 1092 01:32:44,880 --> 01:32:52,320 conflict develops? Finally, we need to consider the students who will remain in 1093 01:32:50,159 --> 01:32:56,400 our traditional public schools that are already inadequately funded and 1094 01:32:54,719 --> 01:33:00,080 diverting the profits to out of state investors. Please oppose the rule 1095 01:32:58,400 --> 01:33:05,280 changes and take a stand for public schools and the students and community 1096 01:33:02,639 --> 01:33:11,560 you elected to represent. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. 1097 01:33:07,840 --> 01:33:11,560 » Angela or 1098 01:33:13,840 --> 01:33:19,280 » Yeah. And and I just as a point of of reference, and again, I think I said 1099 01:33:17,360 --> 01:33:22,800 this the last board meeting I I I shared is and I hate to be the guy bad guy, but 1100 01:33:20,960 --> 01:33:28,560 I I can't have any clapping or any booing. So, this is a business meeting. 1101 01:33:25,360 --> 01:33:31,840 You certainly can, you know, say some positive things to your um to those that 1102 01:33:30,719 --> 01:33:37,040 you agree with, but please let's keep this civil and and no clapping. Miss or 1103 01:33:34,639 --> 01:33:41,760 good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Thank you for saying no 1104 01:33:39,040 --> 01:33:46,560 booing before I got up here. Hello, President Mayberry, 1105 01:33:43,360 --> 01:33:51,600 Superintendent McMaster and trustees. My name is Angela Orur. I worked in the 1106 01:33:48,560 --> 01:33:55,600 district for 20 nearly 20 years and now I have the great honor of serving as the 1107 01:33:53,440 --> 01:34:02,159 principal of Dal Academy, a public charter school. My children still attend 1108 01:33:58,320 --> 01:34:04,719 two different Basho County schools. Um I'm here today because you're 1109 01:34:03,360 --> 01:34:09,920 considering how to respond to our amendment and I understand that there's 1110 01:34:07,679 --> 01:34:13,360 a lot to consider. I wanted to be here in person in case you had any questions 1111 01:34:11,520 --> 01:34:18,000 that I could answer and because I respect the process. 1112 01:34:15,520 --> 01:34:22,159 At the heart of this discussion, I think we're all in the same place. We want an 1113 01:34:19,840 --> 01:34:26,800 excellent education for every child in this community. 1114 01:34:24,639 --> 01:34:34,159 I know that sometimes people see this as a zero- sum game. That is, if one school 1115 01:34:31,600 --> 01:34:39,360 wins, another losses. I don't see the world like that. I think a rising tide 1116 01:34:36,719 --> 01:34:43,360 can lift all ships. I hope you'll at least entertain the 1117 01:34:41,040 --> 01:34:48,800 possibility that this proposal could be a good thing for our community. Our 1118 01:34:45,920 --> 01:34:53,040 affiliation with UNR is working to develop a laboratory school, a school 1119 01:34:50,719 --> 01:34:56,719 that studies education. Um, researchers, 1120 01:34:55,120 --> 01:35:00,800 they will be looking at how children learn. They'll be testing innovative 1121 01:34:58,400 --> 01:35:04,880 practices, preparing future teachers, and bringing evidence-based practices 1122 01:35:02,480 --> 01:35:10,159 into real classrooms. This is something worth doing. I've dreamed about a local 1123 01:35:08,000 --> 01:35:13,679 laboratory school for more than a decade. I shared this dream while I 1124 01:35:11,920 --> 01:35:17,520 worked in the district with many of my higherups who were excited for me to 1125 01:35:15,280 --> 01:35:22,080 pursue the idea. I also shared it last year with 1126 01:35:19,760 --> 01:35:25,600 Superintendent McMaster because I really believe that in following the research, 1127 01:35:23,600 --> 01:35:29,040 studying what works, and learning from educators and schools that are moving 1128 01:35:27,679 --> 01:35:34,320 the needle, we can make a big difference in education. I want to address a few 1129 01:35:31,760 --> 01:35:38,000 concerns I've heard, not all of them. Quickly, if you look at the budget, I 1130 01:35:36,320 --> 01:35:42,960 think you were referencing year one of a budget with half of the students and 1131 01:35:40,320 --> 01:35:48,800 definitely not the budget for our entire two system campus. But also, I do not 1132 01:35:46,880 --> 01:35:53,679 believe we will be taking down any Wo County school district schools. 1133 01:35:51,199 --> 01:35:58,080 Our current students come from 26 zip codes and four different counties. We 1134 01:35:56,480 --> 01:36:02,880 expect our school of choice to draw families from throughout the region that 1135 01:36:00,480 --> 01:36:07,760 are specifically seeking this particular educational model. We are not the right 1136 01:36:05,199 --> 01:36:12,719 fit for everybody. That's okay because Wo County has so many great options as 1137 01:36:09,760 --> 01:36:15,760 well. We also anticipate hiring highly qualified teachers who are interested in 1138 01:36:14,239 --> 01:36:19,840 teaching in this particular type of environment. 1139 01:36:17,280 --> 01:36:24,000 There will not be a lack of jobs for great teachers. Our current campus has 1140 01:36:22,400 --> 01:36:27,120 never experienced a recruitment or retention problem and we believe 1141 01:36:25,760 --> 01:36:31,040 educators will be drawn to the opportunity to serve in a laboratory 1142 01:36:29,280 --> 01:36:35,520 school environment. Finally, this venture was not conceived 1143 01:36:33,120 --> 01:36:40,000 or funded by Academica Nevada and we are committed to using local developers and 1144 01:36:37,199 --> 01:36:41,280 contractors and paying prevailing wages. >> Thank you very much. 1145 01:36:40,880 --> 01:36:48,040 » Thank you. >> Thank you, 1146 01:36:44,480 --> 01:36:48,040 » Janelle Mosul. 1147 01:36:49,040 --> 01:36:54,880 Good afternoon, Miss Mucil. >> It's Mosul. Thank you. 1148 01:36:52,480 --> 01:36:58,800 » Mosul. Thank you. >> Good afternoon. 1149 01:36:56,560 --> 01:37:02,159 » Push the button. Thank you. Good afternoon, President Mayberry and 1150 01:37:00,639 --> 01:37:06,400 members of the board. I am Janelle Mosul. I'm an instructional coach at 1151 01:37:04,000 --> 01:37:10,560 Derell Academy of Northern Nevada. I'm here today speaking in support of our 1152 01:37:08,800 --> 01:37:14,719 charter amendment and respectfully asking for the or that the input that 1153 01:37:12,800 --> 01:37:19,280 this board provides to the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority be 1154 01:37:16,800 --> 01:37:24,000 accurate, constructive, and centered on the educational merits of the proposal. 1155 01:37:22,080 --> 01:37:28,719 I have had the opportunity to see the vision and planning behind this project 1156 01:37:25,920 --> 01:37:33,520 firsthand. The proposed lab school is not simply an effort to open another 1157 01:37:30,880 --> 01:37:38,320 school. It is an opportunity to build a meaningful educational partnership that 1158 01:37:35,679 --> 01:37:43,600 connects K12 students, classroom teachers, future educators, and 1159 01:37:40,560 --> 01:37:47,119 university faculty. A true lab school model can provide students with 1160 01:37:45,199 --> 01:37:52,560 innovative learning opportunities while al also strengthening the preparation 1161 01:37:49,840 --> 01:37:56,239 and continued development of teachers. It creates a setting where effective 1162 01:37:54,560 --> 01:38:01,760 instructional practices can be developed, studied, refined, and shared. 1163 01:38:00,159 --> 01:38:06,320 That kind of collaboration has the potential to benefit not only the 1164 01:38:03,600 --> 01:38:10,639 students enrolled in the school, but the broader educational community in 1165 01:38:08,159 --> 01:38:15,360 Northern Nevada. As a coach, I understand that meaningful educational 1166 01:38:12,639 --> 01:38:19,679 innovation requires careful planning, accountability, collaboration, and a 1167 01:38:17,760 --> 01:38:24,400 willingness to examine what truly improves outcomes for students. Those 1168 01:38:22,719 --> 01:38:29,360 principles are at the heart of this proposal. I have also worked closely 1169 01:38:27,040 --> 01:38:34,000 with Angela Our. I know her as a thoughtful, dedicated, and deeply 1170 01:38:31,600 --> 01:38:38,400 student- centered educational leader. I've seen the seriousness with which she 1171 01:38:36,400 --> 01:38:43,440 approaches this work and the care she gives to students, educators, and 1172 01:38:40,719 --> 01:38:47,840 families. I recognize that the board has a responsibility to consider how this 1173 01:38:45,520 --> 01:38:52,880 amendment may affect public ed education throughout our community. I simply ask 1174 01:38:50,480 --> 01:38:57,280 that its input be based upon verified information, the substance of the 1175 01:38:55,040 --> 01:39:02,480 proposal, and its potential educational value, not speculation, institutional 1176 01:39:00,480 --> 01:39:07,600 competition or assumptions about the motives of the people involved. Northern 1177 01:39:05,280 --> 01:39:11,760 Nevada students benefit when educational organizations are willing to 1178 01:39:09,280 --> 01:39:16,880 collaborate, innovate, and create new pathways for learning. This proposal 1179 01:39:14,560 --> 01:39:22,560 deserves to be evaluated fairly and on its merits. I respectfully ask the board 1180 01:39:19,520 --> 01:39:26,960 to provide supportive input to the SPCSA regarding our charter amendment. Thank 1181 01:39:25,040 --> 01:39:33,000 you for your time. >> Thank you. 1182 01:39:29,520 --> 01:39:33,000 » Mario Fitzpatrick. 1183 01:39:41,040 --> 01:39:46,159 » Good afternoon everyone. My name is Mario Fitzpatrick and I serve as vice 1184 01:39:44,800 --> 01:39:52,080 president of the WO Education Association. I'm here today to speak 1185 01:39:49,360 --> 01:39:57,199 about the proposed Dorado K12 school and UNR partnership. This proposed charter 1186 01:39:55,119 --> 01:40:01,440 to be built in the hidden valley area has the potential to significantly 1187 01:39:58,960 --> 01:40:05,920 impact the finances of the Wo County School District. At a minimum, full 1188 01:40:04,000 --> 01:40:11,199 enrollment at this site would redirect at least 15 million out of Wo County. 1189 01:40:09,199 --> 01:40:15,440 This would be a great greater deficit than what the district faced last year. 1190 01:40:13,360 --> 01:40:20,080 And with uncertainty around the state of the economy and how that will impact 1191 01:40:17,520 --> 01:40:24,239 school funding for the next bienium, we must not only be cautious but assertive 1192 01:40:22,000 --> 01:40:28,880 to threats that will negatively impact the resources available to our schools 1193 01:40:26,080 --> 01:40:32,880 and students. This follows a familiar path that I and other educators in the 1194 01:40:31,280 --> 01:40:38,239 district have faced over the last 20 years. Do more with less. Dal's 1195 01:40:36,159 --> 01:40:44,320 potential expansion comes at a time when we need to be investing more into public 1196 01:40:40,159 --> 01:40:49,119 education, not less. In 1786, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter about the 1197 01:40:46,239 --> 01:40:52,960 importance of education. I think by far the most important bill in our whole 1198 01:40:50,880 --> 01:40:57,840 code is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other 1199 01:40:55,760 --> 01:41:02,560 sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom and happiness. 1200 01:41:00,719 --> 01:41:06,960 How are we able to guarantee the freedom and happiness of our students if we 1201 01:41:04,880 --> 01:41:12,480 allow other organizations to directly divert money and resources away from our 1202 01:41:08,960 --> 01:41:16,639 public schools? Another potential issue while on the surface of some may seem 1203 01:41:14,719 --> 01:41:22,560 less significant is how these schools will be staffed. Angela or the current 1204 01:41:19,600 --> 01:41:27,520 principal at DAL has a strong reputation of being an innovative thinker with high 1205 01:41:24,960 --> 01:41:31,119 standards for both students and staff. I can personally attest to this because I 1206 01:41:29,280 --> 01:41:36,480 had the opportunity to learn under her toutelage for well over 10 years and she 1207 01:41:33,760 --> 01:41:40,320 has made me the teacher I became. Opening an additional school means that 1208 01:41:38,400 --> 01:41:45,040 some of our best and brightest educators will be recruited to work at a new site 1209 01:41:42,880 --> 01:41:49,440 with promises of innovation and less bureaucracy. 1210 01:41:47,199 --> 01:41:53,440 Furthermore, the partnership with UNR to embed practicum and internship students 1211 01:41:51,920 --> 01:41:57,520 will ensure a pipeline of future educators into the Route schools, 1212 01:41:55,280 --> 01:42:02,639 leaving Wo County School District with a smaller pool of qualified individuals. 1213 01:42:00,400 --> 01:42:07,360 However, we should also take this as an opportunity to be reflective and ask 1214 01:42:04,719 --> 01:42:11,679 some tough questions. Why are schools such as Deral a threat to Washoe County 1215 01:42:09,280 --> 01:42:14,880 School District? It is because we have failed to be innovative and aggressive 1216 01:42:13,360 --> 01:42:19,600 in our approach to solving issues regarding student success. According to 1217 01:42:17,199 --> 01:42:25,679 the Nevada Accountability Portal, 48% of our elementary students and 47% of our 1218 01:42:21,840 --> 01:42:29,600 high school students are proficient. 43% are math proficient in elementary 1219 01:42:27,360 --> 01:42:33,679 schools while only 31% of high schoolers are. Our own data tells us we must 1220 01:42:32,000 --> 01:42:38,239 attain better results for the future of our students. There's a disconnect when 1221 01:42:36,000 --> 01:42:43,520 we graduate 84% of our students, but less than half are proficient in reading 1222 01:42:40,400 --> 01:42:49,719 and math. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Fispatrick. 1223 01:42:46,400 --> 01:42:49,719 » Pat Hickey. 1224 01:42:50,400 --> 01:42:58,239 » Good afternoon, Mr. Hickey. Thank you, uh, Chair Mayberry. Um, good afternoon, 1225 01:42:56,400 --> 01:43:02,800 trustees and, uh, our new superintendent. My name is Pat Hickeyi. 1226 01:43:00,960 --> 01:43:08,159 I'm a former assembly leader who supported bipartisan legislation that 1227 01:43:05,520 --> 01:43:11,840 created charter schools in Carson City. I've served on the state board of 1228 01:43:09,600 --> 01:43:16,639 education and currently I'm a Sunday columnist for the RGJ where I have 1229 01:43:14,880 --> 01:43:21,520 consistently celebrated the accomplishments of both traditional Waro 1230 01:43:19,760 --> 01:43:25,840 County school district schools along with public charter schools. I'm here 1231 01:43:24,239 --> 01:43:30,800 today to speak in support of public charter schools and more specifically 1232 01:43:28,480 --> 01:43:35,840 the opportunity for you in Warso County to pursue a stronger stronger 1233 01:43:33,040 --> 01:43:41,600 partnership between the school district public charter schools the University of 1234 01:43:38,159 --> 01:43:45,920 Nevada Reno and our community charter schools as you may know were originally 1235 01:43:43,280 --> 01:43:51,360 started by teachers and union leaders who wanted to give public school 1236 01:43:47,840 --> 01:43:56,639 educators more autonomy and flexibility than is often possible in traditionally 1237 01:43:54,320 --> 01:44:01,280 structured schools. The purpose of charter schools was not to undermine 1238 01:43:58,560 --> 01:44:07,600 public education. It was to create room for responsible experimentation 1239 01:44:04,400 --> 01:44:13,760 to try promising in structural methods, school structures and curriculum models 1240 01:44:10,320 --> 01:44:18,800 and then learn from the results. When an innovation works, it shouldn't remain 1241 01:44:15,760 --> 01:44:23,360 isolated in any one place or school. Traditional public schools should be 1242 01:44:20,480 --> 01:44:28,080 able to adopt, adapt, and benefit from successful practices. That is how 1243 01:44:25,760 --> 01:44:33,760 charter schools can serve the larger public school system as partners in 1244 01:44:30,960 --> 01:44:39,199 improving education, not merely as competitors. Waro County has an 1245 01:44:36,560 --> 01:44:44,480 especially promising opportunity here. Dural Academyy's University Public 1246 01:44:41,440 --> 01:44:51,119 School Community Lab School could become a working laboratory for educational 1247 01:44:47,520 --> 01:44:55,679 improvements. It could give UNR faculty, graduate students, aspiring teachers, 1248 01:44:53,679 --> 01:45:00,960 many who'd work in the district, district educators, charter educators, 1249 01:44:58,239 --> 01:45:06,960 families, and community partners. a place to pilot next generation learning 1250 01:45:04,480 --> 01:45:12,400 environments, curriculum models, and teacher development approaches and 1251 01:45:09,040 --> 01:45:17,199 long-term research. Such a school will build on UNR's existing strengths. 1252 01:45:15,440 --> 01:45:22,560 Public charter schools should not be viewed as a threat to traditional public 1253 01:45:20,000 --> 01:45:28,560 education. They are part of public e education. Their success can be a 1254 01:45:25,440 --> 01:45:34,880 success for Nevada's entire educational system. Most importantly, it could give 1255 01:45:32,080 --> 01:45:40,480 more Nevada students, not just those in any one type of school, a better chance 1256 01:45:38,000 --> 01:45:44,920 to succeed. Thank you for your time and consideration. 1257 01:45:41,440 --> 01:45:44,920 » Thank you for coming. 1258 01:45:45,199 --> 01:45:51,080 » Oh, thank you, >> Kim Beckus. 1259 01:45:53,119 --> 01:46:00,719 » Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. I'm here to just present 1260 01:45:58,080 --> 01:46:07,080 something that my daughter, who was not able to be here, would like for you to 1261 01:46:03,600 --> 01:46:07,080 all consider. 1262 01:46:07,199 --> 01:46:14,560 My name is Jessica Cunningham. I request your support for the establishment of a 1263 01:46:11,679 --> 01:46:20,320 K through2 lab school by Dorell Academy of Northern Nevada. I spent nearly 20 1264 01:46:17,360 --> 01:46:25,360 years in education, 16 years teaching high school, six in Wo County School 1265 01:46:23,040 --> 01:46:30,239 District, and four years serving on the Dan's governing board. The expansion of 1266 01:46:28,000 --> 01:46:33,920 the Dan model in collaboration with University of Nevada Reno will 1267 01:46:32,000 --> 01:46:38,560 undoubtedly raise the educational standards in Northern Nevada. A lab 1268 01:46:36,480 --> 01:46:43,040 school is an educational site that works in conjunction with the university to 1269 01:46:40,400 --> 01:46:47,679 host educational research, teacher training, innovative instructional 1270 01:46:44,960 --> 01:46:51,360 practices, and curriculum development. Dan is already a beacon of in-house 1271 01:46:49,679 --> 01:46:56,000 professional growth, data-driven instruction, uncompromised high 1272 01:46:53,199 --> 01:47:00,719 performance standards, and instructional ingenuity. I was priv privileged to 1273 01:46:58,800 --> 01:47:05,520 spend two days engaging with Dal's teachers and administrators at their 1274 01:47:02,480 --> 01:47:10,480 most recent professional development days. The collaborative culture of the 1275 01:47:08,080 --> 01:47:14,159 staff demonstrates a spirit of inquiry, problem solving, and reflection that 1276 01:47:12,239 --> 01:47:19,040 will partner seamlessly with the unique opportunities a lab school creates for 1277 01:47:16,239 --> 01:47:22,480 teachers. Lab schools are altruistic in nature. Benefits extend beyond the 1278 01:47:20,880 --> 01:47:27,040 school site, spread throughout the entire community. research, innovation, 1279 01:47:25,280 --> 01:47:32,639 best practices will permeate the regional educational community as 1280 01:47:29,119 --> 01:47:38,080 education educators at university will inevitably land in local schools, Washo 1281 01:47:35,520 --> 01:47:42,960 County schools, private schools, and charter schools alike. As the university 1282 01:47:40,800 --> 01:47:47,679 and Dan leadership already know, this is an opportunity to anchor precocious 1283 01:47:45,119 --> 01:47:52,480 educators to our community and attract highly motivated teachers to our area. 1284 01:47:50,560 --> 01:47:56,880 Additionally, this lab school offers pathways and connections to industry and 1285 01:47:54,880 --> 01:48:01,760 higher education that will retain our most talented students. Students will 1286 01:47:59,280 --> 01:48:06,719 leave the Dawn Lab School with two years of UNR credit and be connected to a 1287 01:48:04,320 --> 01:48:12,080 mentor in the professional community. This is an exciting chance to keep 1288 01:48:08,719 --> 01:48:17,600 cohorts of talent local. A true friend of education cannot in good faith faith 1289 01:48:15,280 --> 01:48:22,239 oppose the expansion of an established high-erforming instructional and 1290 01:48:19,520 --> 01:48:26,400 professional model. Dan consistently earns a five-star annual performance 1291 01:48:24,320 --> 01:48:30,719 rating and their teachers are recognized nationally time and again. Nor can one 1292 01:48:28,960 --> 01:48:36,320 object to extending research and innovation to professional educators. To 1293 01:48:33,440 --> 01:48:40,239 do so appears disingenuous. Furthermore, the community demands the high 1294 01:48:38,000 --> 01:48:47,520 performance standard of Dan's current campus as evidenced by the lengthy 1295 01:48:42,320 --> 01:48:55,679 weight list of roughly 600 families. 693 for the 202526 1296 01:48:50,000 --> 01:48:59,920 school year and five for uh the next. >> Okay. Thank you. 1297 01:48:56,800 --> 01:49:01,360 » Thank you for your the opportunity to speak. 1298 01:49:00,719 --> 01:49:04,760 » Thank you for coming. >> Speak in favor. 1299 01:49:04,880 --> 01:49:08,840 Please enter into the record. 1300 01:49:13,360 --> 01:49:17,159 » Good afternoon, Miss Colburn. 1301 01:49:18,080 --> 01:49:25,040 » Good afternoon, President Mayberry and honorable board. I am here in solidarity 1302 01:49:23,119 --> 01:49:28,320 with Wo Education Association representing both the Northern Nevada 1303 01:49:26,560 --> 01:49:33,679 Central Labor Council and the Northern Nevada Building Trades Council. Um, we 1304 01:49:31,440 --> 01:49:37,679 have also not seen anything on paper demonstrating that this is actually a 1305 01:49:35,119 --> 01:49:41,040 prevailing wage project and we are always concerned about money being 1306 01:49:39,360 --> 01:49:47,360 pulled away from our public education system. It is vitally important to us to 1307 01:49:43,600 --> 01:49:51,360 protect WC1 and any work that goes on in this community building schools should 1308 01:49:49,119 --> 01:49:54,639 be done under prevailing wage. So unless and until we see anything in writing 1309 01:49:53,119 --> 01:49:59,760 guaranteeing that this is a prevailing wage project, we are in opposition to 1310 01:49:57,119 --> 01:50:03,760 it. And uh broadly we are in opposition to it because we believe it would pull 1311 01:50:01,119 --> 01:50:13,639 money away from WC1. Thank you. >> Thank you 1312 01:50:06,560 --> 01:50:13,639 » Rebecca or I'm sorry Reena Spansel. 1313 01:50:16,080 --> 01:50:23,119 » Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon members of the board. 1314 01:50:20,800 --> 01:50:27,199 Good afternoon Superintendent McMaster. Good afternoon to everyone here in the 1315 01:50:24,880 --> 01:50:32,880 gallery. My name is Reena Spansale and uh go Colts. I am a proud public 1316 01:50:30,400 --> 01:50:36,080 educator at Worster High School. There have been many important things said 1317 01:50:34,400 --> 01:50:40,880 today, important things said about the fiduciary responsibility of this 1318 01:50:38,239 --> 01:50:45,360 governing body. Important things said about how this will impact our existing 1319 01:50:43,520 --> 01:50:49,440 schools. And I'm here to speak to that. Like I said, I am a proud Wooster cult. 1320 01:50:47,199 --> 01:50:54,639 I've been there for nine years now. And despite the fact that I have been 1321 01:50:51,360 --> 01:50:57,920 courted by other uh institutions in this good district, I continue to stay at 1322 01:50:56,560 --> 01:51:02,960 that school because we do important work. And I know that the district knows 1323 01:51:00,159 --> 01:51:09,520 that and is in interested in continuing to invest in that work because back in 1324 01:51:05,280 --> 01:51:14,880 June, you all decided to allocate money to rebuild, which is very necessary, our 1325 01:51:12,320 --> 01:51:18,800 school. And so I am here to not only remind you that you have made that 1326 01:51:16,480 --> 01:51:25,679 decision and remind you that your staff has said that there are significant 1327 01:51:22,480 --> 01:51:30,320 impacts that could happen to uh our school and the other schools that feed 1328 01:51:27,119 --> 01:51:34,719 us if uh this uh draw academy goes through. And I also want to remind you 1329 01:51:31,520 --> 01:51:39,119 that we have good people doing good things that you have already paid for. 1330 01:51:37,119 --> 01:51:45,599 This project has not already been paid for by Nevada tax dollars. Nevada 1331 01:51:42,560 --> 01:51:50,880 taxpayers, but it would be and it's important to show our collective, our 1332 01:51:48,800 --> 01:51:56,159 community that we are investing in their students, not investing in Academica, 1333 01:51:54,080 --> 01:52:01,040 which is based out of Florida, not investing in 1334 01:51:59,360 --> 01:52:06,800 the University of Nevada Reno, which is important, but is not a K12 1335 01:52:03,679 --> 01:52:11,599 uh partner for us at this time. It does not educate our K12 students. And it is 1336 01:52:09,199 --> 01:52:16,080 important to show our students that we are collectively interested in 1337 01:52:14,320 --> 01:52:21,119 supporting them in where they're already at. Not in the vision, not in the dream, 1338 01:52:18,639 --> 01:52:26,159 not in the lab, not in the experiment. Students are not experiments. They're 1339 01:52:23,360 --> 01:52:29,840 living people in classrooms right now wondering if they get to go back to 1340 01:52:27,360 --> 01:52:37,440 school tomorrow. And I ask that when you make your comments to the SPSA or SPCSA 1341 01:52:35,440 --> 01:52:41,520 that you include the existing and real conditions that exist in our schools and 1342 01:52:39,760 --> 01:52:46,560 that you consider what you have already decided as a governing body to invest in 1343 01:52:44,159 --> 01:52:50,880 and that is the school I work for that is Fawn Middle School that is all those 1344 01:52:48,639 --> 01:52:56,239 schools around that Hinn Valley zone that while we don't know students would 1345 01:52:53,440 --> 01:53:01,760 be pulled away from those existing programs and existing schools as your 1346 01:52:59,280 --> 01:53:06,960 staff said earlier uh we do know and we do have data that uh just the you know a 1347 01:53:05,360 --> 01:53:10,639 new school popping up in a geographic area it means more likely that the 1348 01:53:08,400 --> 01:53:15,760 people in that geographic area might choose to go to that school. Thank you 1349 01:53:12,560 --> 01:53:19,719 for listening. Thank you for investing in what already exists. 1350 01:53:24,320 --> 01:53:27,880 Kaylin Evans. 1351 01:53:34,320 --> 01:53:40,480 » Hi, my name is Kaylin Evans, president of the Washoe Education Association, and 1352 01:53:38,560 --> 01:53:44,000 I'm asking you right uh tonight to not support uh the expansion of DAL Academy. 1353 01:53:42,400 --> 01:53:48,159 And first, I want to be very clear, this is not a criticism of the educators at 1354 01:53:46,400 --> 01:53:52,000 DAL or other charter schools. They are passionate, hardworking educators who 1355 01:53:50,239 --> 01:53:56,960 care deeply about their students, just like the educators um at our traditional 1356 01:53:54,239 --> 01:54:00,639 public schools. My concern is about the students and the system that we're 1357 01:53:58,719 --> 01:54:05,119 creating for them. I believe we're moving towards a two-tiered education 1358 01:54:03,119 --> 01:54:09,920 system in Wo County. Look at Hidden Valley. It houses pivot serving some of 1359 01:54:07,920 --> 01:54:13,440 our most severely behavioral impacted elementary students. It also provides 1360 01:54:11,679 --> 01:54:17,119 strategies, deaf and heart of hearing programming, speech and language 1361 01:54:14,719 --> 01:54:21,840 services, occupational therapy, resource services, psychology, and other 1362 01:54:19,119 --> 01:54:25,119 intensive supports. Uh, Dorado says it intends to increase its special 1363 01:54:23,360 --> 01:54:29,520 education population, and I hope it does. But let's be clear, providing 1364 01:54:26,880 --> 01:54:34,560 resource services and operating programs like SIP, CLS, or Pivot are night and 1365 01:54:32,159 --> 01:54:40,080 day in terms of staffing, resources, and intensity. So before supporting a new 1366 01:54:36,800 --> 01:54:45,520 charter campus with 1,700 plus uh students, ask a simple question. Uh will 1367 01:54:42,719 --> 01:54:49,360 this DAL provide those programs too? And ask about students with and what about 1368 01:54:47,679 --> 01:54:52,800 um our students with significant persistent behavioral issues that aren't 1369 01:54:51,119 --> 01:54:56,960 in special education? Will the school maintain the intensive interventions and 1370 01:54:55,040 --> 01:55:00,480 alternative settings necessary to serve those students? We'll hear that charters 1371 01:54:58,960 --> 01:55:03,760 legally have to serve students with disabilities and follow Nevada 1372 01:55:01,920 --> 01:55:07,520 discipline laws, and that is true. But that's not the question. The question is 1373 01:55:06,000 --> 01:55:11,280 whether they're actually serving the same students with the same level of 1374 01:55:09,280 --> 01:55:15,840 need and then comparing the results as though these systems are operating under 1375 01:55:12,960 --> 01:55:19,040 the same circumstances. They are not. Uh we're also being told that this is a 1376 01:55:17,440 --> 01:55:23,199 laboratory school. And I love that concept. Charter schools were originally 1377 01:55:21,040 --> 01:55:26,719 envisioned as places to innovate, test ideas, and share what works. But 1378 01:55:24,960 --> 01:55:31,280 increasingly that is not what we're seeing. We're seeing parallel K12 1379 01:55:28,960 --> 01:55:35,599 systems competing for students. And to quote one of the members on the Charter 1380 01:55:33,599 --> 01:55:41,119 School Authority Board when they were uh appro uh approving um Matter Academy up 1381 01:55:39,119 --> 01:55:45,040 north, he said, quote, "Let's go compete with them." And that was the exact quote 1382 01:55:43,040 --> 01:55:49,360 of competing with the Wo County School District. So, the idea that this is 1383 01:55:47,040 --> 01:55:53,679 somehow not a competition of some sorts, it's a disingenuous uh topic and it's 1384 01:55:51,599 --> 01:55:58,159 also been said by charter school leaders across our state. Um, and then we can't 1385 01:55:55,920 --> 01:56:02,800 ignore Academica. Dorado contact contracts with Academica Nevada, which 1386 01:56:00,320 --> 01:56:06,639 is a for-profit educational management organization. DAL's own audited 1387 01:56:04,880 --> 01:56:09,840 financial statements show public dollars going not only to Academica for 1388 01:56:08,239 --> 01:56:14,719 management fees, but also companies sharing common ownership with Academica. 1389 01:56:12,400 --> 01:56:19,040 Um, so this model expands, we should ask, are we expanding innovation for 1390 01:56:16,639 --> 01:56:24,080 students or expanding the footprint of a private management company? Because 1391 01:56:21,040 --> 01:56:31,520 ultimately this needs to be about kids. Um, thank you. 1392 01:56:27,920 --> 01:56:34,920 » Thank you, President Evans. >> Jenny Damonte. 1393 01:56:38,400 --> 01:56:44,480 » That's Dr. Damonte. >> You're welcome. 1394 01:56:43,599 --> 01:56:51,119 » Good to see you. >> Hi everybody. Um, I'm Jenny Damonte. I'm 1395 01:56:48,080 --> 01:56:56,560 here on behalf of many of my indivisible colleagues who 1396 01:56:53,760 --> 01:57:02,239 are want to talk about this. But before I start, I just got to say this great 1397 01:56:58,719 --> 01:57:06,639 presentation. Um, my daughter, who I've told you about, is the mother of a 1398 01:57:04,159 --> 01:57:13,760 one-year-old and she's been watching online and she texted me to say, "Wow, I 1399 01:57:11,040 --> 01:57:20,800 had no idea that of everything that the county 1400 01:57:16,000 --> 01:57:27,760 school district offers." So, I'm Yay. Um, which brings me to uh my real point, 1401 01:57:25,199 --> 01:57:32,400 which is there is no need for this school. None. 1402 01:57:30,400 --> 01:57:36,960 You know, the school district, public school district offers everything 1403 01:57:34,320 --> 01:57:41,520 anybody could need. And by anybody, I mean kids on free and reduced lunch, 1404 01:57:39,520 --> 01:57:47,280 kids with behavior problems, kids with who are special ed, kids who are deaf, 1405 01:57:44,000 --> 01:57:53,040 and so on and so on and so on. There's lots of opportunities for gifted 1406 01:57:49,679 --> 01:58:01,199 children in our school district and elsewhere like Davidson Academy. 1407 01:57:57,440 --> 01:58:06,560 Um, also there are stakeholders who are impacted negatively. There are parents 1408 01:58:03,920 --> 01:58:11,760 and families who might see resources disappear if they're in the county 1409 01:58:08,800 --> 01:58:16,159 school district. There's taxpayers. Oh, like me 1410 01:58:13,920 --> 01:58:20,800 uh and the school district itself and what it can do for students. 1411 01:58:18,960 --> 01:58:25,840 The enrollment for this school, the projection does not reflect the county 1412 01:58:24,000 --> 01:58:33,119 at all. Um throughout my career I have supported 1413 01:58:30,080 --> 01:58:40,159 charter schools. Um I've got written lots about it but I do not when tax 1414 01:58:36,960 --> 01:58:46,719 dollars my tax dollars are going to line the pockets of corporate leaders. 1415 01:58:44,159 --> 01:58:52,960 Horus man said traditional public schools are a public good. He is the 1416 01:58:49,840 --> 01:58:58,239 father of the traditional public schools and um 1417 01:58:55,280 --> 01:59:05,760 and I'm with him. I do not want to send my tax dollars to a private corporation, 1418 01:59:02,239 --> 01:59:12,880 especially one out of state. And I do not want to 1419 01:59:09,520 --> 01:59:19,599 I don't want to see my school district gutted so somebody else can get rich. 1420 01:59:16,719 --> 01:59:24,080 Um, I'm I know and I'm sure Derell, we have a leadership a person on our 1421 01:59:21,119 --> 01:59:31,360 leadership team who has kids at Derell and loves it. Great. Knock yourself out. 1422 01:59:27,520 --> 01:59:37,760 We don't need to put a $17 million hole in our annual budget. Thanks. 1423 01:59:35,119 --> 01:59:41,159 » Thank you, ma'am. John Epito, 1424 01:59:53,760 --> 02:00:00,639 sorry, John Epilo. I find myself agreeing with Best Smith a lot these 1425 01:59:59,119 --> 02:00:05,520 days. In addition, I've also noticed that I 1426 02:00:03,280 --> 02:00:10,880 agree on many issues with three of the recent past WCSD board presidents. So, 1427 02:00:08,159 --> 02:00:15,920 there's hope, Adam. In fact, it was Angie Taylor who brought the bill 1428 02:00:13,440 --> 02:00:21,199 protective children suggested last session it was for the state to start 1429 02:00:18,320 --> 02:00:26,000 deleting subjective and incriminating student data instead of storing it 1430 02:00:23,360 --> 02:00:30,159 forever. The bill passed and was signed into law by the governor. 1431 02:00:28,320 --> 02:00:34,719 Now we have to start working on the most massive student database ever created on 1432 02:00:32,239 --> 02:00:40,880 US school students infinite campus. To learn more, go to protect nevada.org. 1433 02:00:38,400 --> 02:00:46,000 Now on this issue, I make a living as a real estate broker. Plus, it's not 1434 02:00:42,880 --> 02:00:52,080 nearly as frustrating as coming to these meetings. Slide 22. At first, I thought 1435 02:00:48,800 --> 02:00:57,360 this was wrong, but I but it's not. The district would be spending between 65 1436 02:00:54,159 --> 02:01:02,560 and 75 million dollars to build a building on someone else's land. And 1437 02:01:00,800 --> 02:01:09,840 after they built the building, then they'd be leasing it back for $75,000 a 1438 02:01:05,440 --> 02:01:12,960 year plus the 2% increases. They'd be leasing it for at least and 1439 02:01:11,520 --> 02:01:18,800 and if they're late building it, they might lose it. And then they'd be 1440 02:01:16,000 --> 02:01:24,159 leasing it for 20 years even though they built it. And then they might get three 1441 02:01:21,360 --> 02:01:28,800 extensions, maybe up to 50 years. It doesn't say who who's um obligated for 1442 02:01:26,719 --> 02:01:34,239 the extensions in the slide that was presented earlier by Adam. And then 1443 02:01:32,080 --> 02:01:38,400 after the lease is up, they walk away from the building and UNR gets the 1444 02:01:36,080 --> 02:01:42,560 building. Now, as a real estate broker, who would agree to that? This is 1445 02:01:40,639 --> 02:01:46,719 ridiculous. And and and I do like charter schools, you know, we don't have 1446 02:01:44,400 --> 02:01:52,960 as many choices up at the lake, but um this is a terrible plan for you guys. 1447 02:01:48,960 --> 02:01:59,679 And I was here when um you guys sold the school in Incline to the TTD, the Tahoe 1448 02:01:56,639 --> 02:02:02,880 Transportation District. And I remember the board president at the time said, 1449 02:02:01,520 --> 02:02:05,679 "Well, we don't mind that we're selling it for less than market value." Because 1450 02:02:04,320 --> 02:02:10,639 I brought that up because you guys sold it for a lot less than market value to 1451 02:02:07,679 --> 02:02:14,320 TTD. Now TTD is turning around and selling it and they're going to make a 1452 02:02:11,760 --> 02:02:18,159 bunch of money on it, by the way. So it it it's this is terrible. This is a 1453 02:02:16,400 --> 02:02:21,760 terrible idea. I can't even believe you guys are thinking about doing this. 1454 02:02:20,080 --> 02:02:26,880 Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. 1455 02:02:24,400 --> 02:02:32,880 » Eduardo Martinez. >> Yeah, I think to to to Trusty Smith's 1456 02:02:30,080 --> 02:02:39,679 point, remember, we're this is not our real estate agreement, 1457 02:02:36,639 --> 02:02:45,040 you know, we simply are here to take a position, provide input to the state 1458 02:02:42,320 --> 02:02:52,639 public charter authority. Um, so this this isn't this isn't our deal. Does 1459 02:02:47,360 --> 02:02:57,679 that help? Okay. Thank you. Um, welcome. >> Good afternoon everyone. Uh, my name uh 1460 02:02:55,199 --> 02:03:01,760 trustees uh, Superintendent McMaster. My name is Eduardo Martinez. I'm here with 1461 02:03:00,080 --> 02:03:06,880 Western Public Affairs on behalf of the Charter School Association of Nevada. 1462 02:03:04,239 --> 02:03:10,400 and the association recognizes that the county school district has an 1463 02:03:08,159 --> 02:03:14,960 opportunity to provide information and concerns for the public charter school 1464 02:03:12,320 --> 02:03:19,040 authority to consider. We encourage any comments from the district to remain 1465 02:03:16,639 --> 02:03:23,360 grounded in the factual record and focus on matters within its direct knowledge 1466 02:03:20,719 --> 02:03:27,119 and experience. We are disappointed, however, that some advocacy 1467 02:03:25,040 --> 02:03:31,520 organizations and their members have chosen to use this application to pit 1468 02:03:29,440 --> 02:03:37,119 public schools and public educ educators against each other. After all, education 1469 02:03:34,239 --> 02:03:40,400 is like lacrosse. It's a team sport. Charter schools are public schools, and 1470 02:03:38,880 --> 02:03:44,480 this agreement toward an individual application should not be a broader 1471 02:03:42,000 --> 02:03:49,679 fight among educators or different parts of the Nevada public education system. 1472 02:03:47,679 --> 02:03:53,920 We believe this discussion should remain fair, fact-based, and reflect the full 1473 02:03:52,480 --> 02:03:58,000 record to include the stakeholder engagement that previously occurred. As 1474 02:03:56,480 --> 02:04:01,760 for our member schools who are part of the school district, we look forward to 1475 02:03:59,920 --> 02:04:06,480 following up on Trusty Smith's comments on WC1, 1476 02:04:04,320 --> 02:04:10,560 uh that funding, as you know, has been excluded for the uh district charter 1477 02:04:09,040 --> 02:04:16,480 schools, and we look forward to continuing that conversation. Thank you. 1478 02:04:14,080 --> 02:04:21,119 » Thank you, sir. Appreciate you coming. The board received emails from Joe 1479 02:04:18,880 --> 02:04:27,199 Caluro, the Northern Nevada Labor Council, Joe 1480 02:04:23,840 --> 02:04:34,719 Rice, Autumn Steagel, Katie Burquette, Sarah Adler, Jessica 1481 02:04:31,040 --> 02:04:41,599 Cunningham, Simone Gardella, Megan Canela, a Wo County School District 1482 02:04:37,760 --> 02:04:46,080 teacher, Janice Brown SA, Jamie Royce Gomes, 1483 02:04:44,480 --> 02:04:54,719 Jennifer Tibbon, Margot Mott, Duke Stevens, Courtney 1484 02:04:50,000 --> 02:05:05,199 Aoyo, Amber Hart, Amy Bell, Jules Powell, Lisa Larson, David Zavski, 1485 02:05:00,239 --> 02:05:10,159 Ding Shang Lee, Jenny Hunt, Lee Metaf, and Griffin Peralta related to this 1486 02:05:07,599 --> 02:05:17,280 item. >> Okay. Thank you, JJ. We've been uh at 1487 02:05:13,520 --> 02:05:20,560 yes, just got a message. We've been at this for just over two 1488 02:05:18,880 --> 02:05:24,480 hours. Uh we're going to take a very short break. Um so just bear with us. 1489 02:05:22,960 --> 02:05:27,040 And when I say short, I'm really try to keep it about five minutes and then 1490 02:05:25,520 --> 02:05:31,400 we'll come back and and uh we'll begin our deliberation. So thank you. 1491 02:15:00,719 --> 02:15:05,800 Okay, everybody's quiet. So, that tells me 1492 02:15:07,360 --> 02:15:14,040 uh is okay, we good? Okay. Um 1493 02:15:14,960 --> 02:15:17,960 uh 1494 02:15:18,159 --> 02:15:23,920 so, a couple things. We we'll bring it back to the board for discussion, 1495 02:15:22,000 --> 02:15:28,960 deliberation. I know there's uh still a few questions, some uh comments folks 1496 02:15:26,000 --> 02:15:34,560 want to make. Uh just want to kind of give my colleagues a sense of of where 1497 02:15:31,440 --> 02:15:39,840 we are and the potential direction that we could move. Um I want to provide some 1498 02:15:37,599 --> 02:15:43,920 of that context. So as trustees are aware, board policy 952 designates the 1499 02:15:42,560 --> 02:15:47,199 board president as the official spokesperson for the board regarding 1500 02:15:45,440 --> 02:15:52,079 actions taken in positions adopted by the board. So accordingly, should the 1501 02:15:48,960 --> 02:15:55,920 board choose to provide input to Nevada State Public Charter School Authority, 1502 02:15:54,000 --> 02:15:59,440 that input would then be transmitted through a letter from the board 1503 02:15:57,520 --> 02:16:05,280 president reflecting that direction and the decisions of the board. Because the 1504 02:16:01,760 --> 02:16:09,199 SPCSA has established a September 8th deadline, again, as I stated earlier, 1505 02:16:07,119 --> 02:16:12,320 for receiving comments, there's not going to be sufficient enough time to 1506 02:16:10,800 --> 02:16:15,599 draft the letter to be prepared and brought back to the board for review and 1507 02:16:14,000 --> 02:16:20,239 approval prior to that deadline. So, I think it's really important that any 1508 02:16:18,000 --> 02:16:24,639 action taken tonight clearly identifies the board's position and the specific 1509 02:16:22,560 --> 02:16:30,800 issues uh the board wishes to have communicated to the SPCSA. My intent is 1510 02:16:28,000 --> 02:16:34,160 not to in any way independently determine the content of the board 1511 02:16:32,399 --> 02:16:38,800 submission. I'm not the I'm not the boss of this board. I'm simply uh your 1512 02:16:36,559 --> 02:16:43,760 representative. Uh but rather to accurately convey the board's direction. 1513 02:16:41,760 --> 02:16:46,800 Uh so any issues specifically identified and approved by the board tonight will 1514 02:16:45,280 --> 02:16:51,920 be incorporated into a letter submitted to the SPCA. What I'd like us to 1515 02:16:49,439 --> 02:16:56,559 consider and I uh again just giving you some context. I know there's uh some 1516 02:16:54,000 --> 02:17:01,679 additional questions and followup and we'll get to that here momentarily. But 1517 02:16:58,880 --> 02:17:08,559 uh so you know now uh in the interest of of of time and to be efficient, I'd like 1518 02:17:04,800 --> 02:17:13,679 us to initially consider uh a motion to either support or oppose uh this 1519 02:17:11,920 --> 02:17:18,559 project. And so once we can reach agreement uh on that matter, then we can 1520 02:17:16,559 --> 02:17:22,639 kind of dive down into the details with what that input would look like in the 1521 02:17:20,240 --> 02:17:27,519 letter. Does that make sense? Okay. >> We we are supporting the the letter that 1522 02:17:26,080 --> 02:17:32,760 we submit. >> That's that would be the second piece. 1523 02:17:29,439 --> 02:17:32,760 Yes. Yes. 1524 02:17:35,040 --> 02:17:39,439 » Yeah. Yeah. >> Correct. Yes. Yeah. Does that make 1525 02:17:38,559 --> 02:17:45,120 sense? >> No. So again, because I want to be 1526 02:17:42,160 --> 02:17:50,960 clear, I I want us to take a position on if we're going to support or oppose the 1527 02:17:47,120 --> 02:17:56,559 Dural Academy expansion. Based on that decision, the next piece 1528 02:17:54,719 --> 02:18:01,760 will be defining that letter and the input and we will have a motion and a 1529 02:17:58,800 --> 02:18:06,559 vote on that input as well. So two-step process. Does that make sense? Okay, 1530 02:18:04,800 --> 02:18:10,319 good. All right. >> Go ahead, Trusty W. 1531 02:18:07,519 --> 02:18:14,399 » I was going to make a motion. Well, uh, fair enough. But I do believe that there 1532 02:18:12,080 --> 02:18:18,240 are some, if we can hold that dot, uh, I think there are some additional 1533 02:18:15,519 --> 02:18:22,319 follow-up questions. Uh, I think Trusty Nicola, you had some that you wanted to 1534 02:18:20,800 --> 02:18:26,639 uh, to convey. So, I'm going to give you the floor. 1535 02:18:23,040 --> 02:18:35,760 » Thank you. And I I I'm believe that this will inform deeper thinking whether what 1536 02:18:30,240 --> 02:18:41,599 we decide remains to be seen. Um, I think everyone by now knows that I 1537 02:18:38,880 --> 02:18:47,280 support the right and responsibility of parents to choose for their families and 1538 02:18:44,559 --> 02:18:53,439 that includes education. It's a right and a responsibility. What's troublesome 1539 02:18:50,319 --> 02:19:00,000 to me about um this application 1540 02:18:57,040 --> 02:19:08,000 is and it's been mentioned in public comment is that in slide six and slide 1541 02:19:04,319 --> 02:19:12,399 16 of the PowerPoint you reference sustainability and risk which I think 1542 02:19:10,240 --> 02:19:17,280 are extremely um precarious in this particular 1543 02:19:15,760 --> 02:19:22,880 situation. Um, I'm troubled by the fact that 1544 02:19:20,639 --> 02:19:26,719 Academica, um, which is out of state, which is 1545 02:19:24,800 --> 02:19:30,639 really neither here nor there because we deal with many companies that are out of 1546 02:19:28,800 --> 02:19:36,240 state, but they don't have to file SEC uh, 1547 02:19:34,160 --> 02:19:41,439 documents. They don't have to show balance sheets. I worked rigorously 1548 02:19:39,519 --> 02:19:47,200 to find um balance sheets so that I could see 1549 02:19:44,160 --> 02:19:52,720 about the health of the company academica. I'm not talking about dural 1550 02:19:50,080 --> 02:19:57,760 now. I'm talking about academica. I could find nothing. My deeper dive 1551 02:19:55,439 --> 02:20:03,600 showed that there is nothing for a person like me to find because they 1552 02:20:00,800 --> 02:20:08,880 don't have to file any of the same documents 1553 02:20:05,120 --> 02:20:14,479 that all 17 public school districts in Nevada 1554 02:20:10,720 --> 02:20:22,399 have to file. So right there that is to me that unlevel playing field and that 1555 02:20:17,680 --> 02:20:27,280 concerns me deeply. to continue. The reference in the good cause 1556 02:20:24,000 --> 02:20:33,520 exemption document is about scaling enrollment. And I get 1557 02:20:30,640 --> 02:20:39,439 the concept. What a beautiful and wonderful opportunity that is not 1558 02:20:36,000 --> 02:20:45,840 available to Wo County School District. We cannot scale enrollment. I wish that 1559 02:20:43,760 --> 02:20:50,479 we could tell parents, I'm sorry, our classrooms are full. By the way, there's 1560 02:20:47,600 --> 02:20:56,240 laws about this. there's NRS that we have to file exemptions every year 1561 02:20:52,560 --> 02:21:01,520 because we don't turn away students and that's the right thing to do. I 1562 02:20:58,319 --> 02:21:05,600 wouldn't want to turn them away. So, we don't get to scale 1563 02:21:04,080 --> 02:21:10,960 enrollment and that's very troublesome to me to be 1564 02:21:08,399 --> 02:21:17,680 honest with you. It pisses me off because it's not right. 1565 02:21:14,160 --> 02:21:22,000 Unlevel playing field. Finally, I will say that yes, Wo County 1566 02:21:20,399 --> 02:21:26,160 School District, there's so many things that we want to do for our students, our 1567 02:21:23,920 --> 02:21:31,319 families, our employees, every employee. And with $9,781 1568 02:21:31,920 --> 02:21:41,760 per pupil, it does tie our hands. But every single day, 247, 365, 1569 02:21:39,600 --> 02:21:47,840 our 8500 employees work their tails off to make 1570 02:21:44,479 --> 02:21:53,040 great things happen. And it's working. It's working. We have so many options 1571 02:21:50,560 --> 02:21:58,319 and so many opportunities. We have lab schools. We have teaching. 1572 02:21:55,920 --> 02:22:02,479 We have research. We do research every day. Talked to a teacher just the other 1573 02:22:00,000 --> 02:22:09,359 day in government about he he's doing action research. It's happening 1574 02:22:04,560 --> 02:22:13,280 throughout our schools, all 104 of them. I love the idea. I've done teacher 1575 02:22:11,359 --> 02:22:17,920 training. I went through fabulous teacher training programs. I am a 1576 02:22:16,160 --> 02:22:25,280 dewist. This is not unique. This is not unique. 1577 02:22:22,319 --> 02:22:31,520 It is an opportunity. I love a good opportunity. But the sustainability 1578 02:22:28,399 --> 02:22:40,319 troubles me greatly because academica cannot show that they're good for 10, 1579 02:22:34,080 --> 02:22:45,600 20, 30, 40 years. So I have to say no. And and I want to leave us with that 1580 02:22:42,399 --> 02:22:49,600 unlevel playing field concept. I'm I'm a lover of quotes and I know I'm a little 1581 02:22:47,359 --> 02:22:56,640 passionate right now, but I think that's a good thing. 1582 02:22:51,520 --> 02:23:03,760 A level playing field is where everyone has an equal chance to succeed by 1583 02:22:59,359 --> 02:23:08,960 following the same rules. Imagine a football game where I get to 1584 02:23:06,800 --> 02:23:13,600 have 20 players and you get to have five and I get to have three balls and my 1585 02:23:10,880 --> 02:23:18,880 field's only 50 yards and yours is 100. This is what we're talking about. And I 1586 02:23:16,319 --> 02:23:24,319 will close with this. I hate when we, the collective, we consider students, 1587 02:23:21,600 --> 02:23:30,640 children, our most precious gift as assets. They are not assets. 1588 02:23:28,319 --> 02:23:35,200 Yet, they represent a dollar that ties all of our hands. They are not assets. 1589 02:23:32,640 --> 02:23:40,240 They're a beautiful future. And so, thank you for letting me have my tirade. 1590 02:23:37,359 --> 02:23:43,439 I appreciate your time. >> Thank you, Trusty Nichollet. Appreciate 1591 02:23:41,840 --> 02:23:48,080 it. Uh, Trusty Smith, >> thank you. And I appreciate Trustee 1592 02:23:45,520 --> 02:23:52,080 Nichollet's words very much. Um, I have a brief clarifying question, just a 1593 02:23:50,560 --> 02:23:57,600 couple, and then maybe we can move forward on a motion. There's so much 1594 02:23:54,479 --> 02:24:01,760 talk about um supporting student teachers and and innovation. Maybe this 1595 02:23:59,600 --> 02:24:07,359 is a question for the superintendent or perhaps one of the the chiefs that we 1596 02:24:03,840 --> 02:24:11,960 have here. Does County School District partner with UNR's College of Education? 1597 02:24:12,720 --> 02:24:18,399 Wash County School District has a long-standing partnership with the 1598 02:24:15,840 --> 02:24:23,040 University of Nevada Reno. Um in fact, we do have a partnership um with the New 1599 02:24:21,280 --> 02:24:28,000 Von Middle School opening up with the lab school classroom um that's right 1600 02:24:25,680 --> 02:24:32,880 next door. We've been hosting student teachers for many years. Um we have 1601 02:24:30,960 --> 02:24:37,120 practicum relationships where our students um come and learn very early on 1602 02:24:35,520 --> 02:24:40,080 in their careers. So yes, we've been working in partnership with the college 1603 02:24:38,399 --> 02:24:44,160 of education and I would say that that relationship continues to grow and 1604 02:24:42,560 --> 02:24:50,000 improve every day. >> So the answer would be yes, we do work 1605 02:24:46,399 --> 02:24:55,520 with UNR's College of Education and also yes, we have observation rooms that just 1606 02:24:52,720 --> 02:25:00,479 opened an observation lab that studies highquality instruction at our schools. 1607 02:24:58,319 --> 02:25:06,080 Would it also be yes that we work in partnership with UNR faculty on the 1608 02:25:03,040 --> 02:25:13,520 development of education? Yes. Excellent. Uh, yes, we host and 1609 02:25:09,439 --> 02:25:16,640 support student teachers from UNR. >> Yes. 1610 02:25:14,240 --> 02:25:17,840 » And yes, we pilot curriculum for the state. 1611 02:25:17,359 --> 02:25:22,560 » Yes. >> Yes. And yes. Um, would the answer be 1612 02:25:20,479 --> 02:25:26,880 yes that we offer teacher training here in the county school district? Yes. And 1613 02:25:24,800 --> 02:25:31,439 then would the answer be yes that we support research in partnership with UNR 1614 02:25:29,359 --> 02:25:34,319 and other Nevada based institutions? Yes. 1615 02:25:31,840 --> 02:25:36,080 » Excellent. Does you andR know that we do this with them? 1616 02:25:35,280 --> 02:25:40,640 » Yes. >> Okay. Maybe we could make a one sheet 1617 02:25:38,319 --> 02:25:45,680 for them so that they understand that as well too. I am deeply concerned about 1618 02:25:42,720 --> 02:25:51,120 why they're confused about the research and labs that already exist. Um but that 1619 02:25:49,040 --> 02:25:55,920 was my my point of clarification for that. Second one is um board president, 1620 02:25:53,600 --> 02:26:01,120 this might be for you. Um, depending on the outcome of today's action, would you 1621 02:25:58,560 --> 02:26:06,080 or a representative be able to also speak on behalf of the board, the 1622 02:26:03,280 --> 02:26:10,240 district will take its position, but the next meeting would be at the state 1623 02:26:07,439 --> 02:26:14,080 public charter school authority meeting. Would you be able to speak on our behalf 1624 02:26:12,240 --> 02:26:18,560 in addition to whatever it is we support on a district level? 1625 02:26:16,160 --> 02:26:24,080 » Sure. Uh um I certainly would be uh amendable to that uh if if if we land if 1626 02:26:22,080 --> 02:26:27,040 if if I'm supportive of whatever comments that we provide. Sure. 1627 02:26:25,520 --> 02:26:31,520 » I appreciate that. I know we can all speak individually as trustees and we 1628 02:26:28,800 --> 02:26:34,640 don't need to do that. Um but only one representative can speak with the 1629 02:26:33,040 --> 02:26:39,120 authority of the board and that's either the president or someone you designate. 1630 02:26:37,120 --> 02:26:42,560 » Okay, those are the only clarifying questions I have and you know we can 1631 02:26:40,960 --> 02:26:47,520 move forward with a motion or whatever the pleasure of the board is for the 1632 02:26:44,479 --> 02:26:47,520 first part. 1633 02:26:49,359 --> 02:26:55,120 Um, Mr. Dyer. >> Yeah, President Mayberry, I just had a 1634 02:26:53,040 --> 02:26:57,760 couple of follow-ups for Trusty Smith. She had asked a couple questions I did 1635 02:26:56,479 --> 02:27:00,560 not have answers for earlier. >> Just thank you. 1636 02:26:58,640 --> 02:27:05,600 » Um, Trusty Smith, you had asked about can uh, Dur Academy use public funds to 1637 02:27:03,040 --> 02:27:11,760 build uh, this building on UNR land. And uh, the statutory reference on that is 1638 02:27:08,080 --> 02:27:18,319 SP 384 from 2013. It was codified as NRS 388A 378. And that does provide for the 1639 02:27:15,520 --> 02:27:22,319 use of public funds for construction and quote to use the public money for 1640 02:27:20,000 --> 02:27:27,359 purchase to purchase real real property or buildings with the approval of the 1641 02:27:24,479 --> 02:27:30,960 sponsor. Um, and I believe that ties into your next question that you had 1642 02:27:28,720 --> 02:27:34,560 about using unrestricted or unreserved funds for um, this building. And I 1643 02:27:33,200 --> 02:27:39,120 believe the answer to that is yes, under that same framework. So long as there's 1644 02:27:37,280 --> 02:27:43,600 approval of the sponsor and they have determined that it's, you know, 1645 02:27:40,479 --> 02:27:48,000 responsible good use of the those funds. >> Yeah, I appreciate that clarification. I 1646 02:27:45,840 --> 02:27:52,800 wonder if the parents whose money went to the before and after school care or 1647 02:27:49,920 --> 02:27:58,800 their enrichment programs knew that savings were being swept into a future 1648 02:27:55,520 --> 02:28:02,000 fund to buy a building for UNR. Um I would we'd have to go back and actually 1649 02:28:00,399 --> 02:28:06,399 see what those materials were if they understood that when they were paying or 1650 02:28:04,399 --> 02:28:10,720 the taxpayers were paying for that. I >> I cannot comment on that part. And uh 1651 02:28:08,800 --> 02:28:15,280 second point I also wanted to note was um regarding prevailing wage. There is a 1652 02:28:12,640 --> 02:28:20,479 component in the contract with UNR under article 8 which is attachment 8 page 21 1653 02:28:17,840 --> 02:28:25,200 that says that they agree to use comply with prevailing wage laws for the 1654 02:28:21,920 --> 02:28:28,960 development of the project. Just as you know another little piece I think that 1655 02:28:26,800 --> 02:28:31,200 came up as discussion earlier. >> Thank you. 1656 02:28:29,520 --> 02:28:37,520 » Thank you sir. Appreciate uh the due diligence and the followup. That's 1657 02:28:32,880 --> 02:28:44,720 helpful. Trusty Westlake. Um, I I had a a question, but then I also I I was a 1658 02:28:41,040 --> 02:28:51,439 witness when I went to introduce myself and meet the new principal at Sepulva 1659 02:28:47,359 --> 02:28:57,040 Elementary School. Uh we had uh education students from UNR that were 1660 02:28:54,640 --> 02:29:03,840 visiting that day and that they were opened with welcome arms just as any 1661 02:28:59,520 --> 02:29:09,760 school we would welcome um student educators into our into our schools. So 1662 02:29:07,200 --> 02:29:18,479 that's it's it's a given. We already have have that element built in through 1663 02:29:13,920 --> 02:29:23,600 Van's lab and through our welcome welcoming nature for any education 1664 02:29:21,200 --> 02:29:31,200 students to come in and observe or participate in our classroom. So that is 1665 02:29:27,200 --> 02:29:38,960 not unique to this lab school that it's being touted as a lab school. Uh a 1666 02:29:35,200 --> 02:29:46,000 question I have um [snorts] uh this uh public dollars are being 1667 02:29:42,960 --> 02:29:53,920 redirected into a forprofit education model. Uh Deral does not have 1668 02:29:49,520 --> 02:29:59,920 the academic model or hysteric histo I was going to say hysterical historical 1669 02:29:56,720 --> 02:30:04,319 record of servicing at risk learners. Would that be a true or false statement? 1670 02:30:04,560 --> 02:30:13,439 Based on the data that we have available to us, they uh no, they have a very 1671 02:30:10,640 --> 02:30:17,840 limited or zero at risk school population. 1672 02:30:14,240 --> 02:30:23,840 » And uh true or false or if you want to add something to it, but at risk 1673 02:30:20,160 --> 02:30:31,600 students require a lot of supports, which they deserve. 1674 02:30:26,319 --> 02:30:40,160 um a lot of supports and extra um extra services and does has Dural in the past 1675 02:30:37,120 --> 02:30:42,720 supported and served these at risk students? 1676 02:30:40,800 --> 02:30:49,040 » Uh I I can only speak to the one year where the data was available um that I 1677 02:30:45,280 --> 02:30:55,280 that was reviewed at that time. No. Um remember for the state we do have 1678 02:30:51,920 --> 02:31:00,080 special at risk funding that the state allocates to school districts to use to 1679 02:30:58,000 --> 02:31:05,520 address the specific needs for our atrisisk learners which indicates that 1680 02:31:02,560 --> 02:31:11,040 yes they do require above and beyond what a quote unquote typical learner um 1681 02:31:09,439 --> 02:31:18,000 needs and I do want to remind everyone for the 1682 02:31:13,920 --> 02:31:25,760 record that at risk students sometimes uh two, three 1683 02:31:21,120 --> 02:31:32,240 special needs and we're only given funds for one weighted need per 1684 02:31:29,359 --> 02:31:36,800 child. Even if they have two or three weighted needs, we are servicing and 1685 02:31:35,120 --> 02:31:41,439 supporting sometimes more than just one weighted 1686 02:31:38,960 --> 02:31:45,760 need that we are funded for. >> Correct. I mean, a student could be 1687 02:31:43,680 --> 02:31:49,280 identified as at risk, could be identified as an EL learner, could be 1688 02:31:48,000 --> 02:31:53,200 identified as a student with a disability. And each one of those 1689 02:31:51,280 --> 02:31:59,240 weights, we don't get weights for all three. We only get a weight for one. 1690 02:31:56,000 --> 02:31:59,240 » Thank you. 1691 02:31:59,600 --> 02:32:03,760 » Okay. Thank you. >> Uh, trust. 1692 02:32:02,479 --> 02:32:07,359 » Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. >> I was going to make a motion, but I'll 1693 02:32:06,640 --> 02:32:12,000 » Yes. >> Oh, 1694 02:32:08,319 --> 02:32:16,800 » I didn't see. Please, Kaylee. Um, I do have a question on why don't we like put 1695 02:32:14,800 --> 02:32:21,200 funds into the existing schools rather than a new school? Whether it's 1696 02:32:18,720 --> 02:32:26,720 expending expanding school buildings to make them bigger, having more counselors 1697 02:32:23,680 --> 02:32:32,560 for to help students individually, more teachers to in schools to help the on 1698 02:32:29,359 --> 02:32:39,080 the one-on-one in smaller classes or as well as funding for like the student 1699 02:32:35,040 --> 02:32:39,080 teachers in every school. 1700 02:32:40,880 --> 02:32:44,680 Somebody want to take that? 1701 02:32:46,160 --> 02:32:54,160 » I'll try and I'll try and uh respond to that. I mean, it's a it's a great 1702 02:32:50,240 --> 02:32:59,600 question, honestly, and I attempted to speak to it earlier when I talked about 1703 02:32:57,120 --> 02:33:05,040 our long-term financial plans that we work so hard to establish and our 1704 02:33:01,840 --> 02:33:11,760 long-term uh facility plans that we work so hard to establish based on historical 1705 02:33:07,920 --> 02:33:16,560 patterns and projected revenue and, you know, enrollment needs. And we have made 1706 02:33:14,000 --> 02:33:21,840 a number of decisions um based on our best thinking and a lot 1707 02:33:19,280 --> 02:33:26,800 of hard work about where we anticipate investing our dollars for next fiscal 1708 02:33:24,399 --> 02:33:32,399 year and where we anticipate investing our dollars into facilities for years to 1709 02:33:29,439 --> 02:33:37,040 come, including in some instances the closure of some schools and 1710 02:33:34,240 --> 02:33:42,160 consolidation of enrollment zones. That work is complicated and painstaking and 1711 02:33:40,160 --> 02:33:50,479 the work that often comes before this board and this new proposed school uh 1712 02:33:47,120 --> 02:33:55,280 would represent a major change or new variable that would inform that plan. So 1713 02:33:52,800 --> 02:33:58,319 it would require some adjustments um that that we would all have to wrestle 1714 02:33:56,880 --> 02:34:01,359 with. >> That's it. Thank you. 1715 02:33:59,680 --> 02:34:04,640 » You bet. >> Okay, Trusty Smith. 1716 02:34:03,200 --> 02:34:08,399 » All right, just a quick point of clarification. And the first motion 1717 02:34:06,640 --> 02:34:13,200 should be for our board to take a position and then we would continue the 1718 02:34:10,880 --> 02:34:17,840 meeting and talk about the areas of emphasis in the response. 1719 02:34:16,319 --> 02:34:23,520 » Correct. I think it'd be a lot easier if if we came to a consensus on what 1720 02:34:20,319 --> 02:34:27,600 direction we want to move forward on and then we can begin to talk about the 1721 02:34:26,080 --> 02:34:29,520 input that we want to provide to the charter committee, the charter 1722 02:34:29,120 --> 02:34:34,399 authority. >> Yeah. 1723 02:34:31,120 --> 02:34:36,240 » All right. Then I will take a shot here. Oh. Oh, go ahead. No, no, no. You go. 1724 02:34:36,000 --> 02:34:40,960 Yeah. >> All right. Because I just want to 1725 02:34:37,280 --> 02:34:49,920 express my thoughts similar to uh my fellow trustees Wesley and uh Dr. Dye. 1726 02:34:45,200 --> 02:34:54,560 So, I'm a title one student graduate. Aside from the fact that as stated 1727 02:34:52,640 --> 02:35:01,359 earlier in the public comment, you know, this looks like a I think it's slide 22 1728 02:34:57,280 --> 02:35:06,000 that breaks down the costs and um the investments that would be made on this 1729 02:35:03,200 --> 02:35:11,840 property that they will never own. That looks like a reckless um financial 1730 02:35:09,439 --> 02:35:17,200 decision or approach. Um which is easy to make if you're not 1731 02:35:14,800 --> 02:35:22,640 making any personal investment. If I have the prop the abil if I have the 1732 02:35:19,600 --> 02:35:27,280 ability to make these investments with someone else's money 1733 02:35:25,120 --> 02:35:32,479 and lose it, possibly lose it and never gain anything out of it, I would I think 1734 02:35:28,880 --> 02:35:37,600 I would take this as well. And that's what my concern is and that's 1735 02:35:34,640 --> 02:35:44,240 why I feel the way I feel because first and foremost, if we're going to have any 1736 02:35:40,560 --> 02:35:49,439 other schools in our district, I need them to have the exact same demographics 1737 02:35:46,880 --> 02:35:55,040 that we have. I need them to have title one students. I need them to have free 1738 02:35:52,000 --> 02:35:59,760 lunch students. I need them to match the service that we're providing. So unless 1739 02:35:57,600 --> 02:36:05,359 you're doing that, you should not have access to our funds. But that's 1740 02:36:02,319 --> 02:36:11,040 separate. Apart from that, I think that this is 1741 02:36:07,120 --> 02:36:16,720 a bad deal overall and there's no way I could support something like this. So, 1742 02:36:13,439 --> 02:36:21,600 just wanted to share that. Thank you, T. >> Okay. Thank you, um, Vice President 1743 02:36:19,680 --> 02:36:24,880 Woodley. And we can certainly have a motion in a second, then we can have 1744 02:36:23,200 --> 02:36:30,640 some further discussion before we take a final vote if you want to do that. 1745 02:36:28,160 --> 02:36:34,479 » No, I just wanted to do that. same as uh Alex did there. And I just really wanted 1746 02:36:32,800 --> 02:36:38,240 to I'll just sum it up real quick here. I heard the public comment and I 1747 02:36:36,160 --> 02:36:41,680 appreciate uh again, you know, the what was said about uh innovative and finding 1748 02:36:40,319 --> 02:36:46,399 ways to move forward with charter schools and the purpose of it. Uh but uh 1749 02:36:44,399 --> 02:36:50,319 again looking at the law part of it there just on what was stated here, 1750 02:36:48,240 --> 02:36:54,160 there was a lot of loopholes uh that was already stated. So I won't go into that. 1751 02:36:52,000 --> 02:36:58,800 And then some of the facts that the team presented, you know, uh there was some 1752 02:36:56,720 --> 02:37:03,120 pretty uh there were some questions that weren't unanswered there. And then the 1753 02:37:01,200 --> 02:37:06,080 data uh again sticking to our institutional knowledge and the 1754 02:37:04,319 --> 02:37:09,680 expertise that we have about the demographic and the financial 1755 02:37:07,439 --> 02:37:13,280 projections raised uh before us today. So, you know, basically there's a lot of 1756 02:37:11,280 --> 02:37:17,600 big questions there and then going into the risk uh you know the sign 1757 02:37:15,760 --> 02:37:21,680 significant uncertainty of the the timeline being very aggressive and can 1758 02:37:19,840 --> 02:37:25,439 you can you not to allude to a public comment that was made about is that a 1759 02:37:23,680 --> 02:37:31,200 good deal or what real estate uh thinking. So uh that's uh where I really 1760 02:37:28,000 --> 02:37:35,439 stand with that and also the student uh remain the concern about whether the 1761 02:37:33,040 --> 02:37:39,520 expansion truly serves everyone you know and then is that the need uh there's a 1762 02:37:37,359 --> 02:37:44,160 lot more that goes into it but again the accountability I want to be clear assure 1763 02:37:41,359 --> 02:37:47,200 that governing board that you guys are taking on this deal and if you do you're 1764 02:37:45,920 --> 02:37:50,960 doing everything right by the book and you're making a first time go and what 1765 02:37:49,200 --> 02:37:54,399 that means militarily speaking that you're going to get expert on this and 1766 02:37:52,640 --> 02:38:00,319 you've got it dialed in. There is no deviation. you're you're absolutely 100% 1767 02:37:58,240 --> 02:38:04,399 uh correct and you get it straight the first time and I don't feel that you 1768 02:38:02,479 --> 02:38:08,479 know I don't see that based on the the facts and the data and specifically the 1769 02:38:06,319 --> 02:38:12,240 piece that I like about the law. Um so I just kind of wanted to sum that piece up 1770 02:38:10,399 --> 02:38:15,240 there uh just in a nutshell. So thank you. 1771 02:38:15,439 --> 02:38:25,040 » Thank you. Um, I will also add to that that as a trustee of this district, we 1772 02:38:23,120 --> 02:38:29,760 talk a lot and we have spoken a lot about our traditional public schools, 1773 02:38:27,760 --> 02:38:35,040 but we have also heard loud and clear from the local grassroots nonprofit 1774 02:38:32,080 --> 02:38:40,800 charters that this directly threatens them and their taxpayer investments, 1775 02:38:37,120 --> 02:38:45,840 too. This very board recently approved Mariposa Language and Learning Academy, 1776 02:38:43,040 --> 02:38:51,439 which is a title one school. educating 100% free and reduced lunch 1777 02:38:48,319 --> 02:38:55,920 students and they just spent millions of taxpayer dollars to expand their school 1778 02:38:53,680 --> 02:39:02,399 with a full and unanimous vote of this board by the way. And so my position on 1779 02:38:59,439 --> 02:39:06,319 this is absolutely student focused, making sure that every child has an 1780 02:39:04,640 --> 02:39:10,080 opportunity to learn in the best environment and we have those 1781 02:39:08,319 --> 02:39:13,520 environments here within our own district and within our district 1782 02:39:11,760 --> 02:39:20,399 sponsored charters. And so I do want to acknowledge the um incredible response 1783 02:39:17,120 --> 02:39:25,840 from local grassroots charters that this would undermine and endanger their own 1784 02:39:23,359 --> 02:39:31,120 schools too. So I really want to be very clear that this is not being framed uh 1785 02:39:28,479 --> 02:39:37,280 from a public district with charters because our local nonprofit charters uh 1786 02:39:33,760 --> 02:39:43,120 stand against this application as well. So, on that note, um I will go ahead and 1787 02:39:40,560 --> 02:39:47,439 um make a shot at a first motion and we'll see where we go with that. I move 1788 02:39:45,600 --> 02:39:52,640 that the board of trustees directs the superintendent to submit a formal 1789 02:39:49,600 --> 02:39:56,080 position of opposition in response to the state public charter school 1790 02:39:54,080 --> 02:40:01,439 authority request regarding the amendment application by the UNR DORAL 1791 02:39:59,520 --> 02:40:05,080 Academy of Northern Nevada corporate charter school franchise 1792 02:40:06,000 --> 02:40:13,200 » and I'll second that. >> Okay, we have clarifying question from 1793 02:40:10,560 --> 02:40:18,399 the superintendent. Um, yes. I just want to clarify um did we intend to have the 1794 02:40:16,000 --> 02:40:23,920 letter come from the superintendent or from the board of trustees and um 1795 02:40:21,680 --> 02:40:27,280 written by the president on behalf of the board? 1796 02:40:25,760 --> 02:40:31,280 » Well, that's a good thing. I I thought we were giving direction to you on what 1797 02:40:29,520 --> 02:40:36,880 staff is going to put together for the response. Um, 1798 02:40:34,720 --> 02:40:43,720 so I would assume that whatever position we take would everything else would be 1799 02:40:39,600 --> 02:40:43,720 born from that position, 1800 02:40:44,080 --> 02:40:49,760 but I'm more than happy to make an adjustment to that because we're not 1801 02:40:47,359 --> 02:40:53,680 just deciding as a board, aren't we also directing you and staff for what we're 1802 02:40:52,080 --> 02:40:56,960 going to submit? >> My understanding, and I'll I'll lead to 1803 02:40:55,439 --> 02:41:00,880 to general counsel on this, is we're we're collectively deciding as a board. 1804 02:40:59,120 --> 02:41:05,680 And then the second piece of this will be what that letter looks like. And so 1805 02:41:03,840 --> 02:41:10,720 it it technically is the board, not the superintendent. 1806 02:41:07,200 --> 02:41:16,560 Is am I correct with that? >> Yes. Um so it would come from the board. 1807 02:41:13,920 --> 02:41:21,439 Um so all of the vote in the letter would come from the board if if the 1808 02:41:19,439 --> 02:41:24,720 board gives direction for staff to assist with that. I don't think that 1809 02:41:23,200 --> 02:41:30,399 goes beyond the scope of the agenda item. But I but I do believe the the 1810 02:41:27,439 --> 02:41:34,720 agenda item is for the board to uh for this to come from board input to the 1811 02:41:32,160 --> 02:41:39,680 SPCSA. Okay. So, if I were to make a friendly, 1812 02:41:37,680 --> 02:41:45,120 would I say that I move that the board of trustees takes a formal position of 1813 02:41:42,479 --> 02:41:50,479 opposition in response to the state public charter school authority request 1814 02:41:48,080 --> 02:41:58,439 regarding the amendment application by the UNR DO Academy of Northern Nevada 1815 02:41:54,399 --> 02:41:58,439 corporate charter school franchise. 1816 02:42:00,640 --> 02:42:08,000 » Sure. I'm sending it to JJ, too, so she has it. I move that the board of 1817 02:42:04,800 --> 02:42:13,439 trustees takes the formal position of opposition in response to the state 1818 02:42:10,560 --> 02:42:20,160 public charter school authority request regarding the amendment application by 1819 02:42:16,399 --> 02:42:28,520 the UNR DORAL Academy of Northern Nevada corporate charter school franchise 1820 02:42:24,240 --> 02:42:28,520 » and I'll second that. 1821 02:42:29,200 --> 02:42:38,160 » Okay. Outstanding. Thank you. We got a first uh a motion by Trusty Smith, 1822 02:42:33,680 --> 02:42:41,680 second by um Trusty Phoenix. I uh some more discussion. I do want to just chime 1823 02:42:40,080 --> 02:42:46,880 in too. I haven't had uh that opportunity yet. Um 1824 02:42:44,479 --> 02:42:50,720 I I will just say that, you know, in in my five year and I took some notes so I 1825 02:42:49,200 --> 02:42:54,399 I don't get sidetracked. So, forgive me if I'm looking down on my screen. But in 1826 02:42:52,560 --> 02:42:59,120 my five years on this board, you know, this the public school charter school 1827 02:42:56,880 --> 02:43:04,160 tugof-war is it's really been uncomfortable for me personally. I know 1828 02:43:01,680 --> 02:43:07,359 the value of both and the debate has become so polarized to the point where I 1829 02:43:06,160 --> 02:43:11,359 think it's almost seemingly there's no there's no compromise to it. I I want to 1830 02:43:10,000 --> 02:43:16,560 begin by acknowledging something I think is important and that's high performing 1831 02:43:13,200 --> 02:43:19,520 charter school proposal. Uh, I recognize the work that's been gone gone into 1832 02:43:18,319 --> 02:43:22,319 developing the school and the educational opportunities that it would 1833 02:43:20,880 --> 02:43:25,680 provide our students. And I I don't believe that we should dismiss the 1834 02:43:23,840 --> 02:43:29,280 proposal simply because it is a charter school. But I also have to approach this 1835 02:43:27,680 --> 02:43:33,359 decision from a perspective of responsibility as a trustee of the 1836 02:43:31,359 --> 02:43:36,640 county school district. And the reality is that the overwhelming majority of our 1837 02:43:35,040 --> 02:43:40,240 students [snorts] in this community will continue to attend our traditional 1838 02:43:38,160 --> 02:43:43,359 public schools. That means our responsibility is to protect the 1839 02:43:41,600 --> 02:43:46,720 strength, the stability, the long-term viability of the public school system 1840 02:43:44,960 --> 02:43:50,800 that serves the vast majority of children in this community. I think if 1841 02:43:48,880 --> 02:43:54,319 we were not facing very real financial challenges on the horizon, I think the 1842 02:43:52,319 --> 02:43:58,160 conversation could be different. I think the fact is that we have critical needs 1843 02:43:56,080 --> 02:44:01,600 in our schools from staffing and student services to maintaining our buildings 1844 02:43:59,840 --> 02:44:06,720 and providing the programs our students deserve. And at a time when enrollment 1845 02:44:03,840 --> 02:44:09,600 is declining regionally and nationally, adding another charter school means 1846 02:44:08,080 --> 02:44:13,040 additional public resources being directed outside the district at a time 1847 02:44:11,439 --> 02:44:17,359 when those resources are already stretched. So I I want to be honest with 1848 02:44:15,359 --> 02:44:21,840 this issue. Uh we have a charter schools. We have our own charter schools 1849 02:44:19,600 --> 02:44:25,600 that we sponsor. Some of those schools are not performing 1850 02:44:23,200 --> 02:44:30,399 at the level that we expect. We have an obligation to look in the mirror and ask 1851 02:44:27,279 --> 02:44:33,920 ourselves why that is happening. And we cannot stand here and argue that every 1852 02:44:31,920 --> 02:44:37,359 character or that every charter school rather is a threat to public education 1853 02:44:35,760 --> 02:44:40,720 while ignoring the challenges within the charter schools that we ourselves 1854 02:44:38,720 --> 02:44:44,720 sponsor. I think that's an important part of this conversation for me and for 1855 02:44:43,200 --> 02:44:48,399 another time. But this isn't about whether charter schools are can be good 1856 02:44:46,399 --> 02:44:52,000 schools. They absolutely can be. This is about whether creating another charter 1857 02:44:49,840 --> 02:44:56,479 school is in the best interest of the entire public education system that we 1858 02:44:53,920 --> 02:45:00,160 are responsible for governing as a body. So as a trustee, my first obligation is 1859 02:44:58,399 --> 02:45:03,439 to the students, families, the staff of the Washoe County School District have 1860 02:45:02,000 --> 02:45:06,960 to consider not only the students who may benefit from this particular school, 1861 02:45:05,439 --> 02:45:10,720 but also the tens of thousands of students who remain in our district 1862 02:45:08,319 --> 02:45:14,240 schools and depend upon us to provide them with a high quality education. I 1863 02:45:12,399 --> 02:45:18,560 respect the people behind this proposal deeply. I respect the performance of 1864 02:45:16,080 --> 02:45:22,160 this particular charter, but respecting a proposal and supporting it are two 1865 02:45:20,319 --> 02:45:25,840 different things. So I believe we can support educational choice while also 1866 02:45:23,920 --> 02:45:29,439 recognizing that public resources are finite. And when these resources are 1867 02:45:27,920 --> 02:45:32,240 finite, I believe our responsibility is to make sure the system serving the 1868 02:45:30,880 --> 02:45:36,000 greatest number of children remain strong, financially sustainable, and 1869 02:45:34,479 --> 02:45:40,080 capable of meeting the needs of every student who walks through our doors. So 1870 02:45:37,840 --> 02:45:44,880 for those reasons, I um I'll be supporting the motion. Thank you. All 1871 02:45:43,040 --> 02:45:48,479 right. Any other further comments, discussions? All in favor? We have a 1872 02:45:47,040 --> 02:45:52,560 motion from Trusty Smith, second from Trusty Phoenix. So all the a motion 1873 02:45:50,080 --> 02:45:57,439 please signify by saying I in favor. >> All oppose. Okay. Motion carries 1874 02:45:54,319 --> 02:46:01,279 unanimously. Thank you. >> Okay. So now we'll go to part two of 1875 02:45:59,120 --> 02:46:11,600 this and uh we have an opportunity to provide input to the SPC 1876 02:46:05,920 --> 02:46:14,800 SA. Uh and that hearing is the deadline is September 8th and a hearing is 1877 02:46:13,120 --> 02:46:19,279 October is October 8th. Thank you. 1878 02:46:17,359 --> 02:46:22,479 Um so now that we collectively agree to 1879 02:46:20,880 --> 02:46:29,520 oppose uh entertain some discussion on what 1880 02:46:25,359 --> 02:46:31,359 those uh those public inputs um will be for us. 1881 02:46:31,040 --> 02:46:35,279 » Okay. >> Uh Mr. President, if I'll start off I'll 1882 02:46:33,680 --> 02:46:38,399 just point out one >> um 1883 02:46:36,479 --> 02:46:42,560 » only because I used to write a lot of these types of uh staff reports. So I 1884 02:46:40,640 --> 02:46:47,840 think first and foremost I would like to see us identify any which we have 1885 02:46:45,600 --> 02:46:52,800 already identified staff has violations of NAC in the process. So anything that 1886 02:46:51,040 --> 02:46:58,800 they were required to do that they haven't done that should be first and 1887 02:46:54,399 --> 02:47:05,319 foremost in our letter to the board. >> Thank you. Thank you. Okay. They need to 1888 02:47:01,760 --> 02:47:05,319 follow their own rules. 1889 02:47:07,439 --> 02:47:16,000 » Trusty Smith. >> Thank you. Um, so I have read through 1890 02:47:12,399 --> 02:47:21,840 this like no less than five times and I, you know me well enough to know that I'm 1891 02:47:17,600 --> 02:47:28,560 not playing. Um, so I have a few areas that I would like us to please focus on 1892 02:47:26,000 --> 02:47:31,840 uh that were also missing from the staff presentation. So first I want to say 1893 02:47:30,560 --> 02:47:34,960 everything you had in the staff presentation I think is really 1894 02:47:33,200 --> 02:47:40,319 important. I'd like to see all that carried forward, but there were a few 1895 02:47:37,760 --> 02:47:45,840 areas that we didn't really answer some of the points of the application and 1896 02:47:43,279 --> 02:47:51,520 that is around the star ratings and the real academic area overview of this 1897 02:47:49,040 --> 02:47:55,840 school. Okay? because this is an area where very reasonably the state public 1898 02:47:54,160 --> 02:47:59,840 charter school authority will read the application and go oh you know there are 1899 02:47:58,160 --> 02:48:04,640 all these one and two star schools and so we know that there are only certain 1900 02:48:02,399 --> 02:48:10,800 rules where charter schools are allowed to open. 1901 02:48:06,640 --> 02:48:15,040 So in the vein of that we absolutely need to address the fact that there are 1902 02:48:12,720 --> 02:48:18,640 no underserved students in the Reno community. That statement is made 1903 02:48:16,720 --> 02:48:24,960 multiple times in the application and it is not correct uh whatsoever. Our 1904 02:48:22,319 --> 02:48:30,041 educators do provide and meet every need as we are you know that's the whole 1905 02:48:26,880 --> 02:48:32,800 point of you know FAPE you know. So [clears throat] 1906 02:48:30,800 --> 02:48:38,479 this is where I think we need to really focus in the response and that's the 1907 02:48:35,840 --> 02:48:42,240 star rating weaponization. So, we'll look at Hidden Valley Elementary School, 1908 02:48:40,399 --> 02:48:46,000 which one of our commenters mentioned the same thing, and I I knew I was going 1909 02:48:44,000 --> 02:48:50,479 to bring this up as well. So, this school is only allowed in this 1910 02:48:48,319 --> 02:48:54,399 particular plot of land because it's right down the street from Hidden 1911 02:48:51,840 --> 02:48:58,000 Valley. And I mean, literally right down one street. It's about a mile away, less 1912 02:48:56,319 --> 02:49:02,399 than a mile to Hidden Valley Elementary School. And Hidden Valley Elementary 1913 02:48:59,840 --> 02:49:07,600 School is a twostar school, but it's only a twostar school because it has 1914 02:49:05,120 --> 02:49:13,279 several intensive special education and behavioral programs there. And those um 1915 02:49:10,960 --> 02:49:17,200 those students are integrated with general education students, which is 1916 02:49:14,960 --> 02:49:22,960 what we're supposed to do. And this is how star ratings get weaponized. Uh so I 1917 02:49:20,880 --> 02:49:27,600 would point out that yes, Hidden Valley is a two-star school, but here's why. 1918 02:49:26,319 --> 02:49:31,120 Because if we didn't have those intensive programs there, I mean, it 1919 02:49:29,680 --> 02:49:37,279 would conceivably be a three or a four-star school. And this proposed 1920 02:49:34,800 --> 02:49:42,720 franchise school won't even have any of those programs. So, Hidden Valley 1921 02:49:38,880 --> 02:49:47,279 specifically serves a population of 25% special education and 15% English 1922 02:49:45,680 --> 02:49:51,439 language learners. That's based on the most recent Nevada academic framework. 1923 02:49:49,760 --> 02:49:56,960 And I think we should point out that this school by its own admission is not 1924 02:49:54,080 --> 02:50:02,479 educating these kids. But yet the placement for this school is allowed 1925 02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:05,920 because Hidden Valley is a twoar school. And I think that's something we really 1926 02:50:04,000 --> 02:50:11,040 need to look at. And then we need to pull it out more broadly. The 1927 02:50:08,080 --> 02:50:17,040 application references the 89520 zip code which is um I think intentionally 1928 02:50:14,399 --> 02:50:22,080 misleading when you look at where 89502 actually goes on a map. 1929 02:50:19,520 --> 02:50:28,399 this school location is on the the edge of it. It's very very close to 89521, 1930 02:50:24,880 --> 02:50:32,399 which I'll get to in a minute. Um, so it pulls from this area again as 1931 02:50:30,560 --> 02:50:37,600 justification, but I believe this application is disqualified 1932 02:50:35,279 --> 02:50:42,000 when you look at the real radius of this school. This is really important, folks. 1933 02:50:40,160 --> 02:50:45,840 And in the staff presentation, we didn't talk about star ratings, but the state 1934 02:50:44,080 --> 02:50:51,840 public charter school authority must deny if it does not have reasonable 1935 02:50:49,760 --> 02:50:57,840 educational environments around it. Here's why this is so important. This 1936 02:50:54,319 --> 02:51:03,520 school is literally down the road from the original, the first hopefully only 1937 02:51:01,200 --> 02:51:08,479 Doral Academy that's there in South Reno. It's literally the exact same road 1938 02:51:05,920 --> 02:51:16,000 that goes straight there. in this land is two miles away from 89521. 1939 02:51:12,160 --> 02:51:20,399 So if we look at 89502 and as far as that zone goes from this school and we 1940 02:51:18,080 --> 02:51:23,920 were to do a full radius that is really what we need to explain 1941 02:51:22,479 --> 02:51:29,920 to the state public charter school authority because what they will see in 1942 02:51:26,399 --> 02:51:36,240 our response is two things. One, this school is asking to open in school year 1943 02:51:32,160 --> 02:51:41,279 2028. So our response should include all the schools in that full radius and how 1944 02:51:38,800 --> 02:51:45,200 many of our schools are closing. So remember we're in our last year of 1945 02:51:43,120 --> 02:51:48,880 service for Dodson, that's a twostar school. Corbett, that's a one-star 1946 02:51:47,120 --> 02:51:52,240 school. And Veterans, that's a one-star school. We're closing those schools. So 1947 02:51:50,960 --> 02:51:58,080 the state public charter school authority should know that and we should 1948 02:51:54,560 --> 02:52:03,200 reflect what schools we'll have in 2028 and shortly thereafter. And then we also 1949 02:52:00,880 --> 02:52:07,040 need to actually include the star ratings um and the performance of our 1950 02:52:05,520 --> 02:52:13,600 district sponsored charters. We've got Ace High School and 89502 Coral Academy 1951 02:52:10,399 --> 02:52:19,359 High School, four and five star schools. But the real goal with this is and I 1952 02:52:16,479 --> 02:52:24,160 think disqualifies the application is that this proposed school is only like I 1953 02:52:21,600 --> 02:52:29,200 said two miles away right down one road to 89521. 1954 02:52:26,080 --> 02:52:35,439 It is the closest area to the highest concentration of top starrated schools 1955 02:52:32,160 --> 02:52:39,840 in the entire state which is South Reno. So when you actually look at a map the 1956 02:52:38,000 --> 02:52:43,920 application claims that the second campus is centrally located. It is no 1957 02:52:42,160 --> 02:52:48,640 such thing. It is literally directly down the street from the original 1958 02:52:46,240 --> 02:52:54,960 location. Um it's right on the edge there. what it is in the radius of is in 1959 02:52:52,319 --> 02:53:00,800 seven fivestar schools, two fourstar schools, three um three star schools um 1960 02:52:58,560 --> 02:53:05,359 including a five-star high school. The reason why this is important is that if 1961 02:53:02,479 --> 02:53:08,960 our response fails to acknowledge the star ratings of the whole area and take 1962 02:53:07,520 --> 02:53:13,680 into account the schools that are closing, we're missing an opportunity to 1963 02:53:11,439 --> 02:53:19,920 directly respond to why charters are allowed to be established. And this area 1964 02:53:17,040 --> 02:53:24,479 is absolutely not an underperforming area under any shape or size or 1965 02:53:22,880 --> 02:53:30,479 anything. And I think that that's something that needs to be included. 1966 02:53:27,680 --> 02:53:34,080 Um, staying on with the location, we've got the members of the state public 1967 02:53:32,319 --> 02:53:38,240 charter school authority. I don't expect them all to know Reno like the back of 1968 02:53:35,920 --> 02:53:44,080 their hand. I would include an actual map that puts little stars on the 1969 02:53:41,520 --> 02:53:49,520 original door and then the proposed second franchise location so that they 1970 02:53:46,720 --> 02:53:53,439 can actually see how close they are and then they can actually see all the star 1971 02:53:51,520 --> 02:53:58,319 ratings because that's really where we're we're pulling from is from that 1972 02:53:55,920 --> 02:54:02,640 top performing area that we have here because I think that that would help 1973 02:53:59,600 --> 02:54:07,520 them understand that it's not centrally located. 1974 02:54:04,640 --> 02:54:12,640 And um continuing on here, this is something that I submitted for 1975 02:54:09,840 --> 02:54:18,960 supplemental materials and it's the non-compliance disqualification. 1976 02:54:15,920 --> 02:54:24,560 So on slide five of our presentation, it says very plainly that you that the 1977 02:54:22,560 --> 02:54:31,920 state public charter school authority needs to must actually deny an 1978 02:54:28,640 --> 02:54:36,640 application if it is not it fails to meet any of its performance frameworks. 1979 02:54:34,399 --> 02:54:42,240 uh with academics, finances or organization. 1980 02:54:38,160 --> 02:54:49,120 And last week, the audit committee, the um state audit division released 1981 02:54:46,560 --> 02:54:57,040 probably one of the most stunning reports I have ever read, and I included 1982 02:54:52,560 --> 02:55:00,960 it for supplemental materials. This procurement report had some real 1983 02:54:59,279 --> 02:55:05,920 doozies in it about what's happening with for-profit emos and the state 1984 02:55:03,439 --> 02:55:09,920 public charter school authority and I'll just read some of those because I think 1985 02:55:07,760 --> 02:55:13,600 we should mention that. So I will mention that the state public charter 1986 02:55:11,520 --> 02:55:19,040 school authority isn't revealing who these EMOs are but I do believe that we 1987 02:55:16,720 --> 02:55:23,279 should in our response ask that they deny this on the basis of finances and 1988 02:55:21,760 --> 02:55:28,720 organization. uh because there are clearly some some 1989 02:55:26,240 --> 02:55:34,960 really questionable practices and if the identities of these EMOs were known that 1990 02:55:32,080 --> 02:55:40,240 could be a reason for denial. And so I'll just mention a couple of 1991 02:55:37,279 --> 02:55:45,359 those so that everyone can be somewhat aware of this. 1992 02:55:42,399 --> 02:55:50,240 So, of all the charter school contracts that the auditors looked at, every 1993 02:55:47,120 --> 02:55:56,720 single one of them um had major issues with the EMOs that they were contracted 1994 02:55:52,560 --> 02:56:01,279 with. Um and it does say that the SPCSA as part of its organizational framework 1995 02:55:59,200 --> 02:56:06,319 um is supposed to oversee this although they have the charter authority has no 1996 02:56:03,760 --> 02:56:10,240 procedures in place to ensure contract provisions. They're not even looking at 1997 02:56:07,840 --> 02:56:16,160 these contracts. The charter school authority went on to admit, this is on 1998 02:56:12,560 --> 02:56:21,680 page 33, that draft EMO contracts undergo review by SPCSA at the time of 1999 02:56:19,840 --> 02:56:27,200 the initial charter school application process. However, this process was 2000 02:56:24,160 --> 02:56:32,560 absent of legal review and approval. What are you even reviewing? I mean, 2001 02:56:29,359 --> 02:56:37,040 this is some serious impropriy. But the point of it is is you can't deny this 2002 02:56:35,359 --> 02:56:42,080 because they're hiding the identities of these EMOs. So, here's a few of those 2003 02:56:39,120 --> 02:56:48,240 things that these hidden EMOs without names have done. Um, one of the EMOs 2004 02:56:45,439 --> 02:56:53,520 swept the state education funds to a bank account in Arizona controlled by 2005 02:56:51,040 --> 02:56:59,120 the EMO. And further, none of the school's governing board members were 2006 02:56:55,120 --> 02:57:03,840 authorized signers. That's not legal. Um, additionally, um, there was a lack 2007 02:57:02,080 --> 02:57:08,000 of enforcement from the charter school authority. I mean, it's throughout the 2008 02:57:05,439 --> 02:57:13,439 entire report. Um, all five of the financial reports reviewed by the state 2009 02:57:10,880 --> 02:57:18,399 auditors um said that the EMO's management fees did not align with with 2010 02:57:15,840 --> 02:57:23,279 each school's expenditure report as required by statutes and regulations. 2011 02:57:20,399 --> 02:57:29,120 That would fall under the denial that we have here. 2012 02:57:25,760 --> 02:57:36,399 And oh, um, one of the charter schools was paying its EMO $184,000 2013 02:57:33,520 --> 02:57:40,720 without any invoices. just gave them $184,000 2014 02:57:38,319 --> 02:57:46,880 with no invoices whatsoever, was just paying them that. Um, another um, EMO 2015 02:57:44,479 --> 02:57:53,439 sent its executives and school personnel on a cruise for $20,000, 2016 02:57:50,720 --> 02:57:58,479 which I thought was really interesting. Um, not definitely not okay. So the 2017 02:57:56,880 --> 02:58:02,160 reason why I point this out and then I have it is that I would like our 2018 02:57:59,840 --> 02:58:07,200 response to show that it is no fault of our own that we don't know what these 2019 02:58:04,240 --> 02:58:14,479 what these emos are that have engaged in this malfence. But if any of them are 2020 02:58:09,920 --> 02:58:19,760 academica that would be a must deny. And um the third thing that I'll mention 2021 02:58:17,120 --> 02:58:25,520 that I'd like to see in the response is the work that's already happening with 2022 02:58:21,439 --> 02:58:30,160 the UNR College of Education. We're doing all of these things. Uh we 2023 02:58:27,840 --> 02:58:35,680 have amazing choice. Our district sponsored charters have amazing choice. 2024 02:58:32,800 --> 02:58:40,240 All of our current charters in the entire area have amazing choice. We're 2025 02:58:38,319 --> 02:58:43,760 already supporting student teaching. We're already doing this work. And I 2026 02:58:42,399 --> 02:58:48,000 think that that needs to be really really clear exactly all the options and 2027 02:58:46,160 --> 02:58:52,240 the support that we have for students. Not just for student teachers who are 2028 02:58:50,000 --> 02:58:57,439 students that are adults. Um and then also for our children as well because 2029 02:58:54,479 --> 02:59:03,120 this response must be rooted with a student centered focus. We absolutely 2030 02:59:00,800 --> 02:59:07,520 must talk about our kids, the options that they have, the support that they 2031 02:59:04,880 --> 02:59:11,760 have, school of choice, all of those things that we have to make it 2032 02:59:09,279 --> 02:59:17,040 abundantly clear that there is nothing in this application or educational model 2033 02:59:14,640 --> 02:59:21,359 that our multitude of educational ecosystem schools offer, which is not 2034 02:59:19,520 --> 02:59:25,760 just the Wo County School District. It's district sponsored charters, it's state 2035 02:59:23,520 --> 02:59:29,359 public charters, all of which receive public funds. And so I think that that 2036 02:59:27,520 --> 02:59:33,520 really needs to be emphasized and that's on top of everything else that you have 2037 02:59:30,800 --> 02:59:39,040 in the application. Um, thank you for giving me that time, Mr. President. 2038 02:59:37,279 --> 02:59:42,760 » Sure. Would you like to sum summarize that in 30 seconds? 2039 02:59:42,800 --> 02:59:47,680 » Um, thank you, Trusty Smith, Trusty Westlake. 2040 02:59:45,920 --> 02:59:53,439 » Thank you, President Mayberry. I think it's really important 2041 02:59:50,000 --> 03:00:00,399 that we um that it absolutely is going to affect 2042 02:59:56,080 --> 03:00:05,439 stakeholders that there is I mean from families 2043 03:00:02,080 --> 03:00:13,359 uh to our construction. It is going to literally disrupt, like I 2044 03:00:10,240 --> 03:00:17,760 said before, the whole ecosystem that we have here in Nevada. And we are 2045 03:00:16,240 --> 03:00:28,160 flatlining on um on sales tax. 2046 03:00:22,399 --> 03:00:33,120 Doing this is going to create um a huge hardship. Things that we haven't even 2047 03:00:29,920 --> 03:00:40,479 really looked at. We are being fiscally responsible by reducing our footprint. 2048 03:00:36,399 --> 03:00:46,000 If there are schools that are not supporting 2049 03:00:42,319 --> 03:00:50,720 enough number of students to remain open, we are doing the fiscally 2050 03:00:48,720 --> 03:00:56,880 responsible thing of closing those schools and moving those kids to a next 2051 03:00:53,040 --> 03:01:02,240 closer area. It's it's hard. It breaks my heart. One of one of the schools was 2052 03:00:59,439 --> 03:01:08,479 in my district, Little Kate Smith. It was heartbreaking. 2053 03:01:03,920 --> 03:01:14,560 Um, but we we are making those decisions in order to do the right thing for our 2054 03:01:11,040 --> 03:01:21,520 state. Now, we have a company coming in from Florida, 2055 03:01:17,439 --> 03:01:26,800 coming in as a franchise and using students as a way to make money and take 2056 03:01:24,000 --> 03:01:32,240 the money out of our state. This is going to absolutely affect that we are 2057 03:01:29,840 --> 03:01:39,520 going to have to close schools. I mean to think otherwise is being delusional. 2058 03:01:35,920 --> 03:01:43,359 There's there's only so many kids. It's not like all of a sudden all these kids 2059 03:01:41,760 --> 03:01:48,080 are going to flood in and there's there's enough for everybody. And we're 2060 03:01:45,520 --> 03:01:52,960 servicing all of the children. But in closing these schools, we are also going 2061 03:01:50,160 --> 03:01:57,760 to have to take on the hardship of getting those children that no longer 2062 03:01:55,279 --> 03:02:03,359 have a school that they can afford or that meets their needs, their special 2063 03:01:59,840 --> 03:02:11,040 needs. We are going to need to bust them to a school farther away in order to get 2064 03:02:07,279 --> 03:02:17,840 them to a public school because not all are halves. There's a lot of have nots 2065 03:02:14,319 --> 03:02:23,040 and it has to be stated we because we're required 2066 03:02:19,920 --> 03:02:30,000 to provide a public education and if that means then more buses, more gas, 2067 03:02:27,439 --> 03:02:35,040 more expenditures, then we are going to do that. We will meet those children's 2068 03:02:31,840 --> 03:02:40,319 needs. But is it feasible that we can? I I just don't know. I don't know because 2069 03:02:38,000 --> 03:02:47,680 everyone is stretched so thin. Another thing that I forgot to bring up earlier 2070 03:02:42,720 --> 03:02:52,640 is we are also going above and beyond. We have our own policing organization to 2071 03:02:50,479 --> 03:02:59,040 protect our children and to protect the neighborhoods around our schools. 2072 03:02:56,399 --> 03:03:06,319 Dural does not. They're going to rely on Wo County for that large body. 2073 03:03:02,560 --> 03:03:11,920 Seven up to maybe 1700 of students. I know we haveus with organizations and we 2074 03:03:09,279 --> 03:03:19,359 rely and help each other. We also help Reno PD and Sparks PD and Wo County, but 2075 03:03:15,920 --> 03:03:24,479 we are going above and beyond to ensure that our students are safe and our 2076 03:03:22,816 --> 03:03:30,399 [snorts] neighborhoods are safe and we foot the bill for that. We do. We're 2077 03:03:27,840 --> 03:03:35,279 we're not taking more money away from a state that is already stretched thin. 2078 03:03:33,279 --> 03:03:38,080 Thank you. Uh, thank you, Trusty West. Trusty 2079 03:03:36,800 --> 03:03:43,600 Nicllet. >> Yes, I I can be brief on this. Um, as 2080 03:03:40,560 --> 03:03:48,160 far as the letter, um, if appropriate and and I know legal needs to chime in. 2081 03:03:46,080 --> 03:03:53,600 All a bunch of experts need to chime in, but I I would like it to to reflect that 2082 03:03:52,000 --> 03:03:58,640 Academica um, we can't see their financials and 2083 03:03:56,080 --> 03:04:04,160 and I think that that's extremely important when public dollars are being 2084 03:04:01,600 --> 03:04:09,200 put into whatever coffer. I'm not even going to try and identify where it goes. 2085 03:04:06,399 --> 03:04:13,680 I don't know because I can't see that. And I would like to be able to see where 2086 03:04:10,880 --> 03:04:19,160 our public dollars are going. The second thing that that I really would like to 2087 03:04:22,479 --> 03:04:31,279 to trust Smith's I'd like to us to expand on the fact that we are already 2088 03:04:28,319 --> 03:04:38,640 doing what Derell's expansion and that's a 2089 03:04:34,160 --> 03:04:44,080 lovely idea is doing and much much more. our community partners. 2090 03:04:41,600 --> 03:04:50,960 I I think they would want us to to shore them up and and illuminate the fact that 2091 03:04:48,399 --> 03:04:58,160 we do so much with them for our students. And then finally, um I think 2092 03:04:54,960 --> 03:05:03,359 that I would personally like and and I don't know, it'll fall on deaf ears. I'm 2093 03:05:00,640 --> 03:05:09,680 not sure, but maybe our legislators and our Nevada State Board of Education will 2094 03:05:06,640 --> 03:05:15,840 really look at this. But this unlevel playing field, this ability to scale 2095 03:05:12,319 --> 03:05:21,200 enrollment is I'm not an attorney, but I'm going to 2096 03:05:17,520 --> 03:05:27,439 use the word, forgive me, uh, Council of Montalbo. Um, I think it should be 2097 03:05:23,600 --> 03:05:33,200 illegal. That is that is simply not how things should go down for students. And 2098 03:05:29,760 --> 03:05:37,359 there's my two cents. Thank you, >> Trusty. Vice President Wood Whley, 2099 03:05:35,359 --> 03:05:41,680 » thank you. I just want to um just state my last point. I know I gave first um 2100 03:05:39,359 --> 03:05:48,080 input, but here's the reality. The reality is that we have spent months and 2101 03:05:45,040 --> 03:05:53,920 years directing staff, go out in the community, find out what they need. 2102 03:05:51,600 --> 03:05:58,240 We're not making investment um decisions. We're asking the community, 2103 03:05:56,240 --> 03:06:00,960 the parents, the neighborhoods, what would you like to see? What would you 2104 03:05:59,680 --> 03:06:03,840 like to see in these new schools that we're building? What would you like to 2105 03:06:02,080 --> 03:06:08,479 see in the schools that we're remodeling that we're mo with our modernization 2106 03:06:05,840 --> 03:06:12,080 plan, with our onepoint entry? We're asking them and they're telling us what 2107 03:06:10,479 --> 03:06:16,479 they want and you guys have brought it back to us. And based on that, we've 2108 03:06:14,560 --> 03:06:20,319 made investments and we need to protect those 2109 03:06:18,720 --> 03:06:23,920 investments. And that's what my concern is. So, I 2110 03:06:22,800 --> 03:06:27,520 want to make sure that they're aware of that because these are our constituents 2111 03:06:26,240 --> 03:06:33,200 investments. >> Thank you. I I I'll say too that that I 2112 03:06:30,160 --> 03:06:39,600 I good discussion and this is this is the hard part, right? You know, um 2113 03:06:36,640 --> 03:06:46,880 I I would rather see us stick to issues that they need to know and of our 2114 03:06:43,279 --> 03:06:49,760 opposition. The the EM the EMO issues with academia. I know there's a lot of 2115 03:06:48,479 --> 03:06:53,600 concern clearly there's a lot of knowledge. I I I don't know if that 2116 03:06:52,160 --> 03:07:00,000 necessarily needs to be in this particular um input 2117 03:06:57,040 --> 03:07:07,200 uh to the um to the charter authority. It's it's uh it's already noted in our 2118 03:07:02,800 --> 03:07:10,080 um legislative framework that uh that that we essentially oppose these 2119 03:07:08,720 --> 03:07:14,960 for-profit educational management organizations. I do like the I'm hearing 2120 03:07:13,040 --> 03:07:20,880 consistently and I agree that a need is being met already. Uh I appreciate uh 2121 03:07:18,240 --> 03:07:24,880 the discussion on the demographics uh the WC1 investments, the overall fiscal 2122 03:07:23,200 --> 03:07:30,399 impact uh that they operate by different rules. 2123 03:07:27,520 --> 03:07:33,760 But I think if if we we start to go down a rabbit hole when we go into the 2124 03:07:32,160 --> 03:07:39,200 nuances uh when it comes to us opposing this 2125 03:07:36,240 --> 03:07:42,880 particular project, I think you know the there's state requirements that are 2126 03:07:40,640 --> 03:07:48,640 already in in place if we really want to affect change. Uh I think is I think it 2127 03:07:45,600 --> 03:07:52,800 was you uh Trusty Nichollet that we should really work with our legislators. 2128 03:07:50,479 --> 03:07:56,080 That's where it begins. I I I think some of the discussions in my opinion has 2129 03:07:54,560 --> 03:08:00,399 kind of gone beyond the scope of of where we should be going in terms of 2130 03:07:57,680 --> 03:08:03,120 opposition. >> Trusty Phoenix. 2131 03:08:01,760 --> 03:08:06,319 » Yeah. Just to finish this up here finally, uh you kind of heard it 2132 03:08:04,479 --> 03:08:09,760 already. So uh number one for me, just stick to the law like you have been 2133 03:08:07,920 --> 03:08:14,399 already. And that's uh very important for uh anything that goes down the road. 2134 03:08:12,319 --> 03:08:18,240 And again just sticks to the facts man that's it you know you stick to the 2135 03:08:15,920 --> 03:08:21,439 facts and and uh you provide that with the data that supports all that I know 2136 03:08:19,920 --> 03:08:25,439 you have the framework already you delivered that earlier but again just 2137 03:08:23,680 --> 03:08:29,040 sticking to that stuff there and then the risk that I pointed out earlier uh 2138 03:08:27,600 --> 03:08:33,120 some of the things with financing timelines and all staffing operational 2139 03:08:30,880 --> 03:08:36,640 readiness the impacts that I could have and then again you've heard already so 2140 03:08:34,720 --> 03:08:40,560 again students the access for everyone and I won't belabor all of that and 2141 03:08:39,120 --> 03:08:45,840 accountability this is where I'll spend just a little piece on that is that the 2142 03:08:42,960 --> 03:08:49,760 the governance from the SPA oversight and academia, you know, the 2143 03:08:47,840 --> 03:08:53,600 relationships, the commitments, the consequences, there's a lot that that 2144 03:08:51,680 --> 03:08:57,200 authority, you know, has to consider. And we want to make sure, like I said 2145 03:08:55,120 --> 03:09:00,479 earlier, when you go for that expert, uh, badge, uh, when you're going for 2146 03:08:58,960 --> 03:09:04,880 your infantry expert badge, you got to get everything 100% correct to get a go. 2147 03:09:03,040 --> 03:09:08,479 And then if you don't, you're out. I really want to emphasize the importance 2148 03:09:06,479 --> 03:09:12,000 of making sure that, uh, it's done right. So, just in closing, you know, 2149 03:09:10,000 --> 03:09:15,600 I'm not against charter schools. Again, it was brought up. It's innovative. It's 2150 03:09:13,600 --> 03:09:19,040 the way to go. But I'll stick to uh again, stick to the facts. The law, the 2151 03:09:17,520 --> 03:09:22,960 facts, the data, the risk, the student impact, and accountability is a big 2152 03:09:20,800 --> 03:09:26,960 piece for me. So, uh that's it for me. Thank you. 2153 03:09:24,240 --> 03:09:32,880 » Thank you, Trusty Phoenix. Trusty Smith. >> Um so, Mr. President, I definitely hear 2154 03:09:29,920 --> 03:09:39,200 you on that. I do believe that it's salient to point out the financial 2155 03:09:34,960 --> 03:09:44,720 compliance concerns because if any of the EMOs are the ones in this audit 2156 03:09:42,479 --> 03:09:50,319 which their identities are currently being kept private 2157 03:09:48,080 --> 03:09:57,040 that's a must deny and so while we don't know which of 2158 03:09:53,200 --> 03:10:01,600 these if any are Academica they are the largest for-profit EMO operator in the 2159 03:09:59,600 --> 03:10:06,000 entire state so statistically ically it would be really surprising if they're 2160 03:10:03,840 --> 03:10:12,640 not these. I'm not suggesting that we would outline every one of these, but 2161 03:10:08,960 --> 03:10:18,399 the reality is is this audit report has disqualifying facts about some 2162 03:10:15,359 --> 03:10:22,399 for-profit emos. We just don't know who they are. The state public charter 2163 03:10:20,080 --> 03:10:28,160 school authority knows, but if any of these things are academica, that would 2164 03:10:24,080 --> 03:10:33,120 be a must deny immediately. And so I would trust staff to interpret what this 2165 03:10:31,200 --> 03:10:38,720 looks like in terms of a letter or in the response, but I do feel we would be 2166 03:10:35,680 --> 03:10:42,800 remiss to not point out this audit report because it would be an immediate 2167 03:10:40,640 --> 03:10:47,120 m must deny if any of these are academica. 2168 03:10:44,399 --> 03:10:52,160 » Yeah, that's fair. I I just I think it it's just just not crossing that 2169 03:10:48,720 --> 03:10:56,399 threshold of of you know this this blanket opposition of of AMOs. I mean, I 2170 03:10:54,640 --> 03:11:00,720 think when you get on nuances, I I agree with you. Thank you. 2171 03:10:57,760 --> 03:11:04,560 » Yeah. Um, I'll also add that I think I touched on it before and we've all 2172 03:11:02,080 --> 03:11:08,800 talked about it that the response from the district and from our board 2173 03:11:06,319 --> 03:11:12,800 absolutely must be student focused. It needs to be from a position of what it 2174 03:11:10,720 --> 03:11:18,080 is that we offer and what it is that our area offers to all of our schools from 2175 03:11:15,680 --> 03:11:23,200 the experience of our children and not so much um us as an organization or as 2176 03:11:21,200 --> 03:11:27,040 an entity. And I think our staff can help us kind 2177 03:11:25,279 --> 03:11:32,960 of drill down. >> Um, if we can bring forward sort of the 2178 03:11:30,080 --> 03:11:39,279 highlevel topics, we can fill in the blanks with the staff 2179 03:11:36,160 --> 03:11:43,200 based on this public conversation. That make sense? Superintendent, 2180 03:11:41,040 --> 03:11:47,200 » how specific do you want this motion to be? Just like the highlevel themes 2181 03:11:45,520 --> 03:11:50,399 because I've been drafting the highle themes. 2182 03:11:48,399 --> 03:11:53,760 » I think I think from from my perspective, I'll speak for myself. I 2183 03:11:51,920 --> 03:11:55,520 think that would be a really good start. >> Okay. 2184 03:11:54,160 --> 03:11:59,520 » And then we could have some further discussion. We can hear from our 2185 03:11:56,720 --> 03:12:05,200 superintendent if that's manageable for them. Um yeah. Does that help? 2186 03:12:03,120 --> 03:12:10,319 » Yeah. No, I already have something. I've been keeping notes. 2187 03:12:06,240 --> 03:12:14,880 » Uh anybody else if I'm happy to Trusty Smith, you want you share with us uh a 2188 03:12:13,920 --> 03:12:20,000 draft motion? >> I do. Thank you. Um I I I do also want 2189 03:12:18,080 --> 03:12:24,640 to say one other thing because this I'd be remiss to not say this. It's in their 2190 03:12:22,000 --> 03:12:29,359 application and it bothers me. I do not believe that our current superintendent 2191 03:12:27,279 --> 03:12:34,640 or our former superintendent are being fairly represented in this application. 2192 03:12:32,479 --> 03:12:37,760 I will not include that in the motion because I will defer to our current 2193 03:12:36,399 --> 03:12:41,920 superintendent and our former superintendent about how they'd like 2194 03:12:39,520 --> 03:12:45,120 that represented. But it should be said on the record that this was a 2195 03:12:43,520 --> 03:12:50,640 misrepresentation. And this follows a pattern for Academica 2196 03:12:47,840 --> 03:12:56,080 schools. They made the exact same false representation of now Vice President 2197 03:12:53,359 --> 03:13:01,279 Woodley and Trustee Nichollet and Chief Van Tress when academic filed their 2198 03:12:58,560 --> 03:13:08,640 application for Matter Academy. And all three of those leaders I just named 2199 03:13:04,080 --> 03:13:12,479 filed uh statements um clarifying uh what they supported and what they were 2200 03:13:10,479 --> 03:13:16,800 told and all of that. And so when I read this application, I felt exactly the 2201 03:13:14,479 --> 03:13:21,279 same way about how Superintendent McMaster and former Superintendent Ernst 2202 03:13:19,279 --> 03:13:24,720 were portrayed in it, but I'm not going to include that in the motion. I will 2203 03:13:22,720 --> 03:13:26,479 let you decide what you what you feel is appropriate with that. 2204 03:13:26,000 --> 03:13:30,319 » Okay. >> And if I just just say too, you know, 2205 03:13:28,880 --> 03:13:35,359 regardless of what's in the letter, to your point, um this is a public 2206 03:13:32,880 --> 03:13:40,399 discussion and so everything we say is is still on the record. and and so uh 2207 03:13:38,319 --> 03:13:45,120 rather it's it makes the letter or not I mean this is a a [snorts] public meeting 2208 03:13:43,200 --> 03:13:49,920 where people can come hear your perspective your perspective uh so I I 2209 03:13:48,160 --> 03:13:53,600 don't it's been a a very healthy exercise from that perspective I just I 2210 03:13:51,600 --> 03:13:57,200 don't want us to lose sight of that that it doesn't make it in the letter you all 2211 03:13:55,600 --> 03:14:01,200 of us have had a voice >> oh I would love to send a recording of 2212 03:13:59,279 --> 03:14:06,399 this entire item to every single member of the state 2213 03:14:04,239 --> 03:14:08,960 public charter school authority board personally, 2214 03:14:07,359 --> 03:14:11,120 » which is not an elected body, by the way. 2215 03:14:09,279 --> 03:14:15,600 » Which is not an elected body. That's exactly correct. They have no fiduciary 2216 03:14:13,359 --> 03:14:20,640 responsibility to the voters um or the taxpayers in Wo County. All right. Let 2217 03:14:17,920 --> 03:14:26,319 me take a stab at this. And JJ, I'm going to send this to you, but I was 2218 03:14:23,760 --> 03:14:30,880 keeping notes as to what everybody was saying. Okay. And I can pair it down. We 2219 03:14:28,960 --> 03:14:37,040 can do it. I move that the board of trustees includes in its response to the 2220 03:14:34,160 --> 03:14:41,439 state public charter school authority all points deficiencies and 2221 03:14:39,200 --> 03:14:47,359 disqualifiers noted in the items presentation 2222 03:14:43,760 --> 03:14:54,640 factual demographics for the WCSD and current and proposed UNR DORAL schools 2223 03:14:52,160 --> 03:15:00,479 school performance and specialty education programs at the full radius of 2224 03:14:57,279 --> 03:15:04,479 area WCSD schools information on local charters in the 2225 03:15:02,880 --> 03:15:10,800 area. Highlight corporate revenue of the 2226 03:15:07,359 --> 03:15:16,319 for-profit EMO, financial compliance concerns with the for-profit EMO and 2227 03:15:14,399 --> 03:15:21,359 SPCSA, protection of Nevada and Wo County 2228 03:15:18,479 --> 03:15:25,520 taxpayer assets and investments, and the response should be provided to 2229 03:15:23,520 --> 03:15:29,800 all the government entities identified in the agenda items presentation. 2230 03:15:33,279 --> 03:15:41,439 Okay, that's a lot. Um, but that's it. It has to be. You want to repeat that, 2231 03:15:39,200 --> 03:15:45,520 JJ? >> I got it. She sent it to me. 2232 03:15:43,600 --> 03:15:48,319 » Okay. Um, >> I can read it again. 2233 03:15:46,800 --> 03:15:53,359 » Well, I I'd like somebody to read it again, please. Yes. 2234 03:15:50,479 --> 03:15:58,720 » Yeah, I'm more than happy to do that. Um, I move that the board of trustees 2235 03:15:55,600 --> 03:16:04,640 includes in its response to the state public charter school authority all 2236 03:16:01,439 --> 03:16:12,160 points, deficiencies, and disqualifiers noted in the items presentation. 2237 03:16:08,319 --> 03:16:19,120 Factual demographics for the WCSD and current and proposed UNR DORAL schools. 2238 03:16:17,200 --> 03:16:25,040 School performance and specialty education programs at the full radius of 2239 03:16:22,000 --> 03:16:30,720 area WCSD schools. Information on local charters in the 2240 03:16:27,200 --> 03:16:35,200 area. Highlight corporate revenue of the for-profit EMO. 2241 03:16:33,120 --> 03:16:42,160 financial compliance concerns with for-profit emos and the SPCSA 2242 03:16:39,279 --> 03:16:47,600 protection of Nevada and Wo County taxpayer assets and investments and the 2243 03:16:45,600 --> 03:16:53,800 response should be provided to all the government entities identified in this 2244 03:16:49,760 --> 03:16:53,800 agenda item presentation. 2245 03:16:55,279 --> 03:17:02,880 » Okay. Um any questions on the motion? I I 2246 03:17:01,439 --> 03:17:06,560 understand understand we need a second. Uh yeah. Well, I guess we got we need a 2247 03:17:04,880 --> 03:17:10,080 second to discuss it. So, is there a second on this? Second. 2248 03:17:07,600 --> 03:17:14,800 » Okay. Thank you, Trusty Nichollet. Um any questions, clarifications uh on the 2249 03:17:12,640 --> 03:17:18,560 motion. Superintendent McMaster? >> Um I do have a question on the um 2250 03:17:17,200 --> 03:17:24,080 highlighting the revenue of the corporate um EMO. I don't we don't have 2251 03:17:22,560 --> 03:17:27,120 access to that. So, are you meaning highlight the fact that we don't have 2252 03:17:25,600 --> 03:17:28,880 access to the financials? >> Oh, no. We've got it 2253 03:17:28,000 --> 03:17:32,720 » for clarity. >> Oh, no. We've got it. Okay. What's in 2254 03:17:31,680 --> 03:17:35,439 the application? You need >> Yeah. 2255 03:17:33,359 --> 03:17:38,080 » Okay. >> Um 2256 03:17:36,080 --> 03:17:41,680 » Oh, wait. We're talking about the the EMO, the corporate revenue of the EMO. 2257 03:17:40,880 --> 03:17:46,319 Yeah, we have that. >> You said highlight the revenue at the 2258 03:17:43,680 --> 03:17:49,120 corporate EMO for profit or the for-profit EMO. Okay. 2259 03:17:47,600 --> 03:17:52,800 » Oh, yeah. We actually have that. >> Can you reference which what you're 2260 03:17:51,120 --> 03:18:00,560 referring to just for our clarity? >> Yeah, it's in the proposed 2261 03:17:55,760 --> 03:18:04,560 um it is six slash2. Oh, no. page uh slicks-3. 2262 03:18:02,640 --> 03:18:10,479 It's attachment six of their application, the projected system 2263 03:18:06,479 --> 03:18:16,239 budget. So, I did the analysis on this. When the new campus is proposed to open, 2264 03:18:13,279 --> 03:18:21,200 there'd be roughly a 92% increase in the fees with their first year being 2265 03:18:18,640 --> 03:18:25,920 $964,000. And then Academica gets a raise of 13 2266 03:18:24,000 --> 03:18:30,080 and a half% every single year, yearover-year. 2267 03:18:27,600 --> 03:18:38,520 Um and the last year that they project is school year 3031 and at that point 2268 03:18:33,200 --> 03:18:38,520 the academica fees go up to 1,241,568. 2269 03:18:40,000 --> 03:18:50,399 So they provide this right for us. >> And if I may, yes, absolutely. But to 2270 03:18:47,040 --> 03:18:54,319 clarify, my reference is academica in general. 2271 03:18:51,920 --> 03:18:58,479 » They're corporate dollars, not just Durell. So which is much bigger and you 2272 03:18:56,960 --> 03:19:02,560 can't find it because they don't have to file it. 2273 03:19:00,479 --> 03:19:07,120 » So you would like both >> both what trustee Smith for for the 2274 03:19:04,720 --> 03:19:12,160 motion just so we have clarity on what you mean by the corporate structure with 2275 03:19:09,840 --> 03:19:18,000 academica and the issues. It is what Trustee Smith outlined in the um uh 2276 03:19:16,080 --> 03:19:23,520 amendments in their supplemental materials. Uh the payments that are 2277 03:19:20,399 --> 03:19:28,640 going to uh the Academica and then it is the issue that Academica's finances are 2278 03:19:26,640 --> 03:19:31,680 not public are not published. So we don't actually know what their financial 2279 03:19:30,720 --> 03:19:36,000 structure looks like. >> Correct. Thank you. And and it had to in 2280 03:19:34,160 --> 03:19:40,399 my reference just to kind of remind all of us it had to do with that long-term 2281 03:19:38,239 --> 03:19:45,200 sustainability. And so on that note, that is I totally 2282 03:19:43,040 --> 03:19:51,680 agree and that's a great um explanation of it. I kept it as financial compliance 2283 03:19:48,239 --> 03:19:58,160 concerns with for-profit emos um to keep it broad for the motion, but that's a 2284 03:19:54,399 --> 03:20:04,160 great explanation of it if that's okay. But I I kept that part high level, but 2285 03:20:02,000 --> 03:20:08,560 that's a great explanation of what she meant. 2286 03:20:06,080 --> 03:20:12,000 » Okay, I think that that's clear now. And I just want to double check with the 2287 03:20:10,239 --> 03:20:16,000 team that presented. I believe everything else that you've asked for 2288 03:20:14,080 --> 03:20:21,120 was already shared in the presentation or easily accessible. Does the team have 2289 03:20:18,880 --> 03:20:26,120 any concerns with the ask on this motion? 2290 03:20:22,880 --> 03:20:26,120 » Good question. 2291 03:20:28,319 --> 03:20:31,840 » Okay. >> Okay. 2292 03:20:30,319 --> 03:20:36,560 » Vice President Woodley, you had made a comment too. Um I want to make sure that 2293 03:20:34,399 --> 03:20:41,520 that made it into the motion. Did Did you hear it? I did in the initial the 2294 03:20:39,359 --> 03:20:45,279 very first um thing she stated something to the effect of what was omitted or 2295 03:20:43,279 --> 03:20:46,800 what wasn't done correctly that covers it. 2296 03:20:45,840 --> 03:20:51,120 » Yes. Got it. >> Yep. And that's in the all the points 2297 03:20:48,960 --> 03:20:54,720 deficiencies and disqualifiers noted in the items presentation. 2298 03:20:54,104 --> 03:21:00,000 [snorts] C >> can I clarify on that? I think what he's 2299 03:20:57,200 --> 03:21:05,680 referring to uh uh Vice President Willy's comment about um is a bad deal 2300 03:21:03,359 --> 03:21:09,760 with UNR um which is in the presentation. Is that also encompassed 2301 03:21:07,760 --> 03:21:16,080 in that about how they're basically building a facility that is going to UNR 2302 03:21:13,439 --> 03:21:21,040 and spending public monies to go to UNR? That that is encompassed in that uh 2303 03:21:20,080 --> 03:21:25,439 motion. Okay. >> It's was definitely my intent but to 2304 03:21:23,520 --> 03:21:32,520 follow President Mayberry keeping the themes high level but it sure was 2305 03:21:28,399 --> 03:21:32,520 » from my intent. Yes. 2306 03:21:33,279 --> 03:21:38,640 » Trusty Phoenix, please. >> Yeah. That is the only comment again as 2307 03:21:36,319 --> 03:21:43,680 always making sure that what we ask of you and you did I just want to make sure 2308 03:21:40,640 --> 03:21:47,040 that when we ask of the staff is this is something that you can do or you know 2309 03:21:45,200 --> 03:21:50,640 you got it. I always want to make sure that you give me that green light you're 2310 03:21:48,800 --> 03:21:54,560 good to go and not just say roger that sir I want to carry on. I just want to 2311 03:21:52,399 --> 03:21:58,000 make sure I know it was asked and answered, but please one more time for 2312 03:21:56,399 --> 03:22:02,239 me so I have a good >> Yeah, I mean to clarify, you know, it's 2313 03:21:59,840 --> 03:22:06,960 the information we provided on this slide deck in addition to the star 2314 03:22:04,720 --> 03:22:11,680 rating and some of the stipulations that Trustee Smith had included which I 2315 03:22:09,680 --> 03:22:14,960 believe we can handle. >> Thank you very much for that 2316 03:22:13,120 --> 03:22:18,399 confirmation. Yeah. The only thing that just kind of 2317 03:22:16,160 --> 03:22:22,319 gives me pause and and maybe it's not necessarily in it because there's so so 2318 03:22:20,399 --> 03:22:27,600 many nuances, but I I'm I'm not real comfortable getting into their Dorell's 2319 03:22:25,600 --> 03:22:32,399 business arrangement with their company. I mean, that that's that's I I don't 2320 03:22:30,000 --> 03:22:38,720 care. I'm more concerned about their negative impact, the fiscal impact uh on 2321 03:22:35,120 --> 03:22:44,080 on this organization, on our resources, um you know, the uh the fact that needs 2322 03:22:41,040 --> 03:22:48,720 are being met. So, I mean, you know, help me out here. I I just I I 2323 03:22:47,040 --> 03:22:52,080 don't want to get into the nuances of their arrangement. That's up that's up 2324 03:22:50,479 --> 03:22:55,680 to them. I I could care less. >> I think 2325 03:22:52,560 --> 03:22:59,600 » it sort of is, but it's not because it says right there that the sponsor must 2326 03:22:57,520 --> 03:23:06,000 deny if it's not meeting their performance framework. The state auditor 2327 03:23:02,399 --> 03:23:08,399 says these EMOs that were anonymously in this report. Yeah, I get that. 2328 03:23:07,439 --> 03:23:13,840 » Are not. >> We don't know. 2329 03:23:10,479 --> 03:23:18,319 But if Academica is any one of these, it says right there that this application 2330 03:23:16,319 --> 03:23:22,080 must be denied for not meeting its framework for finances or organization. 2331 03:23:20,720 --> 03:23:26,160 » Yeah, they they have to follow their own rules. So that's that's uh I I I I can 2332 03:23:24,880 --> 03:23:28,960 get behind that. Thank you for for crystallizing that. I just want to make 2333 03:23:27,520 --> 03:23:31,920 sure that's where we're going. So thank you for that. 2334 03:23:29,520 --> 03:23:36,880 » Oh, Doral, um they can agree to whatever they want with their EMO. My interest is 2335 03:23:34,239 --> 03:23:43,359 solely that this audit report. >> Okay. Yeah. if if if it's tailored to 2336 03:23:39,680 --> 03:23:49,840 that, I'm I'm I'm okay with that. Okay. So, looks like we have a a first 2337 03:23:46,239 --> 03:23:56,479 by uh Trusty Smith with the second from uh Trusty Nichollet uh for uh on the 2338 03:23:53,680 --> 03:24:00,720 motion as stated. I'm not hearing any other additions or any further comments. 2339 03:23:59,040 --> 03:24:04,711 Yes, I'm sure Kayla, you you can repeat 2340 03:24:02,720 --> 03:24:07,200 everything. All right. Just fine. Okay. [laughter] 2341 03:24:05,439 --> 03:24:10,560 All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. 2342 03:24:08,640 --> 03:24:15,880 » Those opposed? Okay. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Great work, 2343 03:24:12,880 --> 03:24:15,880 everybody. 2344 03:24:18,479 --> 03:24:26,800 Um, okay, we're going to move on to reports. 2345 03:24:22,800 --> 03:24:30,479 Uh, I am going to forego item 4.02 for board reports. Going to 4.01 though, I I 2346 03:24:29,200 --> 03:24:34,080 we have our student representative. This is Kayle's first meeting. Kaylee, is 2347 03:24:32,960 --> 03:24:39,520 there anything you want to share with us? Um, yes, we have our kickoff for the 2348 03:24:37,439 --> 03:24:45,600 student voice meeting on September 16th at the Automobile Museum. And then our 2349 03:24:43,120 --> 03:24:52,640 student voice Instagram is where like students can share their voice. 2350 03:24:49,200 --> 03:24:58,399 » Thank you very much. That's awesome. >> Uh, okay. Well, for go 4.02. In the 2351 03:24:55,279 --> 03:25:00,800 interest of time, uh, 4.03 is a superintendent report. It's the 2352 03:24:59,520 --> 03:25:04,439 superintendent McMaster. Do you have anything you'd like to add? 2353 03:25:05,840 --> 03:25:11,359 Um yes, thank you. I would just like to take a moment to recognize the 2354 03:25:09,200 --> 03:25:16,160 extraordinary impact of the Hawk fire in our community. Um so many of our 2355 03:25:14,000 --> 03:25:20,800 families, our students, our employees have been directly impacted by these 2356 03:25:18,239 --> 03:25:25,359 fires. Many of our colleagues have been evacuated from their own homes for 2357 03:25:22,640 --> 03:25:29,359 several days and some have had a devastating loss of their homes. So, 2358 03:25:27,680 --> 03:25:33,520 first and foremost, I just want to thank all of our first responders and everyone 2359 03:25:31,840 --> 03:25:37,680 who continues to work around the clock to protect our entire community. I also 2360 03:25:36,239 --> 03:25:42,239 want to thank the many district employees who stepped forward to help 2361 03:25:39,840 --> 03:25:49,120 wherever needed. Um, I want to just share a story on Saturday um as the fire 2362 03:25:46,319 --> 03:25:53,359 crested over the top of Peine Mountain. It was headed towards the north valleys 2363 03:25:50,880 --> 03:25:59,439 where our north transportation yard is just at the base of Peine. we got um 2364 03:25:56,319 --> 03:26:05,359 very worried about the potential impact. Um so we made the decision, the tough 2365 03:26:02,399 --> 03:26:09,279 decision to evacuate that yard. Um this was an enormous undertaking in a very 2366 03:26:07,520 --> 03:26:14,000 short period of time and I just want to recognize the team that made this 2367 03:26:10,960 --> 03:26:18,960 happen. So a special thanks first of all to transportation director Scott Lee who 2368 03:26:16,399 --> 03:26:24,160 assembled more than 75 transportation drivers and staff in a very short amount 2369 03:26:21,359 --> 03:26:28,239 of time. Scott himself was also evacuated from his own home during this 2370 03:26:26,560 --> 03:26:32,560 time that he was coordinating these efforts. Yet, he continued to lead and 2371 03:26:30,640 --> 03:26:36,560 support his team during a very difficult time. And I think this just speaks 2372 03:26:34,640 --> 03:26:42,000 volumes to his commitment to our students and our entire community. We 2373 03:26:39,359 --> 03:26:47,439 were lucky to be able to um evacuate all of those buses before it went into the 2374 03:26:44,560 --> 03:26:52,239 red zone. So, it was truly heroic work. I also want to just recognize our own 2375 03:26:49,359 --> 03:26:58,160 deputy superintendent Don Angotti. Um our chief of school police Shauna Baker, 2376 03:26:55,359 --> 03:27:02,160 our area superintendent, Melinda Baker, our chief facilities officer Tammy 2377 03:27:00,319 --> 03:27:07,359 Zimmerman. Um, one of our interim principles, Mark Zineran. Um, Alice 2378 03:27:05,279 --> 03:27:12,640 Smith, fifth grade teacher, Stephanie Smith. Palmer Elementary first grade 2379 03:27:10,000 --> 03:27:17,439 teacher Chris Smith and Palmer fourth grade teacher Wayan Denny, as well as 2380 03:27:15,439 --> 03:27:22,239 chief communication officer Michelle Anderson, and communications director 2381 03:27:19,279 --> 03:27:26,800 Ben McDonald. They all jumped in and went on site and were helping to shuttle 2382 03:27:24,560 --> 03:27:31,040 vehicles back and forth, especially our white fleet. So, thank you to all of you 2383 03:27:29,200 --> 03:27:36,239 for taking time away from your families and putting our community first. I'm 2384 03:27:33,680 --> 03:27:41,600 just incredibly proud of the way the county school district team responded. 2385 03:27:38,479 --> 03:27:46,479 Um, this is what um a community looks like in crisis when people step forward 2386 03:27:44,479 --> 03:27:51,120 and do whatever is needed to help one another. Um, I also just want to 2387 03:27:49,040 --> 03:27:55,040 recognize that closing schools across the districts, I know can be 2388 03:27:52,640 --> 03:28:00,319 frustrating, particularly when a school itself is maybe outside of the 2389 03:27:57,040 --> 03:28:04,640 evacuation zone. These are not decisions that we take lightly. But during a 2390 03:28:02,960 --> 03:28:09,520 regional emergency, we have to look beyond the location of an individual 2391 03:28:06,560 --> 03:28:14,000 school site. Thousands of our students and employees have been evacuated. They 2392 03:28:12,160 --> 03:28:19,760 face power outages that are affecting our entire community. our transportation 2393 03:28:16,800 --> 03:28:25,439 system was um significantly impacted and our public safety resources were 2394 03:28:21,920 --> 03:28:29,359 stretched very thin um and impacted our broader emergency response. So after 2395 03:28:27,600 --> 03:28:33,200 extensive conversations with our regional emergency partners, we 2396 03:28:31,359 --> 03:28:38,000 determined that the combination of all of these factors made that broader 2397 03:28:35,279 --> 03:28:43,279 closure the safest and most responsible decision for our schools on Monday and 2398 03:28:40,319 --> 03:28:48,640 today. I know closures create a real challenge for families and we appreciate 2399 03:28:45,359 --> 03:28:52,960 everyone's patience and understanding. Starting last night and early this 2400 03:28:50,239 --> 03:28:57,600 morning, we began began assessing what tomorrow may look like, making sure we 2401 03:28:55,439 --> 03:29:03,279 evaluate all safety and operational needs from the evacuations to road 2402 03:29:00,319 --> 03:29:07,520 closures to potential staffing shortages to meal services after we've had schools 2403 03:29:05,840 --> 03:29:13,279 that have been without power for long periods of time to transportation 2404 03:29:09,920 --> 03:29:17,600 impacts. Um, we will be after this board meeting assembling as a team and sending 2405 03:29:15,200 --> 03:29:23,040 out information to our staff and our families um because we know that early 2406 03:29:20,000 --> 03:29:27,359 communication is welcome and helpful. So once again, thank you to everyone. Thank 2407 03:29:25,040 --> 03:29:30,880 you for being kind and patient to one another and thank you to everyone who's 2408 03:29:29,200 --> 03:29:34,960 pulling together for our community right now. 2409 03:29:32,800 --> 03:29:39,600 » Thank you, Superintendent McMaster. Um, yeah, that we none of that goes 2410 03:29:37,840 --> 03:29:43,279 unnoticed. Thank you for your your continued service and the service of so 2411 03:29:41,920 --> 03:29:47,120 many dedicated public servants at the Walsh County School District. We'll move 2412 03:29:44,560 --> 03:29:50,239 to closing items. Item 5.01 is our public comment. Looks like we have 2413 03:29:48,080 --> 03:29:55,040 public comment. JJ, >> John Epaleo, 2414 03:29:52,080 --> 03:29:58,520 » Mr. Epalo, good afternoon. >> Good to see you. 2415 03:29:58,560 --> 03:30:05,200 » John Epaleo, Protect Nevada Children. Like I said earlier, Infinite Campus 2416 03:30:03,279 --> 03:30:10,479 contains the most massive student database ever created on US school 2417 03:30:07,359 --> 03:30:15,600 students. I'm talking about personal, subjective, and incriminating student 2418 03:30:12,880 --> 03:30:19,760 data that I see stores forever on our children. Data like discipline, minor 2419 03:30:18,080 --> 03:30:25,120 discipline, medical counseling, psychiatric, and lots more. A few years 2420 03:30:22,720 --> 03:30:31,120 ago, I had a phone call from the spouse of a WCSD school psychologist. 2421 03:30:28,319 --> 03:30:36,160 And this person told me the spouse was upset about having to upload all this 2422 03:30:33,439 --> 03:30:42,000 psychiatric data into Infinite Campus because the psychologist realized that 2423 03:30:39,439 --> 03:30:48,880 Infinite Campus is not covered by HIPPO laws because they are not a health care 2424 03:30:44,640 --> 03:30:54,080 provider. In addition, WCSD has told us Infinite Campus shares this student data 2425 03:30:51,120 --> 03:31:00,640 with others. To date, the district won't tell us who all these others are. Go to 2426 03:30:57,760 --> 03:31:06,000 protect nevada children.org to learn more. Since we just had good luck with 2427 03:31:03,439 --> 03:31:11,200 the new attorney, maybe we'll ask again who IC shares our children's 2428 03:31:09,040 --> 03:31:15,439 personal, subjective, and incriminating data with. 2429 03:31:13,279 --> 03:31:20,479 During the next legislative session, our goal is to require IC to start deleting 2430 03:31:18,479 --> 03:31:24,479 student data. I'm told this will be harder than what 2431 03:31:22,160 --> 03:31:30,319 we did last session, which was to get the state to start deleting student 2432 03:31:26,800 --> 03:31:36,479 data. So, we need your help. If anyone listening has children in WCSD 2433 03:31:33,279 --> 03:31:41,200 who are under 18, you can request to view all their data that Infinite Campus 2434 03:31:38,640 --> 03:31:46,239 will store forever about your children. Go to protect nevada.org. org. Toward 2435 03:31:44,399 --> 03:31:52,960 the bottom of the page, there's a link to WCSD's page to request this data. 2436 03:31:50,560 --> 03:31:58,080 Remember, it's your child's personal, subjective, and incriminating data. You 2437 03:31:55,600 --> 03:32:04,399 will probably be surprised at the amount and type of data that IC will store 2438 03:32:00,960 --> 03:32:08,560 forever about your child. Again, we don't know who Infinite Campus will 2439 03:32:06,000 --> 03:32:12,560 share our children's data with. And more importantly, no one really knows how 2440 03:32:10,800 --> 03:32:18,319 this may affect the future of our children. I'm John Epaleo. You can find 2441 03:32:15,279 --> 03:32:20,160 1500 of us on Facebook at Protect Nevada Children. 2442 03:32:19,896 --> 03:32:23,439 [snorts] >> Thank you. 2443 03:32:21,359 --> 03:32:29,600 » The board received emails from David Murdoch, Tom Maher, Joseph and Penny 2444 03:32:26,800 --> 03:32:37,840 Mayor, Dick Allen, Stephanie Robersonson, Rachel Rose Van Houston, 2445 03:32:34,319 --> 03:32:43,520 Ding Shang Lee. That's all I have. Okay, thank you very much. And uh 2446 03:32:41,520 --> 03:32:49,040 item 5.02 is the next meeting announcement September 8th. And um thank 2447 03:32:46,080 --> 03:32:52,640 you all for uh being flexible today. We had a time-sensitive item that was three 2448 03:32:51,040 --> 03:32:57,439 and a half hours. So maybe it was a blessing that we only heard this item 2449 03:32:55,359 --> 03:33:01,279 today given the crisis that we find ourselves in. I suspect the next meeting 2450 03:32:59,200 --> 03:33:05,680 will be fairly very long because we'll have to take what we missed and and pile 2451 03:33:03,760 --> 03:33:10,080 that on. But um I'll be in touch with all of you uh as as we get closer to 2452 03:33:07,920 --> 03:33:15,040 that. So thank you all very much. And again, next meeting adjournment uh 2453 03:33:11,760 --> 03:33:21,439 announcement is uh September 8, 2026. Uh item 5.03 is adjourn the meeting at uh 2454 03:33:18,160 --> 03:33:25,640 what is it? 5:32 p.m. Have a safe and pleasant evening and be safe out there.