Trustees approve revised graduation policy, declare critical labor shortages and review tentative FY25 budget

At its regular meeting April 9, 2024, the Carson City School District Board of Trustees approved a revised graduation‑requirements policy, declared multiple categories of critical labor shortage to allow retired PERS participants to return, and received the district’s tentative FY2024–25 budget.

Policy approval: Trustee Mike Walker moved to adopt the second reading of revisions to CCSD policy 5.17 (high‑school graduation requirements and ceremonies). The board voted by voice and the motion carried.

Critical staffing declarations: Human resources director Dan Sadler asked trustees to declare a critical labor shortage under Nevada Revised Statutes so the district may hire retirees into roles needed immediately. For substitute positions (teachers, substitute school nurses and substitute custodians) Sadler noted the district “committed to a number” of vacancies and said the district could use at least 20 additional substitute teachers now. Trustee Laurel moved to adopt the findings required under NRS 286.523; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.

Sadler then presented a broader list of critical‑shortage positions — certified elementary and secondary teachers, special‑education staff, custodial staff, English‑learner paraprofessionals, speech‑language pathologists, deaf and hard‑of‑hearing interpreters, school psychologists, special‑education paraprofessionals, school nurses and school bus drivers — citing current vacancies and the district’s ongoing recruitment work. Trustee Clapham moved to declare the shortage for those classifications pursuant to NRS 286.523; the motion passed by voice vote.

Tentative budget: Chief financial officer Spencer Windward presented the tentative budget calendar and assumptions. Windward said the tentative general‑fund budget projects $83,300,000 in revenue and $81,000,000 in expenditures, producing a projected deficit of about $740,000. He said the district used conservative assumptions (relying on prior‑year revenues and Department of Education estimates where available) to avoid deficit spending. Windward noted a spreadsheet formatting error in the packet that will be corrected in the version submitted to the Department of Taxation.

Trustees asked for more detail on special‑education funding and transfers. Windward confirmed the district budgets state special‑education aid (about $5,000,000 reported in the packet) and anticipates an $8,900,000 transfer from the general fund to the special‑education fund for FY25. Trustees also questioned nutrition‑services funding; Windward said an ending fund balance should cover near‑term needs while the district evaluates operational options with contractor Chartwells to avoid a larger transfer from the general fund.

Motions on agenda items, the consent agenda and the two critical‑shortage declarations were carried by voice vote; the transcript records vocal ‘Aye’ responses but does not include a roll‑call tally in the meeting record.